STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Despite a third consecutive double-double from junior Roxanne Morris (Goliad, Texas), the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's volleyball team was handed its seventh straight loss, a 25-13, 25-19, 25-23 defeat at the hands of the Tarleton State Texans on Saturday afternoon in Lone Star Conference action at Wisdom Gym in Stephenville, Texas.
Morris registered a team-high 16 assists and also led the Javs in digs with 11. Sophomore Lauren Kadilis (Spring Branch, Texas) contributed 10 helpers and freshman Jordan Schenkel (San Antonio, Texas) put up 10 digs. Senior Talleyshia Morris (Tulsa, Okla.) led the team in kills with seven.
Through 16 points, the teams were even at eight, but Tarleton took off after that. They claimed 12 of the next 13 rallies to jump out to a 20-9 lead that the Javelinas couldn't overcome. The point that clinched the set came from Lauren Kersey, who posted her third kill. TSU held TAMUK to a -.026 hitting percentage in the initial frame.
TAMUK got off to a quick start in the next game, with two kills by Talleyshia Morris helping stake the visitors to 7-4 lead. Unfortunately for the Javs, Tarleton had another run in store, a 13-3 spurt that provided them with a 17-10 cushion. The Javelinas quickly sliced their deficit to three, only for the Texans to stretch it back to six at 24-18. Carmen Kinsey ended the second set with a kill that put the visitors in a 2-0 hole.
In the third set, the early lead was again grabbed by TAMUK thanks in part to Talleyshia Morris, who collected two blocks and kill as her team built a 6-3 lead. The Javelina lead later stood at 11-8, but Tarleton slowly crept back to tie and eventually took the lead, 15-14, after tallying three straight scores. The lead changed hands three more times before a block by junior Kapri Pelle (Auburn, Calif.) and an attack error by Tarleton put the Blue and Gold in front 21-19. The next three points all went to the home side, putting them up by one and they retook the lead with two-in-a-row after freshman Bryce Earl (Houston, Texas) tied the score with a kill. Another kill by Earl pulled the Javs within one at 24-23, but next point came on a smash from Carmen Kinsey to clinch the sweep for the Texans.
The final weekend of the season is up next for the Javelinas, who will be at home for two more matches, starting on Friday night with a 6 p.m. clash against St. Mary's. 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.
