KINGSVILLE, Texas (Volleyball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (19-7, 9-5 LSC) fell to Texas A&M University-Commerce (15-11, 9-6 LSC) in five sets inside of the Gil E. Steinke Physical Education Center marking the first loss at home in the 2016 season.

After taking a 2-0 lead in the match, Texas A&M-Kingsville dropped the final three sets and A&M-Commerce pulled off the come-from-behind victory to sweep the season series. The Javelinas outhit the Lions .201-.165 and was led by a three-headed monster in Krystal Faison, Ashley Bukowski and Lexi Wick. Faison finished with a team-high of 16 kills and four aces, and added 15 digs and two blocks to achieve her 14th double-double of the season. Bukowski also notched a double-double tonight after 14 kills and 17 digs. Wick rounded out the top hitters with 13 kills and added three blocks to her stat line. Haley Hutchinson was a defensive standout with a team-high of four blocks and Krystal Puente matched her season-high of 27 digs and also added one service ace.

GAME INFORMATION
Sets: Texas A&M-Kingsville 2, A&M-Commerce 3
Records: Texas A&M-Kingsville (19-7, 9-5 LSC), A&M-Commerce (15-11, 9-6 LSC)
Series: Texas A&M-Kingsville is 13-29 against A&M-Commerce
Location: The SPEC
Time of Match: 7 p.m.

TEAM LEADERS
Texas A&M-Kingsville
Kills: Krystal Faison, 16
Blocks: Haley Hutchinson, 4
Assists: Casey Klobedans, 51
Aces:  Krystal Faison, 4
Digs: Krystal Puente, 27

A&M-Commerce
Kills: Taryn Driver, 14
Blocks: Taryn Driver, 4
Assists: Rylie Fuentes, 28
Aces: Jaslyn Wacker, 4
Digs: Rylie Fuentes, 23 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Set 1

The Hogs got off to a strong start to force an early Lion timeout as they went ahead 10-5. TAMUK continued to apply pressure and expanded its margin 22-15 and ultimately took the opening set 25-17. As a unit, the club denied A&M-Commerce a chance to get anything going by gathering a sideout percentage of 82. Faison had the hot hand with five kills while Bukowski, Wick and Brabham finished with three kills each.

Set 2

The beginning of set No. 2 was very tight but the Hogs slowly pulled away with the score 15-12. Wick set the tone with 6.5 points in the set on five kills, one ace and one block, while Bukowski and Faison each tallied three kills and added one and two aces, respectively. TAMUK took a controlling 2-0 match lead as they won the second set 25-19.

Set 3

Texas A&M-Kingsville came out of the locker room and dominated early in the third set to take a commanding 12-5 lead. The Lions however clawed their way back and tied the set late at 20. A&M-Commerce took its first lead of the set 23-22 and survived the third stanza 26-24 after an attacking error by the Hogs and a kill from Layne Little.

Set 4

The Lions fed off of the previous set's momentum to lead early in the fourth frame, but the Javelinas kept fighting although trailing 10-8. After exchanging points back-and-forth from 19-21, The Lions began to pull away and won the set 25-22 to force a fifth set. Faison led the Hogs with four kills, Wick was next with three and Brabham finished with two kills.

Set 5

Kingsville could not find a rhythm in the fifth set as the Lions struck early by leading 4-0 and held the lead for the remainder of the set. The Javelinas found the floor five times, but four attacking errors and two service errors derailed the comeback as they lost the set 15-10.

WHAT'S NEXT

The weekend action will continue tomorrow at 1 p.m. as the Javs take on Texas Woman's for the second time this season.

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.