KINGSVILLE, Texas (Volleyball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (14-5, 5-3 LSC) sweeps the weekend after having its way with the University of Texas of the Permian Basin ( 5-13, 1-7 LSC) Saturday afternoon in the Gil E. Steinke Physical Education Center.
The first set served all spectators as an omen of what the match would look like when the Javelinas are clicking on all cylinders. TAMUK held UTPB to nine points in the opening set, a season-low for any opponent they have played in 2016. The Hogs finished the match with a .278 hitting percentage and held the Falcons to .015 hitting. Texas A&M-Kingsville also tallied 13 total blocks to match its season high.
Lexi Wick garnered her first double-double of the season with 11 kills and a career-high of ten blocks while adding two aces, totaling a match high of 19 points. Ashley Bukowski lead the club in kills and recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 10 digs. Casey Klobedans belted her second consecutive double-double as she gathered 39 assists, 13 digs and added one block and one kill. Krystal Faison concluded the weekend with a 10-kill performance making it her fourth consecutive game with ten or more kills and Madison Brabham was key on both sides of the net Saturday with nine kills and five blocks.
GAME INFORMATION
Sets: Texas A&M-Kingsville 3, UT Permian Basin 1
Records: Texas A&M-Kingsville (14-5, 5-3 LSC), UT Permian Basin (5-13, 1-7 LSC)
Series: Texas A&M-Kingsville is 3-1 against UT Permian Basin
Location: The SPEC
Time of Match: 2 p.m.
TEAM LEADERS
Texas A&M-Kingsville
Kills: Ashley Bukowski, 13
Blocks: Lexi Wick, 10
Assists: Casey Klobedans, 39
Aces: Lexi Wick, 2
Digs: Casey Klobedans, 13
UT Permian Basin
Kills: Caitlyn Guajardo, 12
Blocks: Four players with one block
Assists: Mallory Nicholson, 23
Aces: Three players with one ace
Digs: Jordan McDonald, 17
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
The Javelinas made it look easy in the first set and opened the match with a 10-1 lead. They went on to take the set 25-9, holding the Falcons to a season-low of nine points in a single set. Faison blazed the trail with five kills followed by Brabham with four, Bukowski with three and Wick with two kills. As a team, the Javs hit .370.
Set 2
TAMUK had a strong defensive set racking up five team blocks and was led by Wick's two solo blocks. Despite outhitting TAMUK 11-10, 11 attacking errors by the Falcons plagued the club and the Hogs went ahead 2-0 after winning the second set 25-17.
Set 3
The Falcons were determined to force another set but the Hogs made it tough for them. Late in the set, UTPB went on a 4-0 run to lead 24-21. The Javelinas stormed back with three unanswered points, tying the set 24 all. Unfortunately, a service error by TAMUK opened the door for the team out of Odessa and a kill from Caitlyn Guejardo ended the Javs chances of a sweep.
Set 4
The Hogs amped it up a notch and totally derailed the Falcons to win set No. 4 25-13. Offensively, TAMUK gathered 13 kills to UTPB's four and Wick and Brabham continued to dominate defensively recording three blocks each, helping the Javs hold the Falcons to a -.176 hitting percentage. Bukowski had a set high of five kills and Brabham was next in line with three. Faison and Wick each split two and freshman Kelby Sprinkles accounted for he 13th kill.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Blue and Gold will hit the road again for three straight matches beginning with a Lone Star Conference tilt on Friday, October 14 against Cameron University in the newly renovated Aggie Gym.
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.
