November 17, 2011
 
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of Texas Pan American women's volleyball team fell 3-0 (10-25, 20-25, 16-25) to the Houston Baptist Huskies in the first round of the Great West Conference Tournament at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
 
The Broncs (0-1) fell behind early 7-2 in the first set after an ace by HBU's Haley Hoffman.  The Huskies then went on a 9-2 run that was snapped by Diara Reynolds' kill that made it 16-5 HBU.  A kill by Sarah Davis then made it 21-8 but the Huskies closed out the set with a 4-2 run to take the first set 25-10.
 
In the second set, Maria Kliefoth got the Broncs on the board in with a kill for the early 1-0 lead.  A kill by Sarah Davis gave the Broncs the 6-3 lead.  HBU (1-0) tied things at seven on a Christie Dorch's kill.  Later in the set, UTPA took the 13-9 lead after an error by the Huskies.  The Huskies then went on a 6-1 run to grab the 15-14 lead, which they would not give up and took the set 25-20.
 
The Broncs jumped out to the early lead on a kill by Ijanae Holman.  A couple of errors by the Huskies extended the Broncs lead to 6-3.  Later in the set, a kill by Diara Reynolds pushed the Broncs lead to 13-8.  HBU then answered with a 9-1 run to grab the 17-14 advantage and then the Huskies closed out the set on an 8-2 run to take the third set 25-16.
 
Maria Kliefoth led the way for the Broncs with nine kills while Sarah Davis chipped in eight kills of her own.  Juri Franzen paced the defense with 16 digs and Ashten Landry added eight digs.  Freshman Macey Singleton paced the offense with 22 assists.
 
Christie Dorch paced the Huskies with 12 kills and chipped in 10 digs.  Courtney Whittleman led the defense with 13 digs while Heather Leaverton added nine digs of her own.  
 
The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics competes at the NCAA Division I classification. UTPA formerly known as Pan American College and Pan American University is a part of the University of Texas System of Schools. The Broncs compete in 14 varsity sports; men's and women's basketball, golf, tennis, track and field, and cross country, along with women's volleyball and men's baseball. In 1963, then known as Pan American College, the Bronc men's basketball team won the NAIA National Championship with a 73-62 victory over Western Carolina. In 2008 UTPA joined the new all-sports division of the Great West Conference.