Western Texas Falls in Five Sets to Frank Phillips

Snyder, TX - Western Texas volleyball (8-11, 0-2 WJCAC) lost in five sets to the Frank Phillips Plainsmen (6-13, 1-1 WJCAC) on Saturday, 2-3 (25-22, 24-26, 25-14, 15-17). 

The Lady Westerners looked to bounce back after being swept by the Odessa Wranglers earlier in the week for their first conference appearance. Western Texas welcomed the Frank Phillips Plainsmen to Snyder on Saturday afternoon. Both teams entered the day 0-1 in conference play as the Plainsmen were defeated by New Mexico Junior College on Wednesday. 

Both sides executed incredibly well throughout the first set as Western Texas held a slight edge halfway in, 13-12. The Lady Westerners went on a run to force the Plainsmen to call a timeout to slow the momentum, 16-12. Frank Phillips made it competitive to end the first set, but Western Texas was able to separate and finish the set win, 25-22

Frank Phillips came out strong in the second set and held a lead over Western Texas through the start. Down four points, the Lady Westerners regained their footing off of successful long rallies and a service ace from Anayah Sinclair, 8-10. The home team would tie the matchup at ten apiece and continue to fight in the competitive back and forth affair, 12-12. Late into the second set, the Plainsmen attempted to pull away but the Westerners did not surrender. In an intense finish, Frank Phillips escaped with the set two victory, 24-26. 

Western Texas fired on all cylinders to start the third set as they took a seven point advantage, 10-3. The team consistently held the large lead later in the set from a big service ace from Addison McClure which forced a Plainsmen timeout, 17-9. Western Texas dominated the entirety of the third set and earned the set lead, 25-14. 

The Plainsmen led the Westerners for most of the fourth set and won to force a fifth and final set, 23-25. Western Texas College played from behind to begin the fifth set but crawled back into the set late, 11-11. Tied at 13 apiece, the Plainsmen looked to close it out but a smart dump off from Vianney Hernandez forced the game into a two-point advantage victory, 14-14. At 15-16, the Westerners fell and dropped theri second conference game of the season, 15-17. 

UP NEXT: Western Texas will take on Midland College at home on Wednesday, September 25th. The match will begin at 6pm. 

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