TYLER, Texas – For the second time in four days, the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's volleyball team staged a dramatic comeback, coming from behind to knock off the UT Tyler Patriots, 23-25, 25-18, 16-25, 25-23, 15-6, on Saturday afternoon in Lone Star Conference action in Tyler, Texas at the Louise Herrington Patriots Center.
"I'm really glad we were able to pull out the win in the fourth set," said coach Tanya Allen, "because it was a phenomenal fifth set performance. This was a great way to end a very long road trip."
Several lead changes started the opening frame, but a quick stretch of four straight points put the Patriots in front, 11-8. The Javelinas stayed within striking distance, even taking the lead at 18-17 following a smash from junior Roxanne Morris (Goliad, Texas), but couldn't gain control of the set. UTT went back in front, taking four of the next five rallies and broke a 22-22 tie with three of the final four points of the game, the last one coming on a kill from Kylee Becker.
The Javelinas won six straight points to gain the first significant lead in the second set, going ahead 11-5. Morris contributed two kills and a block assist during that spurt. TAMUK kept the Patriots at arms-length the rest of the way, never leading by less than four, and using two service errors to clinch the game, during which UT Tyler was held to a .059 hitting percentage.
UTT quickly bounced back to run up a 13-5 lead in the early part of the third set. TAMUK closed within four by grabbing eight of the next 12 rallies, but they were unable to completely erase the deficit. The Patriots won eight of the final 11 points to move one set away from a win.
For much of the fourth game, the Patriots seemed poised to pick up a win, going ahead 4-0 at the start and holding that lead again at 17-13. That is when TAMUK's uprising began. Six of the next nine points went to the Blue and Gold, with sophomore Emily North (Red Oak, Texas) coming up with two kills and freshman Jordan Schenkel (San Antonio, Texas) tying the score at 20 with an ace. The Patriots then retook the lead at 21-20, but only for a moment, as four straight scores by the Javs put them at set point. UTT got within one, but an attack error from Hattie Murray ensured there would be a fifth set.
The Javelinas completely controlled the action in set five, never trailing once and holding their hosts to a -.118 hitting percentage and hitting .429 themselves. After UTT got within one at 5-4, the Javs tallied three-in-a-row, then responded to a Kyana Alvarez kill with six straight points, a run bookended by smashes from junior Meghan Merlino (Sacramento, Calif.). The second match point proved to the winner thanks to senior Talleyshia Morris (Tulsa, Okla.) and her 11th kill.
The 89 digs by the Javelinas in this match were the squad's second-highest total of the season and five players reached double figures in that category. Sophomore Nicole Murff (San Antonio, Texas) topped the leaderboard with 27 with Schenkel recording 14 and sophomore Lauren Kadilis (Spring Branch, Texas) finishing with 12 and 24 assists. Roxanne Morris and North each had 10 scoops and North was also credited with 16 helpers.
Topping the Javelinas' kill count was senior Melanie Casteel (Dallas, Texas) with 14, Talleyshia Morris fired off 11 and Roxanne Morris racked up 10.
The Javelinas now get to come home for two matches starting on Friday with a matchup against No. 11 Tarleton at 6 p.m. 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.
