LADY BRONCS FALL TO IPFW IN FIVE
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

EDINBURG, TX-Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne was the last team standing when the last two Independent champions met at the UTPA Fieldhouse Sunday afternoon.

The Mastodons came from behind to defeat the Lady Broncs, 24-30, 26-30, 30-28, 30-25 and 15-11.
IPFW won despite a near-record performance by freshman libero Carol Marcengo (Curitiba, Brazil/SPEI HS), whose 41 digs were four short of the UTPA single-match record of 45, set by Nikol Gerlach in 1995. Marcengo has now had 20 or more digs in 11 consecutive matches.

Junior outside hitter Cathi Netemeyer (Los Fresnos, TX/Los Fresnos HS/Iowa) had 21 kills to lead Texas-Pan American. Senior outside hitter Jaclyn Muszynski (Walnut, CA/Walnut HS) added 14 kills and 22 digs, freshman outside hitter Heather Bravo (Las Vegas, NV/Durango HS) had 12 kills and 10 digs, and freshman setter Karen Lyons (McAllen, TX/McAllen Memorial HS) added 28 assists and 14 digs. Muszynski now has 301 kills, and is the first player at UTPA to have 300 or more kills in four seasons.

Janelle Pollard had 21 kills for IPFW, while Fabiana Souza added 18 kills and 17 digs. Nicole Howell had 16 kills, while Nicole Ray added 25 digs.

"It was tough, especially after we won the first two games and lost the third game, 30-28," said UTPA Head Coach Dave Thorn. "I have to give IPFW a lot of credit, they played well, and they played hard. Pollard and Souza were hard to stop, and they made the plays at the end of the last three games when they needed to, and we didn't."

Texas-Pan American dropped to 12-10 with the loss, while the Mastodons improved to 13-9. The Lady Broncs will return to action when they visit Texas-San Antonio Wednesday evening.

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