SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The Texas A&M-Kingsville volleyball team has quietly caught fire with four consecutive victories, including two in Lone Star Conference play. On Tuesday night, they traveled to LSC rival Incarnate Word and came away with a straight sets victory 25-22, 25-22, 25-22. (box score)

The Javelinas (8-6, 4-6) used a different approach in each set to pick up the win. Sophomore Bethany Friesenhahn (Poth/Poth HS) and freshman Kelsey Washington (Cuero/Cuero HS) were the team’s go-to players for most of the night as they combined for 27 kills of the team’s 43 kills.

In the first set, the Hoggies trailed by as many as three points to the Cardinals (9-8, 5-5) at 15-12 and still trailed 21-20 before winning the set. With the score tied 22-22, Friesenhahn pounded out a kill to take the lead and then served up the final two points, including an ace to clinch the set.

The Javelinas jumped all over the Cards in the second set taking a 13-2 lead early on. Nine of those points were due to attack errors by the Cardinals, including three blocks by Freisenhahn. She teamed with Washington on two of the blocks.

The Javs maintained an 11-point lead at 20-9 before the Cardinals made things interesting. UIW scored the next five points of the match and got as close as 24-22 before Stephanie Johns’ (Lubbock/Coronado HS) kill ended the set.

The third set was close throughout with neither team leading by more than three points throughout. The Javs took the lead for good at 14-13 and never relinquished it.

The Javelinas finished the match with a .183 attack percentage, 51 digs, 7.0 total blocks and six service aces. Washington had 14 kills, a .323 attack and two b lock while Friesenhahn had 13 kills, a .267 attack and six blocks. Senior Sondra Cui directed the attack with 31 assists and six digs while the defense was led by junior Ali Insell (The Woodlands/The Woodlands HS) with 18 digs.

The Cardinals pounded 37 kills on a .158 attack percentage with 55 digs, 5.0 total blocks and four aces. Chelsea Grayson and Elizabeth Soukup each had 10 kills and three attack errors. Daniella Vidaurri added seven kills and a .467 attack percentage. Danielle Suarez led the team with 21 digs while Lydia Werchan had 19 digs.

The Javelinas are back in action on Thursday night at 7 p.m. at LSC rival Tarleton State.
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