PORTALES, N.M. – On a night where multiple players filled up the stat sheet, the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's volleyball team fell just short on the scoreboard against the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds, 23-25, 25-18, 20-25, 25-23, 15-11, on Friday night at Greyhound Arena in Portales, N.M.
Senior Madison Brabham (Kingwood, Texas) collected her 10th triple-double of the season, vaulting her into first place in the country in that category. On this night, her 16 kills and .268 hitting percentage led all players and none of her teammates could match her assist total of 25. She churned out 16 digs as well.
Juniors Melanie Casteel (Dallas, Texas) and Loren Washington (Austin, Texas) each added to their double-double total, reaching double figures in kills and scoops. Casteel put up 12 in each category, while Washington contributed 12 digs and 10 finishers. Junior Talleyshia Morris (Tulsa, Okla.) also added 10 kills.
TAMUK's defensive effort was led by a trio of players, including freshman Alexa Ruiz (Schertz, Texas). She set a career-high with 20 digs, which stood as a match-high. In the middle, senior Haley Hutchinson (Georgetown, Texas) and freshman Kailey Estrada (San Antonio, Texas) teamed up to each record seven total blocks.
Eastern New Mexico seemed primed to run away with the opening game, jumping out to a 14-6 lead before the Javelinas began to chip away. The Javs snapped up five of the next six rallies to close within four and, after a score by ENMU, took four straight points to climb within one. The Greyhounds managed to push their advantage to five at 20-15, but the Javelinas soon found the momentum again. Trailing by four at 22-18, TAMUK stole the frame with a 7-1 run that included the final four points. A block by Morris and Hutchinson finished off the comeback and put the Blue and Gold up one. The rejection by Morris and Hutchinson was the third of the frame by the Javelinas.
The second set started out with the visiting team in rhythm, with a pair of smashes from Brabham and Washington contributing to a 7-4 edge, but Eastern New Mexico took nine of 11 after that to jump ahead, 13-9, and they never looked back. TAMUK couldn't get closer than two points and an attack error by the Blue and Gold put the sides even at one. Three aces contributed to the effort by the Greyhounds.
After taking the first five points in the next frame, the Javelinas were off and running. They raced out to a 13-3 margin, with Casteel sending in three kills during the stretch. TAMUK still led by 10 later in the stanza at 19-9 before the Greyhounds used a short burst to close within three, but Javelinas kept their composure and held on to the lead, Casteel closing out the set with another blast. The Javelina defense kept their opponents in the red during the set, as ENMU's hitting percentage for the third read -.065.
Eastern New Mexico led by as many as five at 12-7 as they attempted to force a fifth set. A 10-3 TAMUK run put the visitors ahead by two, but ENMU tied the score three times, the final instance at 23-23 before taking two more points, the final one on a Blue and Gold attack error to send the match to set No. 5.
Through the first 22 points of the final frame, there were eight ties and neither side had led by more than two, but after the Javelinas evened things at 11, the Greyhounds found the toehold they needed. A kill by Jasmine Gannon sparked a run of four consecutive points that ended with an attack error by the Javs and put this contest on ice.
The Javelians outpaced their hosts in kills, hitting percentage, digs and collected 13 blocks, the most they've totaled since Sept. 28th, compared to only three rejections by Eastern New Mexico. The Greyhounds held a 12-4 edge in aces, however.
Gannon put up a double-double of her own with 15 kills and as many digs. Kaitlyn Kluna topped the field with 26 assists.
TAMUK finishes off its road slate on Saturday with a visit to Canyon, Texas to play West Texas A&M at 2 p.m. To keep up with everything related to Javelina volleyball all season long, follow @JavelinaVB on Twitter and @javelinasports on Instagram, like Javelina Volleyball on Facebook and visit Javelinasports.com.
