PRAIRIE VIEW – Senior Haley Durham posted a career-high nine blocks to lead the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros volleyball team past the Prairie View A&M University Panthers 3-0 (25-13, 25-20, 25-13) on Thursday at the William Nicks Building.
 
The nine total blocks tie for the 11^th highest single-match total in program history. Eight of Durham's blocks were block assists, tied for the fourth-highest single match total.
 
Now with 241 career block assists, Durham passes Stephanie Redd (240, 2002-05) for second place in program history. Danielle Holthe (2002-05) holds the record with 250. Durham also moves into fourth place in total blocks with 296, passing Deanna Schneyer (295, 2005-08). Redd is next on the list with 310, followed by Holthe with 312. Lisa Yanez (1993-96) holds the record with 323.
 
Durham also had eight kills with just one error in 16 attacks for a .438 hitting percentage.
 
Junior Alisha Watson led the Vaqueros (7-7) in kills with 11 on .409 hitting to go with three aces. Sophomore Bojana Mitrovic had nine kills with seven digs.
 
Randi Hunter led the Panthers (0-14) with seven kills. Ana Kiso had 21 assists while Marina Martinez posted 11 digs.
 
The Vaqueros out-hit the Panthers .271-.040.
 
Durham, redshirt junior San Benito alum Kasey Sanchez and Mitrovic all had kills while Watson had an ace as the Vaqueros jumped out to a 4-1 first set lead. The Panthers closed to within 6-7, but a Mitrovic kill sparked a 10-3 run, capped by another Watson ace, as the Vaqueros ran away for a 1-0 lead.
 
The Vaqueros ended up closing the first set on an 18-7 run and then used a 13-3 outburst at the start of the second set for a stretch in which they outscored the Panthers 31-10. Watson, Durham and Mitrovic each had a pair of kills while Durham and Megan Dempsey each served up an ace to help the Vaqueros build that lead. Mitrovic had another kill to make it 14-4 before the Panthers went on an 8-1 run to pull within three. The Vaqueros pushed their lead back out to 19-13 on a Durham kill and 23-16 on a Durham ace before holding on for the win.
 
The third set was tight early, but with the scored tied at 7, Watson used kills to bookend a 5-0 run which later became a 12-3 run, capped by a block by Durham and freshman Alexandra Ecker, as the Vaqueros completed the sweep.
 
The Vaqueros open up Western Athletic Conference play on Saturday at 2 p.m. when they visit New Mexico State, the No. 41 ranked team in the RichKern Poll. Vaqueros head coach Todd Lowery has never lost a conference match (75-0).

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