KINGSVILLE, Texas – This one lived up to the hype as Texas A&M University-Kingsville (19-11, 11-7 LSC) knocked off West Texas A&M University (19-11, 11-7) in four sets behind a legendary performance by freshman Shelby Sheets. 
 
The win marks the fourth for the Blue and Gold in the last five meetings against the Lady Buffs, and the second consecutive win on the Kingsville Hampton Inn Court. The Javelinas cap off the 2017 season with a 10-2 home record for the second year in a row, and will head into the 2018 season with a seven-match win streak at home. 
 
In a competitive opening set, the Javelinas outworked the Lady Buffs for a 25-22 win behind five kills from Krystal Faison and Shelby Sheets. The home team picked up the intensity and pulled away 25-15 in set two for a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into the locker room. WTAMU avoided the sweep with a tight 25-22 victory in the third frame, but the Javelinas sealed the deal with a classic 26-24 fourth set to win the match. The Javelinas finished the match with a .311 clip and five team blocks while holding West Texas A&M to a .189 attack percentage. 
 
Sheets logged a career-high 25 kills which tie for fifth in the school's record book for most kills in a single match. Madison Brabham followed with 13 kills, and Faison had 10 kills and 21 digs for another double-double in 2017. She also led the team with two service aces. Lexi Wick finished with nine kills and led the team with three total blocks, and Casey Klobedans registered a double-double with 53 assists and 11 digs.    
 
Crystal Thomas was the Lady Buffs' only hitter in double figures with 18 kills. She was followed by Michaela Montgomery and Taylor Kress who both had nine kills in the loss. 
   
The importance of this match was enormous for the Javelinas in terms of postseason play after being ranked ninth in the South Central Region. TAMUK is now tied for fourth in the LSC standings with West Texas A&M, whom we split the season series with. In its first week of promotion, the regional rankings are shaken up a bit, not only because of the results of this match, but also due to A&M-Commerce (No. 7 in South Central Region) who fell to Western New Mexico on the road, causing teams from all over the region to be glued to their computer screens for the next regional rankings this upcoming Wednesday.  
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville will end the regular season on the road with a match on Friday, November 10 at Midwestern State, followed by a 2 p.m. match versus Cameron on Saturday, November 11.  
    
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