TYLER, Texas — The Texas A&M-Kingsville volleyball team was defeated by No. RV UT Tyler 22-25,25-19, 25-20, 25-13 in Lone Star Conference action at the Louise Herrington Patriot Center on Saturday.
The Javelinas (11-8, 3-3 LSC) fell in four sets to the Patriots (12-7, 5-3 LSC) as sophomore Ayanna Jackson continued her stellar campaign, recording 16 kills, two service aces, and two blocks in the matchup. Additionally, she logged a .429 hitting percentage to increase her season total to .363, which leads the LSC.
Senior Nicole Murff led the contest in digs, with the San Antonio native boasting 25 and earning a service ace of her own, while sophomore Meghan Steifer dug a career-high 17 balls. Classmate Sydney Whitmire also posted the first double-double of her collegiate tenure with the Javelina setter recording 23 assists and 10 digs.
The Javelinas used a three-point spurt to take a 9-5 lead early in the first frame, as kills by Stiefer and Jackson combined with a Murff ace for a three-point edge. UTT eventually worked a 12-12 tie before the squads traded runs, resulting in a deadlock at 21 before UTT stole a rally for a 22-21 lead. From there, the Javelinas rallied off four straights with kills by freshman Rylan Pollard and Jackson propelling the squad to a 25-22 set win.
TAMUK again started hot, using a slew of Patriots errors and a kill by senior Kailey Estrada to take a 7-2 lead. UTT, however, answered with five straight, knotting the contest at seven. Later in the set, with the Javs trailing 10-8, a Stiefer kill and block by Estrada and senior Tammy Jo Grohman led to a 13-11 Blue and Gold edge prior to six straight UTT points. Trailing 17-13, Jackson recorded a block and a trio of kills that resulted in a 19-18 deficit. From there, the Patriots took six of the final seven rallies to take the set 25-19.
Consecutive kills by Jackson put the Javs up 3-0 in the third before UTT used a pair of three-point spurts to take a 6-4 edge. Jackson then dropped a kill and two aces in a four-point Blue and gold swing that afforded an 8-6 Javelina lead. The Patriots then tied the contest at eight apiece before coasting to a 16-11 edge. A four-point run late in the set that featured multiple junior Jackie Alanis kills and a block by Estrada brought the Javs within striking distance, but the Patriots finished strong, claiming the frame 25-20.
UTT took the first six scores in the second set, but a freshman Madelyn Wallace kill sparked a three-point surge that trimmed the deficit in half. From there, the Patriots sided out before successful attacks by Wallace and Jackson pulled the Javs within two. With the score 7-5, UTT took 10 of the subsequent 11 rallies before recording a 25-13 set win and the victory.
The Javelinas return to Kingsville, Texas, and the Steinke Physical Education Center on Friday, Oct. 14, for a 6 p.m. matchup with Lubbock Christian before a homecoming showdown against Eastern New Mexico on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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.-
Watch your Javelinas live today on the Javelina Sports Network sponsored by Mendoza's Pharmacy. Get the Official Javelina Athletics Mobile App today! Download on the App Store or Get It on Google Play to keep up with all the news, scores and updates of your favorite Javelinas
