KINGSVILLE, Texas – Sophomore libero
Brett Zaccardo set a new Texas A&M-Kingsville volleyball record with 29 digs in the team's sweep (25-20, 25-21, 25-20) of Lubbock Christian Saturday afternoon during the Emerald Beach Hotel Javelina Volleyball Invitational in Gil H. Steinke Physical Education Center-Kingsville Hampton Inn Court. The Amarillo, Texas native surpassed the previous mark of 26 digs set by Tara Grier on Sept. 15, 2007 at home versus Eastern New Mexico.
With the win, the Javelinas improve to 5-3 overall and finish their tournament with a 2-2 mark. The Lady Chaps are now 5-3 with a match against Bentley tonight at 6:30 p.m. to conclude the invitational.
Middle blocker
Ashley Bukowski was all over the court to record her third double-double of the 12 kills and 16 digs while adding a game high five blocks. Sophomore outside hitter
Krystal Faison just missed another double-double of her own after a 9-kill, 12-dig performance.
Casey Klobedans was credited with 36 assists and set a career-highs in attack percentage (.571) and kills (8).
As a team, TAMUK had 80 digs which was one shy of matching program record in a three-set match.
The Blue and Gold took a three-point lead in the middle of the first set following back-to-back kills by
Valarie Moehrig and Klobedans. A 6-2 run by LCU put the visitors in front 16-15. A kill by Bukowski started a run of seven straight points for TAMUK to take the lead back for good.
After another close contest at the start of set two, kills from
Madison Brabham and Faison gave the Javelinas enough breathing room at 9-6 to lead the rest of the way. The Lady Chaps were able to pull to within 21-20 but the Hogs won four of the last five points, capped off by a combined block from Bukowski and Moehrig, to go up 2-0 in the match.
The teams traded points until an 11-1 run by the Javelinas gave them a comfortable lead of 19-9 in the final game. During the scoring stretch Bukowski had two kills and blocks and
Haley Hutchinson added two rejections, including a solo block that riled the crowed up. LCU was able to close the deficit to 24-20 with a late run but Moehrig finished the match with a powerful strike.
TAMUK returns to the court on Friday, Sept. 18 for a 7 p.m. match against Cameron to open Lone Star Conference action.
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