KINGSVILLE, Texas – Junior Meghan Merlino (Sacramento, Calif.) fell just short of a double-double with 10 kills and nine digs, but the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's volleyball team couldn't get by the West Texas A&M Lady Buffs in a 26-24, 25-18, 25-18 defeat on Friday night in Lone Star Conference action at the Steinke Physical Education Center in Kingsville, Texas. TAMUK has now lost four straight, its longest losing streak since 2013.
Merlino led the Javelinas in kills, finished one short of her season-high in digs and also posted the team's best hitting percentage at .364. Nine other Javelinas contributed at least one kill, but Merlino was the only player with more than five.
Sophomore Lauren Kadilis (Spring Branch, Texas) was credited with a team-high 16 assists. Freshman Jordan Schenkel (San Antonio, Texas) led the Javs in digs with 12 while sophomore Nicole Murff (San Antonio, Texas) ended the day with 10.
The momentum swung back-and-forth during the first set as a 6-3 lead for the Javelinas (16-11, 7-6) was erased when WT (17-4, 10-3) went on an 8-1 run. TAMUK responded by winning 12 of the next 14 rallies to move back ahead, 19-15. After the Javelina lead moved to 21-18 followed consecutive scores by the Blue and Gold, the lead changed hands three times before the frame came to an end. The visitors won four-in-a-row to make the score 22-21, only for the Javs to came back with three straight for a set point following a smash by Merlino. The last swing in momentum went to WT, however. They claimed the final four rallies, as well as the set, which ended on a kill from Selena Batiste.
The Lady Buffs seized the initiative early in the next game and held on for 2-0 edge. They raced ahead by eight, with the score at 12-4, before the Javs clawed back to within three thanks to a rally that included three kills from Merlino. At that point, West Texas regained control, winning three straight points and holding off their opponents the rest of way before tallying the final score on an attack error by TAMUK. The Buffs outhit the Javelinas .250 to .106 in set two.
WT bumped their hitting percentage up to .367 in the third set, making four errors with 15 kills on 30 attacks while they secured a sweep. Four early ties, including 5-5, were followed by four consecutive points for the Buffs, the last three coming on aces courtesy of Lindsey Smith. That lead was pushed to 10 in the aftermath of a stretch that saw the visitors win 10 of 12 points. The Javelinas got as close as six before Torrey Miller's seventh finisher brought the evening to an end.
The Javelinas have to quickly turn the page and prepare to face Eastern New Mexico on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the SPEC. You can keep up with Javelina volleyball all season long by following @JavelinaVB and @JavelinaSports on Twitter and Instagram, visiting TAMUK Volleyball on Facebook, subscribing to the Javelina Athletics YouTube Channel and visiting Javelinaathletics.com. Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy.
