KINGSVILLE, Texas – Following a weekend that included a successful start to their Lone Star Conference slate, the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's volleyball team will visit two more league rivals, with the schedule taking them to Denton, Texas on Friday for a 12 p.m. tilt against the Texas Woman's University Pioneers and to Commerce, Texas to battle the No. 23 Texas A&M-Commerce Lions on Saturday at 1 p.m.
TAMUK had the luxury of starting conference play with a pair of home matches and they took advantage of each opportunity. On Friday, the squad captured a dramatic, five set victory over Western New Mexico that saw junior Melanie Casteel (Dallas, Texas) put up 21 kills. Less than 24 hours later, the Blue and Gold made short work of UT Permian Basin, collecting a 3-0 sweep while holding the Falcons to an attack percentage of .063.
The star of the weekend for the Javelinas was senior middle blocker Haley Hutchinson (Georgetown, Texas). She logged 17 total blocks while playing in all eight frames for a mark of 2.12 blocks per set. She put down 10 blocks on the scoresheet against Western New Mexico, a total that hadn't been achieved by a Javelina since 2016, when Hutchinson reached the same number against the same opponent. The next day, she settled for a modest seven at the expense of UTPB. Hutchinson's average of 1.08 blocks per set is good enough to land her in the LSC's top five in that category.
Hutchinson is by no means the only formidable member of TAMUK's defense. Freshman Kailey Estrada (San Antonio, Texas) has maneuvered her way into the LSC's top 10 in blocks per set with a mark of 0.97. She's picked up at least one block in every match she's played in this season and has tallied multiple rejections in each of her last six contests.
The Javelinas also have two players in the league's top 10 in digs. Freshman Nicole Murff's (San Antonio, Texas) rate of 4.74 scoops per set places her sixth and junior Sarah Miller (Long Beach, Calif.) ranks 10th with an average of 3.71. Miller's participated in eight matches this season and put up double-digit digs in every one. These numbers have helped coach Tanya Allen's team allow the fewest kills per set in the LSC and post the second-lowest opponent hitting percentage.
The rivalry between the Javelinas and Pioneers had been a lopsided one in favor of TWU until the last two seasons, which have seen the Blue and Gold sweep the season series twice. This year's edition of the Pioneers got off to a 6-2 start, but have since dropped three straight, all against conference opponents.
Offensively, coach Jeff Huebner relies heavily on setter Kate Rane, who sits at the top of the LSC leaderboard in assists per frame one year after landing on the all-conference second-team. Another league honoree from a season ago is libero Bailey French and her 216 digs are the LSC's third-most.
Consecutive losses to Angelo State and Tarleton threw a wrench into what had been a hot start to the season for the Lions, but they rebounded by dropping TWU on Tuesday. Commerce forced their way into the national rankings by knocking off four ranked teams, including three top 10 squads. Despite dropping from No. 17 to No. 23 in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll, the Lions will still be a tall task.
In his seventh season, coach Craig Case has helped construct an offense that ranks second in the conference in hitting percentage, kills and assists. Junior Shelley Chapron is Commerce's most potent weapon, with a kill rate of .394, the best in the LSC.
After the final point is scored in each match, Javelinaathletics.com will have full recap of the goings-on in each match. 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.
