KINGSVILLE, Texas – Texas A&M-Kingsville head volleyball coach
Tanya Allen became the program's winningest coach with the team's 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-18) victory over St. Mary's Friday afternoon at the Emerald Beach Hotel Javelina Volleyball Invitational. Allen now has 69 victories since taking over the Javelina to surpass Jane Kieschnick (2000-06).
"The record is more about the team but it feels great," Allen said. "It is humbling to be able to set a record like that."
The Blue and Gold improved to 5-1 on the season while the Rattlers are now 2-3 and have lost two straight.
"It was good to execute the game against a tough regional opponent," said Allen. "The girls played extremely well and hopefully we can continue to do so thru out the tournament."
Krystal Faison recorded her second straight double-double and third of the season with a game-high 16 kills and 14 digs. She also led all players with a .394 attack percentage and added two blocks. Junior
Valarie Moehrig contributed 10 kills with a .364 attack percentage.
Setter
Casey Klobedans was credited with 31 assists and contributed nine digs, six kills and three service aces. Finishing with five blocks, two of them solo, was
Madison Brabham.
As a team, the Blue and Gold recorded 46 kills on just 11 errors for a .327 attack percentage. STMU on the other hand was held to 26 kills, 11 of which came in the final set, and a .090 hitting percentage. The Javelinas also blocked seven shots to the Rattlers five.
TAMUK never trailed the entire first set. A kill by
Haley Hutchinson gave the Javelinas their largest lead at 22-11. As a team, the Hoggies hit .268 with 16 kills compared to STMU's nine kills and .073 attack percentage.
Opening the second set was a kill was the Rattlers' Tarine Grace. TAMUK responded with three consecutive points off kills from
Ashley Bukowski, Faison and Hutchinson. The Javelinas never relinquished the lead the rest of the game.
The Blue and Gold hit an astounding .516 with 18 kills on just two errors and recorded three blocks in the set. They held the visitors to a .107 attack percentage and six kills.
Set three saw STMU jump out to a 5-1 advantage. TAMUK fought back to go ahead 12-11 following a ball handling error committed by the Rattlers.
After the squads traded the next five points, the Javelinas won eight of the next nine points to take control of the game. Faison began the run with three kills in-a-row followed by a solo block by Brabham.
The Blue and Gold conclude the first day of their tournament at 4:30 p.m. against Bentley.
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