ARLINGTON – The UT Arlington volleyball team swept their home opening doubleheader over Arkansas State on Friday, Oct. 16. The Mavs outlasted the Red Wolves in match one of the day, defeating A-State 3-2 (20-25, 25-20, 25-22, 22-25, 15-7). UTA completed the sweep of the doubleheader with a 3-1 (25-22, 18-25, 25-22, 25-23) win in the nightcap.

The sweep pushed UTA to 5-0 on the season, marking the first 5-0 start to Sun Belt Conference play in program history. The 5-0 start is also marks the sixth time the Mavs have opened the season with five straight wins and the first time since 2004, when the Mavericks opened the season 6-0.

UTA and Arkansas State with battle in series finale on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 17) at 1:00 p.m.

FINAL (MATCH 1) | UTA 3, Arkansas State 2 | 20-25, 25-20, 25-22, 22-25, 15-7
Briana Brown led the way with a team-high 15 kills. Brianna Ford finished with 11 kills and 12 digs, while Devon Martinka registered 11 kills and three blocks. Brooke Townsend added 10 kills, eight digs and four blocks. Mollie Blank and Kylee Kapp tallied 21 assists each, while Alli Wells finished with a match-high 33 digs.

Madison Brown led the Red Wolves with 16 kills, while Josie Stanford finished with 12 kills.

The Mavs edged A-State in hitting percentage .156-.155 and forced the Red Wolves into 27 hitting errors.

UTA STAT LEADERS
Kills: Briana Brown (15)
Assists: Kylee Kapp, Mollie Blank (21)
Blocks: Michaela Wright (6)
Digs: Alli Wells (33)
Service Aces: Michaela Wright, Kylee Kapp, Alyssa Duran (2)

FINAL (MATCH 2) | UTA 3, Arkansas State 1 | 25-22, 18-25, 25-22, 25-23
Brianna Ford led UTA with 14 kills, as three Mavericks tallied double-digit kills. Simara Peyton and Brooke Townsend recorded 10. Both Ford and Townsend notched double-doubles. Mollie Blank also posted a double-double with 24 assists and 21 digs. Alli Wells led with 27 digs while Kylee Kapp had 12 assists and 11 digs.

Madison Brown recorded 24 kills on a program-record 89 attempts to go along with 15 digs to lead A-State. Lauren Musante posted her second straight double-double of the weekend with 45 assists and 28 digs.

UTA STAT LEADERS
Kills: Brianna Ford (14)
Assists: Mollie Blank (24)
Blocks: 5 players (1)
Digs: Alli Wells (27)
Service Aces: 4 players (1)