A back-and-forth match saw the teams exchange sets all the way through and a wild fifth falling towards the Mavs 15-13. UTA improved to 9-5 overall with the victory and 3-1 in the Sun Belt, while Little Rock went to 10-7 and 2-2 in the league after its second consecutive defeat. UTA will not get much rest before returning to the court, beginning a three-match road trip on Tuesday when it travels down I-35 to take on in-state rival Texas State. 

"We talked about resiliency last night, and today showed once again that this team is willing to fight," UTA coach J.T. Wenger said. "We were down 8-2 at the switch and able to battle back and win it out was really impressive. I am really proud of the team."

Geathers would finish second on the team with 17 kills, only behind Brooke Townsend who had a season high and match-high 18 kills. Alex Janak earned her eight double-double and third consecutive with 31 assists and 11 digs. Bre Walp knocked down two solo blocks and added four assisted. 

"There were times tonight where we as a staff said to each other that we have four freshmen out there," Wenger said. "That group has played together in some sort but first time under the lights. They really showed up and performed. It was really exciting to see as a staff and as a program. 
 
MATCH RECAP
SET ONE
After exchanging the opening 10 points of the match, UTA used a run that was pushed along from Bre Walp, scoring four in a row and sending the match into its first timeout with the Mavs leading 9-5. Little Rock used the break to settle into the match, scoring three of the next four points to close the gap down to just one point. The visitors jumped into the lead using its block to spur a four-point run, forcing UTA to a timeout down 19-17. The run continued out of the break, with another block giving Little Rock its sixth consecutive point on the way on the way to a 25-22 opening set win.
 
SET TWO
Zhanelle Geathers came out flying in the second set, knocking down back-to-back kills to send Little Rock to a timeout with UTA up early, 5-1. Little Rock mirrored the first set with a quick run of its own to bring the match tied 7-7, where the teams would exchange points before a kill down the line gave the Trojans a 12-10 lead. UTA's attack settled into the set to chip away at the lead, while the front line of the Mavs turned the set into a block party, knocking three assisted blocks to build up a late advantage. Madison Hill took advantage and helped the Mavs to the set with back-to-back kills for set point, the clincher coming on a kill from Bre Walp in the middle.
 
SET THREE
Little Rock came out of the break on fire with the UTA defense unable to get an answer. Little Rock, hitting .462 through the first 12 points of the set, had an early 10-2 lead. UTA wouldn't't go quietly however, pushing back into the set to close the gap down to 13-10 and a Little Rock timeout. The steam of UTA's comeback bid started to slow, Little Rock pulling ahead on a 5-1 run, eventually taking the third 25-16.
 
SET FOUR
UTA shook off the third with a quick run out of the gates in the fourth. Walp and Geathers combined on back-to-back blocks and UTA padded an early 5-2 lead. The Mavericks would build up a lead behind the arm of Geathers and Hill, but Little Rock stormed back to tie the set up late. Geathers cut perfect ball inside the line to give UTA a set point, and she'd get another chance on the next point to send the match into the fifth with her 12th kill of the match.
 
SET FIVE
Little Rock turned over momentum early with a quick 3-0 run to start the set, forcing a timeout. Out of the break, an ace pushed it to a 4-0 lead. Geathers helped settle the Mavs in with a pair of kills to trim things down to 8-3 after the teams changed sides. UTA closed the set down to just two points with Little Rock struggling to pick up the UTA serve. A service ace from Hill was followed by a kill from Jordyn Sinnette to tie it up at 10-10, Sinnette knocking another to keep the teams locked. With it going either way at 13-13, Geathers closed things out with her power, clinching a 15-13 set final. 

MATCH NOTES
UTA is 7-1 on the home court this season... UTA won for the first time this season after falling in the first set... The Mavs are 11-8 against Little Rock all-time, winning the last two - both on the home court... Madelyn St. Germain finished with a season-high 35 digs.