KINGSVILLE, Texas (Volleyball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (18-5, 8-3 LSC) knocked off Tarleton State University (17-3, 9-2 LSC) on Tuesday night in the Gil E. Stienke Physical Education behind an emphatic crowd.
We could start with how the the Javelinas ended the TexAnns eight-match winning streak in 2016 by picking up their first home win against the club since November of 2012. Or even how the Blue and Gold are clearly the hottest team in the Lone Star Conference that currently holds the longest winning streak at six matches with a perfect 4-0 record in five set games this season. But the real story is how a lively fan base can affect the outcome of a match. Head coach Tanya Allen requested earlier in the week that the fans have the SPEC rocking for this match and that is exactly what they did. 1,900 fans came to the SPEC not to spectate, but be apart of the game experience and frustrate the opposition all night.
"This was the best crowd that I have seen in my six seasons here," said Allen. "Even when our team was down, they were the ones who picked us up!"
In a head-to-head match against a club who came to South Texas allowing their opponents to a hitting percentage of only .141, the Hogs crushed it offensively by hitting .315 and dominated defensively by setting a new season-high of 14 team blocks.
Krystal Faison had the juice all game long as she set an individual career match-high of 23 kills, tied a career match high with a hitting percentage of .500 and accomplished her 13th double-double of the season with 15 digs. She also tied Taliah Phipps and Lexi Wick with match highs of two service aces. Ashley Bukowski recorded another double-double this season after leading the team with 18 digs and added 12 kills which tied Madison Brabham, who also collected six blocks. Wick who recorded a total of 17 points, finished the match with ten kills and a team-high of eight blocks while Casey Klobedans directed the offense with 51 assists.
GAME INFORMATION
Sets: Texas A&M-Kingsville 3, Tarleton State 2
Records: Texas A&M-Kingsville (18-5, 8-3 LSC), Tarleton State (17-3, 9-2 LSC)
Series: Texas A&M-Kingsville is 19-27 against Tarleton State
Location: The SPEC
Time of Match: 7 p.m.
TEAM LEADERS
Texas A&M-Kingsville
Kills: Krystal Faison, 23
Blocks: Lexi Wick, 8
Assists: Casey Klobedans, 51
Aces: Three players with two aces
Digs: Ashley Bukowski, 18
Tarleton State
Kills: Hailey Roberts, 34
Blocks: Hannah McManus, 4
Assists: Jordyn Keamo, 59
Aces: Three players with one ace
Digs: Two players with 18 digs
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
Both teams came out fighting and refused to let the other pull away with the score 12-12 to start the match. An ace by Faison, kill by Hutchinson and a block by Hutchinson and Brabham created some space in between the teams and gave the Hogs momentum. With the home team leading 20-18, TSU reeled off three unanswered points to take a 21-20 lead and ultimately took the set 25-23. The Javs outhit the TexAnns .382-.375 and Faison led the way with six kills followed by Brabham with five kills.
Set 2
TAMUK started the set with an early 10-8 lead that expanded to a 16-12 margin. Although TSU battled back, the Javs remained ahead after a kill by Bukowski and an attacking error by the visitors. Later with the score 21-20, the turning point came when the Hogs scored three straight points highlighted by Faison's kill and Wick's ace. Shortly thereafter, a service error by Tarleton State gave Kingsville a 25-21 win to tie the match 1-1. The Javelinas never trailed in set No. 2.
Set 3
Tensions ran high in the third stanza and once again, the Javelinas outhit the TexAnns in the set. However, the Javs fell short 25-23 as TSU took a 2-1 advantage. Faison gathered four kills in the set, Bukowski had three and Wick and Brabham each recorded two kills.
Set 4
After a slow start, a 6-0 run gave the Hogs a 12-10 lead to kickoff the fourth frame. In a war for survival, the Hogs went on a late run sparked by Faison who had two kills and an ace while being helped with two TSU attacking errors. With the score 24-19, TSU looked to make a comeback by going on a 3-0 run before giving away the final point on a service error.
Set 5
The fifth set was tight like much of the entire match however with the score 10-10, the Javelinas exploded for a 5-2 run to end the set and match to remain unbeaten at home. Although the offense was phenomenal, defense was the difference in the fifth frame with four team blocks including two solo blocks split evenly between Hutchinson and Wick.
WHAT'S NEXT
Texas A&M-Kingsville heads west this weekend to play against Western New Mexico on Friday and then Eastern New Mexico on Saturday.
For full coverage of Texas A&M-Kingsville volleyball, please follow @JavelinaVB on Twitter and Instagram, like the official Facebook page of Javelina athletics (/JavelinaSports), and subscribe to the JavelinaAthletics YouTube channel.
