KINGSVILLE, Texas – Seniors Meghan Merlino (Sacramento, Calif.) and Roxanne Morris (Goliad, Texas) and sophomore Tammy Jo Grohman (San Antonio, Texas) all set career-highs in kills and the No. 15 Texas A&M-Kingsville women's volleyball team notched its fourth straight win, a 25-16, 26-28, 25-16, 25-16 decision over the Texas A&M International Dustdevils in Lone Star Conference action on Wednesday night at the Steinke Physical Education Center in Kingsville, Texas.
"I think our offense is really productive," said coach Tanya Allen. "We have a lot of people who are capable of scoring at any time and a lot of weapons along the net, which has established a lot of kills. We're getting a lot of kills, which is difficult to stop and I feel like we're hitting at a good hitting percentage."
Merlino led all players with 19 kills, surpassing her previous career-high of 17, and she also contributed nine digs and four total blocks. Morris pocketed her third double-double of the year, firing off 14 kills to go with 16 digs and Grohman's 11 smashes were accompanied by a team-best .348 hitting percentage.
Junior Emily Witt's (Rose Hill, Kan.) 49 assists were the most in a single-match by a Javelina since Casey Klobedans had 57 on Nov. 10, 2017 at Midwestern State. Her 18 scoops also gave her a second consecutive double-double. TAMUK's leader in digs was junior Nicole Murff (San Antonio, Texas), who posted 25.
In the opening set, the Javelinas jumped in front and never trailed en route to a 25-16 final gave them the early edge. A pair of kills from freshman Juliana Chavez (San Antonio, Texas) helped stake the home team to an 8-3 lead and, after TAMIU crept to within two, three smashes by Merlino helped the Javs go on a 7-2 spurt to make the score 16-9. The Dustdevils could get no closer than four after that and the final point of frame came on a perfectly placed shot by freshman Ayanna Jackson (San Antonio, Texas).
The second set saw the momentum seized by TAMIU in the form of a 9-5 lead before the Javs went on a 9-2 run. The Dustdevils overcame a pair of three-point deficits and eventually took the lead at 23-22. While TAMUK moved back ahead and had three different set-points in the frame, the visitors fought off each one and tallied the final three points of the game for a 28-26 score, evening things at one set apiece.
After six consecutive tie scores to begin the third stanza, the Javelinas gradually built a five-point lead, keyed in one stretch by consecutive blocks, first by Jackson and Morris and then by Jackson and Grohman. A&M International got as close as three at 19-16 before TAMUK reeled off the final six points of the set, the last three on spikes courtesy of Merlino, to move in front, 2-1.
The lead changed hands multiple times in the last frame, including one stretch of lead changes that began with four straight points for TAMIU, which pulled ahead, 7-4. A pair of aces from junior Kailey Estrada (San Antonio, Texas) then ignited at Javelina burst of five-in-a-row, only for the visitors to come back with five straight scores of their own, making the score 12-9. TAMUK regained control soon after, however, and cruised the rest of way, outscoring their opponents 16-4 the rest of the way. Grohman's 11th kill was the clincher.
The next match for the Javelinas will be in San Antonio, Texas, where they'll tangle with the St. Mary's Rattlers on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Keep up with 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. Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy.
