ODESSA, Texas — It only took three sets for the Texas A&M-Kingsville volleyball team to top UT Permian Basin, as the Javelinas won 28-26, 25-21, 25-13 in Lone Star Conference action inside of The Falcon Dome on Saturday.
The Javelinas (16-8, 8-3 LSC) took down the Falcons (11-12, 6-6 LSC) for their second road win in as many days and their third LSC victory of the week.
Junior Jackie Alanis and freshman Madelyn Wallace paced the squad in kills, with Alanis terminating the ball a match-high 16 times and Wallace logging 11. Additionally, Alanis recorded 10 digs and a block assist for 16.5 total points. Also topping the leader board, sophomore Meghan Stiefer's 21 digs represented the most in the contest, with senior Nicole Murff not far behind with 18. Fellow senior Kailey Estrada turned in another impressive defensive performance, with the San Antonio native blocking four falcon attacks.
Stiefer, along with classmates Ayanna Jackson and Sydney Whitmire, boasted service aces in the matchup, while Whitmire recorded 21 assists.
The Javelinas used a trio of Alanis kills as well as a successful attack by Wallace in a five-point swing that saw an early 8-4 lead in the first set. UTPB then used multiple spurts of their own, cutting the deficit to one, before a Falcon error and two freshman Rylan Pollard kills delivered a 20-16 Blue and Gold lead. UTPB then took six of the next eight rallies to tie the contest at 22 and force a Javelina timeout. Following the break, the teams traded points with a Wallace kill resulting in a 24-24 tie and win-by-two scenario. With their backs against the wall trailing 26-25, Another successful Wallace attack and consecutive solo blocks by Estrada confirmed a 28-26 first-set win.
With the second set knotted at four, kills by Pollard, Alanis, Jackson, and Stiefer allowed the Javelinas to snag six of the subsequent seven rallies and take an 11-5 edge. The Falcons clawed back to within two, resulting in a 23-21 score line. However, a kill by Alanis and a UTPB attacking error cemented a second-set win for the Javs.
TAMUK grabbed the lead in the third with kills courtesy of Alanis, Wallace, Estrada, and Whitmire featuring in a seven-point surge that gifted an 11-5 edge. Leading 18-12, the Javelinas then went on another streak, winning five straight rallies with kills by Pollard, Wallace, and an ace by Whitmire. Shortly thereafter, terminations by Wallace and Alanis confirmed the Blue and Gold sweep.
The Javelinas will be back in Kingsville, Texas, next week as they welcome Midwestern State on Friday for a 6 p.m. Breast Cancer Awareness matchup before hosting Texas Woman's Saturday with the first serve on Senior Day slated for 1 p.m. in the Steinke Physical Education Center.
Fans can follow Javelina volleyball all season long via Javelinaathletics.com, where they'll find links to live video and stats and a recap at the end of each match. 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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