UT Tyler Head Coach Rachel Short and her 12-member volleyball squad made local sports history this weekend as they played their first-ever volleyball games. The Patriots (2-1) participated in the Big Country Classic in Abilene hosted by McMurry and Hardin-Simmons Universities.

UT Tyler opened its season on a high note, going 2-1 in the tournament. The Patriots defeated Hardin-Simmons (30-18, 30-27, 30-27) and Mary-Hardin Baylor (30-28, 24-30, 30-23, 30-16); their loss came to McMurry (30-25, 30-20, 30-25) which went 3-0 for the tournament. All four teams are members of the NCAA Division III American Southwest Conference.

Patriot players Tami Trail, Meghan Sulik and Cathryn Hayslip were selected to the all-tournament team. Trail is a junior from Kaufman (Hill JC), Sulik is a freshman from Lumberton (Lumberton HS), and Hayslip is a junior from Waxahachie (UT Brownsville).

The Patriots return to action next weekend as they travel to Sherman for the Austin College Classic; their first home game is set for Sept. 23 when they meet East Texas Baptist at 7 p.m. at UT Tyler’s Herrington Patriot Center.