Box Score

HAMMOND, Louisiana – The University of Texas-Pan American Broncs volleyball team fell to the Louisiana Technical University Techsters 3-1 in their first match of the 2012 Tangi Tourism Lion Classic on Friday at the University Center on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University.
 
The first set stayed close throughout as neither team went up by more than three in the early going. The Broncs (1-7) built a 13-10 lead after an attack error by Fenix Calderon, but the Techsters (2-6) responded with a 7-1 run to go up 17-14. The Broncs broke the run on a kill by Maria Kliefoth, but the Techsters scored the next four points to go up 21-15. After a timeout, back-to-back kills by Diara Reynolds brought the Broncs within four. After a service error by Juri Franzen, Reynolds recorded another kill, but the Techsters scored the final three points to take the set 25-18.
 
Reynolds finished the set with a team-high five kills. She finished with a match-high and season-high 13 kills on a match-high and season-high 42 attacks. Haley Durham was second with a career-high 11 kills while making just three errors in 23 attacks for a team-best .348 hitting percentage. Nycole Masaki had a match-high 37 assists while Franzen had a match-high 24 digs.
 
The Broncs jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second set on a kill by Durham, and after the Techsters scored the next two points, a pair of kills by Durham helped the Broncs expand their lead to 8-3. Reynolds then entered the game, and after a service error by Michelle McNamee, Reynolds recorded back-to-back kills to kick-off a 6-1 run to put the Broncs up 14-5. The Broncs maintained their lead for most of the set, going up 23-18. The Techsters, however, closed the set on a 7-0 run to win 25-23.
 
In the third set, the Broncs again took an early 4-1 lead, but the Techsters came back to tie it up at 8-8. Strong serving by Franzen helped the Broncs to respond with a 5-0 run as they took the lead for good at 13-8. The Broncs led by as many as eight twice, after a service ace by Sarah Davis that made it 19-11 and after a kill by Reynolds that ended the set at 25-17.
 
The Broncs had an early 5-3 lead in the fourth set, and were within 11-9 a little later, but the Techsters pulled away for a 25-13 win.
 
The Techsters were led by Emily Maher, who had 11 kills, and Maria Coelho, who had 35 assists.
 
The Broncs return to action on at 1:00 p.m. against host Southeastern Louisiana University.
 
The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics competes at the NCAA Division I level. 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. The Broncs have won six team national championships, including the 1963 NAIA Championship in men's basketball and every NAIA Championship in men's tennis from 1961 through 1965. The Broncs also have also won 10 individual national championships, all in men's tennis, with six NAIA doubles championships and four NAIA singles championships. UTPA has been a member of the all-sports division of the Great West Conference since 2009-10.