CANYON, Texas – For the first time since Nov. 4, 2004 and only seventh time in school history, the Texas A&M-Kingsville volleyball team (13-8, 4-4 LSC) defeated West Texas A&M (7-10, 1-6 LSC). The Javelinas won 3-1 (25-21, 26-24, 21-25, 25-16) in The Box. It was also the fourth victory ever on the road against the Lady Buffaloes and first since Oct. 16, 2004.
"It's very exciting to beat West Texas A&M," said head coach
Tanya Allen. "I thought our girls did a phenomenal job defensively, particularly Brett [Zaccardo]." She made some big digs at crucial moments."
Brett Zaccardo finished the match with 30 digs, one shy of tying her career-high that she set earlier this season, and had six assists. At the net defensively,
Madison Brabham,
Haley Hutchinson and
Casey Klobedans all finished with four blocks.
Leading the Blue and Gold offensively was
Valarie Moehrig with 18 kills.
Ashley Bukowski contributed 16 kills with a .257 attack percentage and nine digs.
Finishing with a double-double were
Krystal Faison and Klobedans. Faison finished with 11 kills and a career best 25 digs. Klobedans recorded a 41-assist, 10-dig performance and added seven kills.
TAMUK opened the match with a 4-2 lead thanks to two kills from Bukowski. A 3-1 run from WT that was capped off by a block put them ahead 9-7. However, the Javelinas responded by taking six of the next seven points, three coming on kills by Moehrig, to go back in front the rest of the set.
Most of the second stanza saw the Lady Buffs in the lead except for 22-21 Hog advantage. WT then outscored TAMUK 3-1 to get to set point. Two errors by the Lady Buffs followed by a kill from Hutchinson put the Blue and Gold 2-0 in the contest.
Set three began with WT jumping out to an 8-1 advantage. The only point for TAMUK came on a kill by Bukowski. Three points was the closet the Hogs would at 24-21 after a kill courtesy of Klobedans until the home team took match point.
With the score tied 2-2, the Javelinas went on a 5-1 scoring stretch that was bookended by two kills apiece from Moehrig and Faison. TAMUK increased their advantage to 18-10 after a combined block by Brabham and Bukowski.
The Lady Buffs responded with a 6-1 burst to cut the lead to three. Unfortunately for them, the final six points went to the Blue and Gold in part to five WT attack errors.
One more match awaits TAMUK on their five-match road swing. The Hogs play Newman at 3:30 p.m. in Canyon, Texas for a non-conference tilt.
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