Final Stats

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas - UT Arlington fell 3-1 (25-22, 25-23, 24-26) to UALR on Friday evening at Jack Stephens Center. The Mavericks received a strong showing from freshman Qiana Canete, who recorded her 10th double-double of the season with 18 digs and 17 kills.

"When they have their two outside hitters putting up 45 kills together, it's going to be a tough night for us," UT Arlington coach Diane Seymour said. "I was proud of our effort defensively, and I think just a few corrections here and there and it will be a different ball game next time."

The loss pushes UTA to 13-4 on the year and 3-2 in conference play, while UALR improves to 11-4 overall and 5-0 in the Sun Belt Conference.

Helping Canete spur the Mavs offensively was Hannah Baptiste who notched 14 kills in four-set loss. Amanda Welsh also did her part to direct the offense as she recorded 30 assists on the night. UTA relied on Caitlyn Cooney defensively as the junior libero recorded a team-high 22 digs.

The Mavericks jumped out to an early lead in the match as a setting error by the Trojans put UTA up 7-2. UALR then closed the lead down to three points at 14-11 before UTA answered back with three straight points to take a 17-11 lead. The Trojans then closed the opening set out with a 14-5 run to take the set 25-22.

Stacey Koch and Baptiste led the Mavericks in the first set as the two players recorded three kills apiece. Koch hit .750 in the set while Baptiste recorded a hitting percentage of .333. Welsh and Cassidy Wheeler did their part to lead the UTA offense as the duo recorded seven and five assists respectively in the set.

UTA got out to a quick start again in the second set when a pair of attack errors by UALR put the Mavs up 4-1. Trailing 15-10 later in the set, UTA compiled an 8-4 run which cut the lead down to one point at 19-18. The two teams then traded blows as neither team took more than a three-point lead the rest of the set. A kill by Taylor Gross later in the set brought UTA within one point at 24-23, but the Trojans took a 2-0 lead in the match as they took the second frame 25-23.

Canete led the Mavs in the second frame recording four kills and five digs in the set. Welsh also continued to guide the offense with eight assists in the second frame. Cooney did her part defensively as she recorded 11 digs in the set.

The Mavs took control of the third frame when they scored seven straight points to take a 15-8 lead. UALR then closed the lead as they answered back with a 16-9 run to tie the set at 24. The Mavericks then staved off the sweep as they scored back to back points from kills by Baptiste and Canete to take the set 26-24.

Canete and Baptiste teamed up to spark the offense in the third set, teaming up for 14 of the teams 18 kills. As a team the Mavericks outhit the Trojans during the set .268 to .184.

The Trojans stormed out in the fourth set taking a 13-5 lead. Later in the set with UTA trailing 24-14, the Mavericks scored back to back points, but it was too little too late as UALR claimed the fourth set 25-16 and the match 3-1.

Canete once again led the Mavs in the second set as she recorded four kills and six digs.

The Mavericks will return to the court on Sunday when they take on Arkansas State with the match set to begin at 1 p.m.