SAN ANGELO, Texas – Freshman Emily North (Red Oak, Texas) passed out 28 assists, senior Talleyshia Morris (Tulsa, Okla.) totaled six kills on seven swings and the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's volleyball team held the Fort Lewis Skyhawks to a -.087 hit percentage as they breezed to a 25-17, 25-11, 25-15 sweep on Saturday afternoon at the Stephens Arena at the Junell Center in San Angelo, Texas
The Javelinas have started the season 4-0 after going undefeated at the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational. This is the third time in the Tanya Allen era the Javs have begun the year in such fashion, the other two being 2016 and 2012.
North's 28 assists were more than twice as many as any other player and senior Melanie Casteel (Dallas, Texas) led the team will 11 kills. 10 different players contributed digs, including Nicole Murff's (San Antonio, Texas) 12.
The Javelina defense forced their opponents into 22 attack errors against 14 kills in 92 opportunities. TAMUK also piled up 12 blocks while hitting at a .231 rate with 37 successful attacks.
The lead went back-and-forth, with nine ties in the first 24 points in the opening set, but three straight points, two courtesy of smashes by Casteel, gave the Javs the lead for good. They later used a run of six-in-a-row, which included three kills from junior Kapri Pelle (Auburn, Calif.) and two Murff aces, to increase their lead to 23-15 before consecutive attack errors put the frame in TAMUK's column. The Skyhawks hit just -.097 on 31 attacks in the first set.
The next game was all Blue and Gold, starting with a stretch of nine straight points for the Javs that began with a successful swing from senior Talleyshia Morris (Tulsa, Okla.). Morris would also combine with North for a block during the run, which included two aces from junior Roxanne Morris (Goliad, Texas) as well, and pushed the score to 13-6. Fort Lewis never got closer than five points after that and the game concluded with a 5-0 TAMUK burst, capped off by sophomores Kailey Estrada (San Antonio, Texas) and Mia Soto (San Antonio, Texas) who combined for a rejection.
The sweep was finished off with flair, as the Javs posted a .435 kill rate on 23 attacks in frame three. A quick four-point run, capped by a North ace for a 4-1 edge, gave the victors a lead they would never let go of. Another spurt, this one consisting of five-in-a-row and two Grace Gettys (New Braunfels, Texas) aces, upped the difference to 12-5. That edge grew as large as 10 before junior Meghan Merlino (Sacramento, Calif.), Casteel and Morris finished off their team's fourth win with the last three kills.
Home is the next place you can catch Tanya Allen's Javelinas. They'll be at the Steinke Physical Education Center for five matches in three days starting on Thursday, the first day of the Emerald Beach Hotel Javelina Volleyball Invitational.
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.
