ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Volleyball split its opening day of the 2026 season, falling to UT Dallas in three sets before bouncing back with a sweep over Cameron.
The Lions play Augustana at 9 a.m. Saturday and host Henderson State at 3 p.m. on day two of the Bettye Wallace Classic.
UT Dallas 3, UAFS 0 (25, 21, 25-23, 25-13)
Three players led the Lions with eight kills each but UAFS was unable to keep pace with the Comets as it hit just .103.
The Lions looked to even the match in set two as they took a 21-19 lead with a 5-0 run with middle Emily Parker contributing on four of the points. However, the Comets scored the next three points and then broke a 22-22 tie by scoring three of the final four points for the 2-0 lead.
UAFS was held to a negative attack percentage in set three. UTD had eight aces to just one for the Lions.
Libero Abbey Jackson led the Lions with 18 digs while outside hitter Lydia Pitts had 13. Setter Mayli Whetter tallied a double-double of 26 assists and 15 digs.
UAFS 3, Cameron 0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-14)
Pitts hit .342 and tallied a double-double of 15 kills and 14 digs to lead the Lions to a sweep over the Aggies. Defensively, UAFS held Cameron to a .051 attack percentage for the match.
The Lions led by as many as nine in the opening set before holding off a pair of 4-0 Cameron runs. Cameron hit .000 in the set as the Lions took a 1-0 advantage.
In set two, UAFS once again took the early lead before the Aggies tied the set at 15-15. UAFS went ahead by three twice only to see Cameron tie it both times, with the last being at 23-23. Kills by Parker and right-side Elza Jansone then gave the Lions the 2-0 lead.
Cameron scored the first three points of set three before the Lions used a 6-0 run to take an 8-4 lead. The Aggies then tied the match at 8-8 before the Lions edged ahead, 18-14. UAFS then scored the final seven points of the match with four aces from Bree Pardy.
Outside hitter Codi Jackson joined Pitts in double figures with 10 kills while Whetter had 32 helpers. Abbey Jackson added 10 digs.
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