DALLAS – The Angelo State volleyball team advanced to the Lone Star Conference Tournament Semifinals on Thursday afternoon with a 3-1 win over sixth-seeded UT Tyler in Dallas on the campus of DBU.

The Belles took set one 25-14; despite not rattling off one long run, the Belles went on five different 3-0 scoring runs to pull away from the Patriots.

The Patriots rebounded to take set two 25-23 despite a valiant effort for the Belles that saw them go on a 7-3 run when they were down 20-16 to tie the match; however, the Patriots would claim the final two points, and eventually, the set.

The Belles took a 2-1 set lead with a 25-18 victory in set three; the Belles' defense at the net proved vital, with the Belles going on a 4-2 run where all four points were scored on blocks by the Belles.

Set four started with a 5-0 run for the Belles, but the Patriots would fight back to take the lead late in the set. With the score tied at 21, the Belles scored four of the match's final five points to win their first LSC Tournament match since the Spring 2021 season.

The Belles recorded 13.5 blocks as a team, a season-high for the squad; they hit .210, a stark contrast from last Saturday's match against the Patriots, where the Belles hit .113.

Hannah Kinnison led the team with 13 kills, hitting .321 for the match, and Evelyn Torres recorded her third double-double of the season with 11 kills alongside 13 digs; she hit .286 on the day.
Marina Sanchez and Elsa Lamphere had seven kills each; Sanchez also chipped in a pair of solo blocks and block assists defensively.

Hannah Spencer had six kills and hit .308; she also proved the catalyst for the Belles' dominance at the net, with four block assists and three solo blocks. Her seven blocks are the most for a Belle in a match this season.

Laney Dale assisted 23 times, while Kayla Baer added 15 more off the bench.

Torres and Caleigh Enax tied for a team-high 13 digs, while libero Ireland Ferguson had 11.

The Belles improve to 23-6 on the season; they compete in the LSC semifinals tomorrow at 5 p.m. against the winner of West Texas A&M and Texas Woman's match this afternoon.