KINGSVILLE, Texas – Riding a three-game win streak with all three victories coming against Lone Star Conference opponents, the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's volleyball team is preparing for a mid-week conference clash with the Angelo State Rambelles, who will visit Kingsville on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. match inside the Steinke Physical Education Center.
The Javelinas spent Friday and Saturday picking up ground in the conference by downing Cameron and Midwestern State. TAMUK's league ledger is now at 5-5 with a 13-8 record overall and the Javs are in sole possession of fifth place. UT Permian Basin and Eastern New Mexico are a half-game behind at 5-6, but wins over both the Falcons and the Greyhounds have TAMUK holding both tiebreakers. The Javelinas are attempting to post a winning record in conference play for the third consecutive season, something the program last accomplished in 1996-98.
The Rambelles have battled their way to a 9-1 LSC record, a mark surpassed only by the undefeated Tarleton State TexAnns. ASU has taken their last seven matches and during that streak, only one opponent has been able to force a fifth set. Of the 16 wins Angelo State has logged so far in 2018, which are opposed by four losses, more than half have come via a sweep.
Defense has been what's fueled ASU's success so far this season. The .119 hitting percentage the Rambelles have held opponents to leads the LSC and places them in top 25 nationally. Coach Chuck Waddington's team has allowed only three opponents to post a hit rate above .200 and nine times, they've limited the opposition to a percentage under .100.
Middle blocker Baleigh Allen and setter Meghan Parker have seized the spotlight for Waddington and Co. Allen leads the squad in blocks at 0.98 and hitting percentage, scoring at a .330 clip. She's owns spots in the LSC's top 10 in both categories. Parker has racked up the league's second-highest totals in aces and assists, with totals of 31 and 731, respectively. Parker has reached 50 helpers three times in 2018 and also has 11 double-doubles to her credit.
Senior Madison Brabham (Kingwood, Texas) continues to shine for the Javelinas and is coming off another spectacular afternoon against MSU Texas. The senior outside hitter sent in 19 kills while attacking to the tune of a .485 hitting percentage, passing out 20 assists and contributing a season-high 16 digs. This was nothing new for the Kingwood native, however, as she's posted triple-doubles in five consecutive contests. Her average of 3.53 kills per set has Brabham second in the LSC.
Junior Loren Washington (Austin, Texas) and senior Haley Hutchinson (Georgetown, Texas) both stepped up in TAMUK's last two victories, as they each topped 10 kills in consecutive matches for the first time this season. Hutchinson riddled the Cameron defense with 15 kills, setting a new career-high while Washington pocketed her first two double-doubles of the year. Junior Talleyshia Morris (Tulsa, Okla.) has also provided the Javelina offense with a shot in the arm of late. She owns a .383 kill rate over TAMUK's last four matches.
Javelinaathletics.com will be your source for complete coverage of Tuesday's match, with live video and live stats available as well as a postgame recap. 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.
