STEPHENVILLE, Texas – A hard fought battle in the quarterfinals of the 2017 Lone Star Conference Volleyball Championship Tournament resulted in a four-set loss for Texas A&M University-Kingsville (21-12) at the hands of West Texas A&M University (21-12) on Friday evening at Wisdom Gym. 
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville recorded more kills, blocks, and digs than its opponent but a .216 attack percentage and great serving was what lifted West Texas A&M to victory. Of the nine Lady Buffs aces, six came in the first set to help establish a tone despite them losing in the opening frame.    
 
Krystal Faison posted her twelfth double-double of the season with a match-high 19 kills and 13 digs. Madison Brabham finished with 13 kills and four total blocks for 15 points, while Lexi Wick and Shelby Sheets both gathered seven kills. Haley Hutchinson chipped in five kills and had a match-high five total blocks. Senior Casey Klobedans notched her tenth double-double of the season with 48 assists and 14 digs. She also added two kills. Courtney Rabius set a new career-high of 29 digs and Jasmine Jacinto had 21 digs. 
 
LSC Freshman of the Year Erin Clark was the only athlete for WT with double-digit kills, finishing with 14 kills on 38 attacks with just three errors for a .289 clip. Selena Batiste led the Lady Buffs with 24 assists and had an errorless nine kills, followed by Crystal Thomas and Taylor Kress who both had eight kills. Thomas and Gabby Emery tied for a game-high three service aces. 
 
Set 1
The Javelinas started fast and reeled off six straight points to make their lead 7-3 and forced the first timeout of the match. On the other side of the timeout, the Lady Buffs tied it at seven and later took a 12-10 lead thanks to their second 4-0 run of the set. Deep into the frame with the score tied at 19, Faison sent a missile over the net that found the floor and gave the Javelinas a 20-19 advantage. TAMUK would not relinquish the lead again and ended the set with a 4-0 scoring run, all kills from Faison, Sheets, Gabby Atchley, and Wick. 
 
Set 2
The Lady Buffs came out strong in the second set. After acing the Hogs for the seventh time in the match, consecutive attack errors by the home team gave WT a 12-7 lead that later extended to the largest of the set at 23-13. They would go on to win the stanza 25-16 and tie the match at one win apiece. 
 
Set 3
The third set was a back-and-forth battle until late in the period when West Texas ran away with it. The Hoggies took their first lead at 9-8 but was not able to hold on to it for long as the Lady Buffs dominated the end of the match holding the Javelinas to just seven points from that point on. West Texas took a 2-1 match lead after taking the third 25-16. 
 
Set 4
Both teams left it all on the court in a set that featured nine ties and three lead changes. With their backs against the wall Texas A&M-Kingsville jumped out to a 7-4 lead but West Texas A&M kept the pressure on the Javelinas and knotted the score at seven. After a few ties, the turning point of the set came with a Lady Buff 6-1 run that provided just enough of a cushion to hold off the Javs 25-19. 
 
Career Records
Here are how the career records look for the three seniors as it stands today: 
 
Krystal Faison 
- 501 sets played [1st all-time] 
- 173 service aces [1st all-time] 
- 1,438 kills [2nd all-time] 
- 1,688 points [3rd all-time] 
- 1,765 digs [3rd all-time] 
 
Casey Klobedans 
- 5,103 assists [1st all-time] 
- 499 sets played [2nd all-time] 
- 111 service aces [7th all-time] 
- 210 block assists [t-8th all-time] 
- 230 total blocks [10th all-time] 
 
Lexi Wick 
- .357 attack percentage [1st all-time] 
- 55 solo blocks [8th all-time] 
- 240 total blocks [9th all-time] 
- 185 block assists [10th all-time] 
  
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