KINGSVILLE, Texas (Volleyball) –Texas A&M University-Kingsville (12-5, 3-3 LSC) returns to its sanctuary in the Gil E. Steinke Physical Education Center-Kingsville Hampton Inn Court October 7-8 after six consecutive road matches. Friday's 7 p.m. Lone Star Conference contest versus West Texas A&M University (10-5, 6-1 LSC) is the annual Dig Pink match and first serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday against new conference member University of Texas of the Permian Basin (5-12, 1-6 LSC).

The first 250 spectators will receive a pink rally towel courtesy of EmbroidMe Friday and 100 free Whataburger taquito vouchers will also be handed out. 

Live stats and video will be available free of charge on JavelinaAthletics.com.

The Javelinas return to Kingsville to put their 3-0 home record on the line against WT and UTPB. Despite back-to-back losses on the road, the Javs have shown a dominant and balanced attack this season, ranking fourth in the nation with 148.5 total blocks, 12^th with 115 aces and 17^th with 812 kills. The team ranks fifth in the LSC hitting .218 behind Lexi Wick's league-leading .389 hitting percentage.

Krystal Faison paces the club with 193 kills and 27 aces, and is one of three Hogs to rank inside the top ten in total service aces in 2016 (Wick has 26 and Ashley Bukowski has 18). Wick has collected 158 kills and leads the team with 69 total blocks, including 18 solo blocks (LSC best). Bukowski has 146 total kills on the year, followed by Haley Hutchinson's 110 kills and 66 blocks and Madison Brabham's 106 kills and 54 blocks. Casey Klobedans has navigated the offense well this season and has moved up to fifth in Division II volleyball with 657 assists and adds 136 digs, 47 kills and 17 aces to her stat line.

West Texas A&M comes to town as arguably the hottest team in the conference. Currently on a four-match win streak, the Lady Buffs began to roll after knocking off then No. 8 Angelo State in five sets at home. Although they are a tough club to play in Canyon, WT is perfect on the road this season setting up a battle between an unbeaten home club and undefeated road team. The Lady Buffs hit .223 as a unit and are right behind TAMUK with 141.5 total blocks and a league-high of 2.36 blocks per set.

Cori Haley leads the team with 147 kills and Elisa Bentsen is next with 140 kills. Bentsen leads with 77 total blocks including 15 solo blocks. Michaela Montgomery has collected 112 kills this season and adds 36 total blocks. Libero Lauren Britten has a team high of 234 digs and 15 aces and setter Selena Batiste has 386 helpers and adds 60 kills and ten aces.

Texas A&M-Kingsville split the two-game series last season against West Texas A&M but looks to avenge the 0-3 loss on its home floor to end the 2015 regular season. WT holds an overall 48-3 all-time record over TAMUK.  

UT Permian Basin enters the weekend on a four-match losing streak including three of those losses in LSC contests. The Falcons have struggled offensively this year with a hitting percentage of .108 and opponents hit .213 when matching up against the team from Odessa, Texas. Caitlyn Guajardo leads the way with 160 kills and adds eight blocks followed by Travanna Matthews with 72 kills. Mallory Nicholson has 325 assists and 13 aces to lead the Falcons. Margje Damstra has 43 kills and a team high of 37 blocks while Sarah Vasquez leads with 198 digs and adds seven aces this season. 

This will be the first meeting inside of the SPEC between UTPB and TAMUK. The Blue and Gold is 2-1 all-time with both wins coming at a neutral location. The first meeting came in 2009 where the Hogs won in four sets and then won in five sets in 2013. In 2014 the Falcons swept the Javelinas in UTPB Gym.

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