KINGSVILLE, Texas – Despite a double-double from sophomore Emily North (Red Oak, Texas) and15 kills from senior Melanie Casteel (Dallas, Texas), the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's volleyball team dropped a heartbreaker to the St. Mary's Rattlers, 13-25, 25-14, 20-25, 25-21, 15-13 on Thursday afternoon at the Steinke Physical Education Center in Kingsville, Texas in the first game of the Emerald Beach Hotel Javelina Volleyball Invitational.
The loss came even though North collected 32 assists and 10 digs for her first double-double of the season and also logged four kills and three aces. Casteel's 15 smashes were the most in the match and she swung 15 times to the tune of a .237 hitting percentage. Junior Kapri Pelle (Auburn, Calif.) contributed nine kills and eight digs.
North was one of four Javelinas to reach double figures in digs, where sophomore Nicole Murff (San Antonio, Texas) led the way with 33. Junior Roxanne Morris (Goliad, Texas) picked up 12 scoops and freshman Jordan Schenkel (San Antonio, Texas) had 10.
St. Mary's scored the first point of the initial set, but the Javelinas never trailed again after that. After tying the score at three, the Javs slowly built a 16-9 lead before racing away with five straight scores, including two kills from Pelle. A bad set by StMU clinched the set for the home team.
The visitors flipped the script in the next game, staying ahead the entire time and breaking a 7-7 tie with a 7-0 burst and leading by as many as 12. The last two points went to the Rattlers, including a Jasmine Sims ace to even the match.
The teams traded leads early in the third before the Javelinas found their footing following a 9-9 tie. Casteel collected a pair of kills in an 8-2 run that made the score 17-11. The Rattlers fought back to close within two at 22-20, but the Javs would not let their opponents any closer. They grabbed three straight points, including an attack for point No. 25, to go up two sets to one.
The early initiative in set four belonged to StMU in the form of a quick 5-0 lead. That lead could not be completely erased by the Javelinas, who closed within two multiple times, but were unable to draw even. After St. Mary's won the first five points, no team had a stretch longer than three straight points and an attack error from Roxanne Morris sent this match to fifth frame.
Through 20 points, the score in the final game stood at 10-10 with seven ties before the visitors went up a pair. That lead proved to be just enough, as three times, the Javelinas moved within a point and three times, the Rattlers responded by taking the next rally. The final instance came went a ball handling error by StMU put TAMUK within 14-13, but Shea Slusser ended then ended the match with her eighth kill.
TAMUK has one more match on their Thursday schedule: a 6 p.m. with Westminster. To keep up with Javelina volleyball all season long, follow @JavelinaVB and @JavelinaSports on Twitter and Instagram, visit TAMUK Volleyball on Facebook, subscribe to the Javelina Athletics YouTube Channel and visit Javelinaathletics.com. Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy.
