TYLER, Texas – Southern Nazarene University Volleyball opened their 2023 season in Tyler, Texas at the Patriot Classic, competing in two of their four total games on Friday against Union and UT-Tyler. SNU managed the Union sweep in their opening game (25-22, 25-15, 25-22), but dropped their second match to UT-Tyler in five sets (25-19, 25-20, 25-23, 25-19, 15-12).
 
The Storm (1-1, 0-0 GAC) dominated Union from opening serve in Set 1 and took care of business all the way through to the final set. SNU's .344 hitting percentage and eight blocks kept them atop the Bulldogs (0-2, 0-0 GSC) the entire match. Set 2 was the ultimate turning point for the Storm as they warded off any chance at a Union comeback. They recorded five straight points to put them ahead by seven late in the match, ultimately getting the 2-0 lead, carrying that dominance to an eventual first-game sweep.
 
Their match with Tyler was an entirely different story. The Patriots (2-0, 0-0 LSC) were not as easy of an opponent, challenging the Storm to five sets. The match was even throughout, but Tyler's opening performance and third-set comeback were the difference-makers that propelled them to victory.
 
Game 1
 
SNU's game sweep was prompted by their attack in the first set, handing Union back-to-back kills and a handful of problems at the net, allowing the Storm to pull away by as many as seven points early on in Set 1.
 
Late service aces and timely kills gave Union an edge late in the first set, bringing them within a single point at 22-21. Clutch kills from Whitney Bowie and Rayanna Mauldin in the final possessions ultimately put SNU on top.
 
Set 2 saw multiple lead changes, with Union trailing by just two at the halfway point.
The Storm outscored Union 9-2 from their 16-14 lead, securing their Set 2 win for the 2-0 advantage.
 
Union fought back in the final set, tieing the match multiple times throughout. A Union ace put the Bulldogs ahead 19-18, but SNU's attack game and solid defensive effort was no match, and they celebrated the season-opening sweep with a final 25-22 victory.
 
 
Game 2
 
Powered by consecutive kills early in the opening set, the Patriots jumped out to a 13-4 lead. SNU strung together a 4-0 run to bring the set within five, but the Patriots answered on every SNU attack and finished with the 1-0 lead.
 
Set 2 started out the same with Tyler breaking out a five-point run for an early 6-2 lead. The Storm went on a 5-0 run of their own midway through, getting ahead 16-15. The teams traded points the rest of the set, but errors from the Patriots and SNU's attack tied the match at 1-1 with SNU winning 25-20.
 
The Storm jumped all over the Patriots in Set 3, going on multiple scoring runs to get ahead by as many as five. Tyler's defense forced multiple errors on the Storm, and they strung together a 9-0 run for the 18-14 lead. Batschelett's performance at the net kept SNU alive, but Tyler pulled away late for a Set 3 win.
 
SNU was the aggressor in Set 4, piecing together numerous runs for a dominant 21-12 lead. The Patriots attempted to answer, but costly errors handed SNU the win and put the match up for grabs with a fifth set.
 
The Storm looked to be in line for victory, building a 9-5 lead in the final set. A 5-0 run by the Patriots changed the course of the match and SNU never recovered, allowing Tyler to take the 15-12 win and an overall 3-2 match victory.
 
Batschelett and Tessa Henry each had double-digit kills with 17 and 13 respectively.
 
 
Up next
 
SNU will suit up for two more matches to close out the Tournament, taking on St. Edwards at 10 a.m. followed by a match with Fort Lewis College at 3 p.m.