MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Volleyball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (4-0) will head home with a zero in the loss column after the Javelinas ended the Christian Brothers Invitational with two wins Saturday at the Canale Arena. The Hogs defeated Barton College (0-4) 3-1 and concluded the week with a 3-0 win over Arkansas Tech University (2-1).
The Hogs finished day two with a hitting percentage of .297, tallied 98 kills and 19 blocks.
Krystal Faison led TAMUK with 25 kills (3.57 per set) and tied Ashley Bukowski with four aces who also added 22 kills. Lexi Wick played a balanced two matches and finished the day with 20 kills, 10 blocks and two service aces. Haley Hutchinson and Madison Brabham each had seven blocks and deposited 12 and eight kills, respectively. Casey Klobedans averaged 11 assists per set and contributed eight kills and five blocks.
Texas A&M-Kingsville followed its 2-0 start to the season with a four-set victory over Barton College (25-11, 23-25, 25-12, 25-22) in Saturday's opener. Bukowski notched her second double-double of the season with 14 kills and 13 digs, and Faison added 13 kills, 14 digs (her second double-double this season) and a match-high three aces. Wick finished with a match-high 17.5 points with 13 kills and six total blocks. Klobedans registered 45 assists, four kills and four blocks, while Brabham and Hutchinson added five stoppers and three blocks, respectively.
The balanced Hogs hit .315, and defensively, limited the Bulldogs to .104.
Three and out was the story for the Javelinas in match two, however, it was definitely earned. In the clubs second sweep in four matches, the Javelinas hit .273 and had eight total blocks. Faison led the way with 12 kills and chipped in one block. Bukowski contributed eight kills and two blocks,seven kills and four blocks from Wick and six Ks and four blocks from Hutchinson.
GAME INFORMATION
Sets: Texas A&M-Kingsville 3, Barton College 1
Records: Texas A&M-Kingsville (3-0, 0-0 LSC), Barton College (0-3, 0-0 Conference Carolinas)
Series: Texas A&M-Kingsville is 1-0 against Barton College
Location: Canale Arena
Time of Match: 10:15 a.m.
TEAM LEADERS
Texas A&M-Kingsville
Kills: Ashley Bukowski, 14
Blocks: Lexi Wick, 6
Assists: Casey Klobedans, 45
Aces: Krystal Faison, 3
Digs: Krystal Puente, 17
Barton College
Kills: Mariana Kedzia, 9
Blocks: Kelsey Riquelme, 4
Assists: Angelica Acevedo, 28
Aces: Three players with 2 aces each
Digs: Two players with 9 digs each
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
The day began with a very competitive opening set as the two clubs exchanged points early in No. 1. The Javelinas distanced themselves behind a balanced effort on both ends of the floor, taking the set 25-11. Wick led the way with three kills while Brabham, Faison and Hutchinson followed with two kills.
Set 2
The Javelinas were on the wrong end of a 12-6 set in No. 2, and moments later trailing 15-9, the team cut their deficit to three behind consecutive kills by Bukowski (two) and Klobedans. Following the timeout, Hill, Wick and Bukowski made consecutive strikes to tie the match at 15 all. TAMUK gained the lead 19-18 after consecutive kills by Faison but fell in a close one, 25-23, as the Bulldogs knotted the match at 1-1.
Set 3
Seven of the Javs' first ten points came in traditional bump, set and spike form, highlighted by three kills off the arm of Wick, led to a Barton timeout as it trailed 10-5. Later in the set with the Hogs up 16-7, Faison fired off two kills, igniting a 7-3 run. Texas A&M-Kingsville claimed set three easily, 25-12, clinching the third set on back-to-back kills by Hutchinson and Brabham.
Set 4
Holding a slim edge 12-8 and up 2-1 in the match, A&M-Kingsville needed to buckle down late to escape with the victory, 25-22, as it held off a Bulldog rally. The win improved TAMUK's 2016 brief record to 3-0 as the Hogs began the Christian Brothers Invitational with three consecutive wins.
GAME INFORMATION
Sets: Texas A&M-Kingsville 3, Arkansas Tech 0
Records: Texas A&M-Kingsville (4-0, 0-0 LSC), Arkansas Tech (2-1, 0-0 GAC)
Series: Texas A&M-Kingsville is 2-1 against Arkansas Tech
Location: Canale Arena
Time of Match: 2:45 p.m.
TEAM LEADERS
Texas A&M-Kingsville
Kills: Krystal Faison, 12
Blocks: Two players tied with 4 blocks each
Assists: Casey Klobedans, 32
Aces: Four players tied with 1 ace each
Digs: Krystal Puente, 10
Arkansas Tech
Kills: Hunter Eshnaur, 10
Blocks: McCall Wilkins, 2
Assists: Sarah Rosinke, 17
Aces: Hunter Eshnaur, 4
Digs: Madison Nagel, 12
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
Texas A&M-Kingsville and Arkansas Tech felt each other out early in the set but the Golden Suns broke the tied by going on a 5-0 run. The Javelinas later gained the lead after two attack errors by AT and a kill by Wick to go ahead 17-14. TAMUK took the opening set 25-22 due to a great defensive effort that forced the Golden Suns in 15 total errors including 11 via attacking errors.
Set 2
In a sea-saw set, the Javelinas found themselves down 16-13 after the Golden Suns scored three straight points. Bukowski, who finished the set with five kills, crushed a ball to end their run and get the Javelinas rally started. Later in the set, the Javs called a timeout down 23-22. Out of the break, Bukowski struck again with another clutch kill to tie the set and Puente followed with a service ace to take the lead. The Hogs escaped set two with a 25-23 win after an attacking error by Arkansas Tech.
Set 3
The Hogs put a rainy end to the Golden Suns in set three despite a close 19-19 match that ultimately went to the Hogs 25-22. Faison clinched the W with consecutive kills, giving the Kingsville its second sweep in the young 2016 season.
The Blue and Gold will have their home opener on Tuesday, September 6 at 7 p.m. against St. Mary's University.
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.
