OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – On a night when Javelinas topped the match leaderboard in kills, assists and digs, the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's volleyball team came up just short against the Oklahoma Christian Eagles, dropping a 20-25, 25-22, 20-25, 25-16, 15-9 decision on Friday night in Lone Star Conference action at the Eagles' Nest in Oklahoma City, Okla.
The list of players who finished at the top of the stat sheet included sophomore Jackie Alanis (McAllen, Texas) and freshman Ayanna Jackson (San Antonio, Texas) both of whom ended the night with 14 kills. Alanis also picked up 16 digs for her fifth double-double of the year. Also reaching double-digits in kills was junior Kailey Estrada (San Antonio, Texas) with 12.
Junior Emily Witt (Rose Hill, Kan.) logged a double-double of her own with a match-high 42 assists and 15 scoops. Junior Nicole Murff (San Antonio, Texas) posted 23 digs to lead all players.
Both teams found themselves in a 3-3 tie early in the opener, but the Javelinas then took the opportunity to rattle off seven-in-a-row, a stretch that including three Estrada smashes. OC gradually chipped away at their deficit and got within one multiple times, including at 21-20 late in the set, but the Javs stopped the comeback there. Two kills from Alanis helper spur a 4-0 burst and a Hannah Rouse error closed out the set, which belonged to the Blue and Gold.
The Javelinas built a 10-6 lead in the second frame, but the Eagles won nine of the next 12 rallies to jump ahead by two and they later stretched that lead to at 20-16. Twice the Javelinas came back to tie, but they couldn't maneuver their way into the lead and four of the set's final five points went to OC, capped by a Brylie Berryman ace.
TAMUK took control of the third stanza early, using a 6-1 burst that included three blasts from Jackson to go ahead 7-2 and they never trailed after that. Four more Jackson kills helped fuel a 9-1 run moments later that made the score 19-9. The Javs eventually pushed their lead out to 11, but OC fought back to close within four at 24-20. Fortunately for the visitors, freshman Allison Stachowiak (Brownsville, Texas) came up with the clinching kill for a 2-1 edge.
The Eagles pushed the match to a decisive fifth set by grabbing an early 6-2 advantage and slowly building that lead in the fourth. OC's advantage reached eight at 21-13 before the Javs crept to within five, but the home team reeled off four-in-a-row after that and the match headed to set No. 5.
Both sides had leads early in the final frame, but OC went on an 8-1 run that turned a 6-5 TAMUK advantage into a 13-7 edge for the home team. Four rallies later, an attack error by the Javelinas brought the match to an end.
The Javelinas have one more regular season match remaining and it is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. against Arkansas-Fort Smith. Stay up-to-date with everything related to Javelina volleyball all season long by following @Javelina_VB and @JavelinaSports on Twitter, @JavelinaVB and @JavelinaSports on Instagram, liking TAMUK Volleyball on Facebook, subscribing to the Javelina Athletics YouTube Channel and visiting Javelinaathletics.com.
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