PUEBLO, Colo. (Volleyball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville's (8-1) split the final day of the ThunderWolves Classic Saturday, avenging a 3-0 loss to No. 3 Wayne State College (7-0) with a 3-2 victory over Nova Southeastern University (5-3) inside Massari Arena.

A tough task awaited the Javelinas in Saturday's opening match as the undefeated Hogs were paired with No. 3 Wayne State. The Wildcats were able to improve to 7-0 with the 3-0 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville. Krystal Faison finished a kill shy of her fourth double-double and added 11 digs, two blocks and an service ace. Ashley Bukowski contributed five kills, 10 digs and four blocks and Madison Brabham and Kelby Sprinkles  each recorded four kills and one block. Leading with 17 digs was Krystal Puente and Haley Hutchinson finished with five blocks.

Closing out the week versus the Sharks, Texas A&M-Kingsville topped Nova Southeastern 3-2 to move to 8-1 in 2016. The victory marked the second five-set win in as many days. Faison gathered 13 kills, 24 digs and a team-high five aces, collecting her fourth double-double of the season. Wick also added 13 kills and led the team with six total blocks. Bukowski and Klobedans both claimed their fifth double-doubles with Klobedans tallying 50 assists, 14 digs and two aces and Bukowski registering 10 kills and 18 digs. Hutchinson and Brabham each recorded 11 kills and added four and two blocks, respectively. 

GAME INFORMATION
Sets: Texas A&M-Kingsville 0, Wayne State 3
Records: Texas A&M-Kingsville (7-1, 0-0 LSC), Wayne State (7-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Series: Texas A&M-Kingsville is 0-1 against Wayne State
Location: Massari Arena
Time of Match: 10 a.m.

TEAM LEADERS
Texas A&M-Kingsville
Kills: Krystal Faison, 9
Blocks: Haley Hutchinson, 5
Assists: Casey Klobedans, 25
Aces: Three players with one ace each
Digs: Krystal Puente, 17

Wayne State
Kills: Alyssa Frauendorfer, 16
Blocks: Two players with two blocks each
Assists: Megan Gebhardt, 26
Aces: Michaela Mestl, 3
Digs: Michaela Mestl, 14

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

Set 1

The Javelinas and Wildcats traded points early in the opening set and fans at the Massari Arena saw the battle of undefeated teams begin with a 8-8 tie. Wayne State, who later in the set carried a 12-10 lead, took a seven-point cushion and went on to win set No. 1 25-15, led by Alyssa Frauendorfer's six kills. Faison was the leader of the Hogs with three kills, while Bukowski and Brabham trailed behind with two kills apiece. 

Set 2

Wayne State found a rhythm in the second set and had Texas A&M-Kingsville down 22-9. Bukowski recorded three kills and two blocks for four points in the set and Hutchinson had two blocks and two kills. Brabham and Valari Hill split four kills between themselves evenly. TAMUK had a late rally towards the end of the set but fell 25-15. 

Set 3

A&M-Kingsville refused to lay down quietly, pushing Wayne State to the limit in the third set, tying the contest at 19-19. Faison let one rip for the go-ahead point that gave the Javs their first lead of the set. Moments later, Brabham and Sprinkles had a big block to keep the one point advantage, 21-20. However, after a few attacking errors by the Hoggies, Frauendorfer ended the match with consecutive kills to complete the sweep. She finished with seven kills. Faison had six kills and Sprinkles was next with four kills. 

GAME INFORMATION
Sets: Texas A&M-Kingsville 3, Nova Southeastern 2
Records: Texas A&M-Kingsville (8-1, 0-0 LSC), Nova Southeastern (5-3, 0-0 SSC)
Series: Texas A&M-Kingsville is 1-0 against Nova Southeastern
Location: Massari Arena
Time of Match: 2 p.m.

TEAM LEADERS
Texas A&M-Kingsville
Kills: Two players with 13 kills each
Blocks: Lexi Wick, 6
Assists: Casey Klobedans, 50
Aces: Krystal Faison, 5
Digs: Krystal Faison, 24

Nova Southeastern
Kills: Kerrigan McVicker, 20
Blocks: Maddie Uilk, 3
Assists: Katie Pyles, 48
Aces: Two players with 2 aces each
Digs: Megan Burns, 28

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

Set 1

The Hogs began their domination early and created a 21-9 cushion in the opening set. A 5-0 run by NSU cut its deficit but the Hogs prevailed, taking set No. 1 25-16. Brabham had a good set leading the way with four kills and two blocks. Hutchinson and Faison each had three kills, while Faison added a set-high of seven digs and two aces. 

Set 2

Kingsville hit .267 in the second set led by Bukowski, Faison and Wick, who recorded four kills apiece. Hutchinson followed with three kills and Klobedans collected 13 of the teams 15 assists. The Javs were down for majority of the first half of the set but took the lead with the score 14-13 after a kill by Bukowski forced a Sharks timeout. The nail biter went to Texas A&M-Kingsville, 25-21. 

Set 3

The third set featured 16 ties and eight lead changes, and the set ultimately went to Nova Southeastern, 26-24, to force a fourth set.

Set 4

In another tight set, the Sharks took set four by a familiar 26-24 score, forcing the second fifth set of the tournament for the Hogs. Miscues by A&M-Kingsville allowed NSU to take the set despite Wick going a perfect 4-of-4 in attacks. Hutchinson followed with three kills of her own.  

Set 5

Both clubs exchanged points with the game tied at 8-8. The Hogs then went on a 7-2 run to close the set 15-10 and end the match with a W, finishing the ThunderWolves Classic 3-1. A&M-Kingsville hit .263 in the set and was led by the trio in Faison, Wick and Brabham with two kills each. 

What's Next

The Blue and Gold will return home to open Lone Star Conference play on Friday, September 16 against Western New Mexico at 4 p.m. and will follow with a match against Eastern New Mexico on Saturday, September 17 at 2 p.m.

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.