KINGSVILLE, Texas – Junior middle blocker
Ashley Bukowski finished with a season-high 17 kills in Texas A&M-Kingsville volleyball's second match of the Emerald Beach Hotel Javelina Volleyball Invitational Friday afternoon in Gil H. Steinke Physical Education Center-Hampton Inn Court. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough as the Falcons won the contest 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 17-25, 27-25).
The Javelinas fall to 4-2 while BU improved to 2-4.
Both
Krystal Faison and
Casey Klobedans recorded double-doubles. Faison had 14 kills and 13 digs while Klobedans posted 38 assists and 14 digs.
Defensively,
Haley Hutchinson had seven blocks with one being a solo rejection.
Brett Zaccardo finished with a match best 20 digs.
It seemed like TAMUK would have an easy match after jumping out to an early 4-0 lead in the first set thanks to three kills by Bukowski. However, after the Falcons fought back to tie the score 8-8 they went on a 10-2 run to take control of the game. The Javelinas were able to cut the deficit to five twice with the last being at 23-18 following Faison's sixth kill.
Set two remained close throughout as both squads squandered chances to pull away. Down by two, back-to-back kills from
Madison Brabham and Bukowski put the Blue and Gold up 20-19. The Falcons came back to win six of the final nine points to go up 2-0 in the match.
The Javelinas jumped out to an early 5-1 advantage thanks to two kills from Bukowski and one each by Hutchinson and Klobedans. Four straight points by BU tied the score but back-to-back Bukowski kills put TAMUK in the lead for good the rest of the way.
Bentley appeared to have momentum after taking an 8-6 advantage. The Blue and Gold had other ideas. A kill by
Valarie Moehrig from the back row started an 8-0 run during which Brabham and Klobedans teamed up for two blocks and Brabham and Moehrig did for one.
It appeared the contest would go five sets, however Bentley came back to take the set 27-25 thanks to timely kills to win the match in four.
The Blue and Gold conclude their home tournament on Saturday with a 10 a.m. contest against Drury and Lubbock Christian at 2:30 p.m.
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