NEW ORLEANS, LA - The Texas Wesleyan volleyball team opened their season today as they competed in day one of the Wolf Pack Welcome. The Rams dropped both matches, falling to Embry Riddle (Ariz.), 3-0, falling Webber International (Fla.), 3-1.
 

Texas Wesleyan vs. Embry Riddle (Ariz.)
25-20,25-23,25-20

Set one would see Embry Riddle jump out to a quick 4-0 lead before Texas Wesleyan found their footing in their first set of the 2024 season. The Rams would cut into the deficit keep things close heading into the halfway mark of the game and would have things all tied up at 12-12. A Kendal King kill would give the Texas Wesleyan their first lead of the contest over the Eagles. The two teams would begin trading points back and forth until Embry Riddle would get the slight edge over the rams at 20-18.  After a costly foot fault at the service line from the Rams, the Eagles would go on a run to close out set one 20-25.

Sydney Alexander with open set two with a monster attack as the rams look to bounce back from the set one loss. Like the pervious set, the two teams would keep things close with nine ties as neither team could pull more than two points from one another. Coming down the stretch Embry Riddle would be the first team to reach 20 with the Texas Wesleyan trailing close behind. Now down 24-23 the Rams would have an unforced error to give the Eagles another set win at 25-23.

In the final set of the match Embry riddle would start the contest by going on a with an 8-1 run and never look back as the Rams struggled to generate any offense early in the set. The Eagles would continue to get the best of Texas Wesleyan as they would grab their biggest lead of the contest at 17-6. Unwilling to go quietly, Texas Wesleyan would go on an incredible 14-5 run to pull within one point of Embry Riddle. Though the Rams showed true grit and heart, Embry Riddle would close out the game on a 5-0 run to end the match with a 25-20 victory. 

NOTES

• Hanna Rubis led the Rams with eight nine and seven blocks.
• Ruby O'Brien led the way in assists with 18 and added seven digs.
• Texas Wesleyan finished hitting a .113 on the match behind 106 attempts with 34 kills and 22 errors. 

Texas Wesleyan vs. Webber Intl' (Fla.)

23-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-23

Match two would see the Rams looking to get their first set win of the season as they faced off against the Warriors of Weber International.

Set one would be another heard fought battler as both teams fought point for point for much of the contest. After a costly service error, the Warriors the set would be all knotted up at 19-19. Rubio O'Brien would head to the service line to deliver back-to-back aces to give the Rams the 21-19 edge. Not to be out done, Webber International we go on a mini run of their own to regain the lead over the Rams 22-21. The final few points of set would see the two teams see two more ties before the Rams were able to put the set away at 23-25. 

Set two would be another neck and neck battles between the two as neither team refused to back down from the other. Down the stretch Webber International would get the better of the Rams to take the set 25-22. 

With five points of total separation between the two sets, set three would see Weber International take the biggest lead of the match so far with an early 8-4 lead over the Rams. Lyric Biggiers would snap the run with a massive kill to cut into the deficit to keep Texas Wesleyan alive. Weber international kept their foot on the gas pedal while a slew of unforced errors by the Rams would slow down their momentum. Texas Wesleyan would continue to struggle to generate any offense, and the Warriors would take set three 25-19 over the Rams 

In a highly competitive fourth set, the two teams would be in another battle as the Rams looked to force a deciding fifth set while Weber International looked to close out the match.  After trading points early, the Rams would get a 13-10 lead over the Warriors. The Rams would control most of the set, but Webber International was able to slowly chip away at the lead and take the 22-2. In another tight game, the Rams would see more unforced errors that helped their opponents close out the match 25-23 to take the match win. 

NOTES

• Grace Pavelka led the Rams with a career high 12 kills.
• Ruby O'Brien notched her first double-double performance with 24 assists and 10 digs. 
• Freshman Ruby Rumohr added a career high 24 assists
• Makenna Dillow finished with a career high 17 digs. 
• Texas Wesleyan finished hitting a .177 on the match behind 147 attempts with 48 kills and 22 errors. 

The Rams are back in action tomorrow at 1 PM to face off against the #15 Montana Western and Loyola University at 3 PM to close out the final day of play at the Wolf Pack Welcome.