LAWTON, Okla. – Four different Javelinas reached double-digits in multiple categories, the first time that's occurred in 2018, as the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's volleyball team slipped away with a narrow 19-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-17, 15-13 triumph over the Cameron Aggies on Friday night in Lone Star Conference action at Aggie Gym in Lawton, Okla.
Senior Madison Brabham (Kingwood, Texas) once again filled up the box score, putting forth an effort that resulted in her fourth straight triple-double. Her 19 kills were a game-high and she reached 20 assists for the fifth consecutive contest, totaling 21, while contributing 11 digs.
Three other Javelinas picked up double-doubles, with juniors Talleyshia Morris (Tulsa, Okla.) and Loren Washington (Austin, Texas) reaching that benchmark for the first time this season. Morris hadn't logged more than one dig in a match until she racked up 10 on this occasion while matching her season-high with 12 smashes. Washington's 11 kills were a season-high for her and were complimented by 12 digs.
"I'm proud of how flexible the team has shown itself to be," said coach Tanya Allen. "We can move a lot of players to different positions along the net and have success."
Joining Washington, Morris and Brabham in double figures in scoops was freshman Emily North (Red Oak, Texas) with 10 and she also left Lawton with 37 assists, more than any other participant, and her sixth double-double of season. Tying Washington for the team-lead in digs was another rookie, Nicole Murff (San Antonio, Texas).
The first four points of the evening went to the home team, giving Cameron a lead they would not relinquish. The Aggie lead grew to six at 12-6 before three straight scores brought TAMUK within three. Unfortunately for the Javelinas, they could reduce the deficit no further. Cameron managed to thwart each rally before an attack error by the Javs put the hosts up by a set. The Aggies limited the Javelinas to a hitting percentage of .045 in the frame while Brabham picked up seven kills.
The Javelinas used an early 5-0 run to take a 7-2 advantage in the second game. Cameron soon responded with five-in-a-row to move up 12-11, but TAMUK answered with another stretch of five consecutive points, senior Haley Hutchinson (Georgetown, Texas) contributing two kills along the way. Two aces by Murff gave the Blue and Gold a 22-15 lead before Morris finished the set with a kill. The Javelinas improved their hitting percentage to .227 on their way to evening the match.
A kill and an ace by Morris helped build an early three-point lead in the next frame, but the home team bounced back to tie the score at seven and the squads tied four more times before arriving at a 12-12 tally. Of the next 15 points, 10 went to the visitors, with Morris and Hutchinson each adding two more finishers to their totals, making the score 21-17. The Aggies were able to answer however, pocketing the final eight points of the stanza to move in front, 2-1.
TAMUK went back to work in the fourth set and drew level with the Aggies again. The Javelinas stormed out of the gate, quickly gaining leads of 5-1 and 8-2. Cameron was twice able to close within a point, but, with the scoreboard reading 13-12, the Javs gained some separation. A 7-1 spurt that included a pair of smashes from Washington stretched the lead to seven. When Hutchinson added another kill to her total moments later, the match was headed to a decisive fifth game. The Georgetown native would finish the night with 15 kills, a new career-high.
The final frame started with four ties before three straight scores for the Blue and Gold put them up, 7-4. The Aggies closed to within 8-7 and 9-8, but TAMUK rebounded by restoring a three-point advantage at 14-11. On their third match-point, Morris sent iced the contest by sending a set from Brabham to the hardwood.
The Javelinas will have a chance to go for their third straight victory on Saturday, when they're schedule to square off with MSU Texas at 2 p.m. Fans can keep up with Javelina volleyball throughout the season by following @JavelinaVB on Twitter and @javelinasports and @JavelinaVB on Instagram, liking Javelina Volleyball on Facebook and visiting Javelinasports.com.