SILVER CITY, N.M. — On Saturday, coach Tanya Allen-Gonzalez led the Texas A&M-Kingsville volleyball team to a four-set victory over Western New Mexico, 23-25, 25-10, 25-22, 25-18, and in the process, logged her 200th win at the helm of the program and her 300th win across collegiate athletics.
"I'm so proud of my team and so proud and thankful to be a part of Javelina Nation," said coach Allen-Gonzalez after the victory. "I couldn't have reached this accomplishment without the talented players, amazing staff members, and supportive administration that have helped push the program forward over the years."
The Javelinas (7-6, 1-1 LSC) knocked off the Mustangs (2-11, 0-2 LSC) in four sets, with the milestone victory coming large-in part to the Javelinas winning battles at the net.
TAMUK logged 11 blocks as a team, with sophomore Ayanna Jackson leading the way with six. Joining Jackson with multiple blocks was senior Kailey Estrada, freshman Madelyn Wallace, and newcomer Meghan Stiefer, as the trio helped hold WNMU to a .128 hitting percentage. Stiefer and Jackson also logged double-digit dig totals, a statistic in which senior Nicole Murff paced the Javelinas with 16.
Offensively, Jackson was explosive; recording 15 kills with an impressive .619 hitting percentage. Wallace was the only other Javelina to record at least 10 kills, while Steifer smashed nine successful attacks. Sophomore Sydney Whitmire performed well to the tune of 28 assists and three service aces, while freshman Rosalinda Orta made her collegiate debut, recording seven assists.
The Mustangs got out to an early 7-3 lead in the opening frame, but the Javelinas took four of the subsequent five rallies trimming the deficit to one. Short after, back-to-back kills by junior Jackie Alanis and Estrada tied the contest at 12, as each team continued to trade points until the Mustangs took a 22-19 edge with a kill, block, and service ace. Consecutive kills by Stiefer and Jackson resulted in a one-point deficit, but WNMU closed out the set with a 25-23 victory.
The Javelinas slowly built up a lead in the second set as a pair of WNMU errors resulted in a 9-5 Blue and Gold edge. The Mustangs got two back before a five-point spurt featuring a Whitmire ace, and a Wallace kill put TAMUK up seven. From there, the Javelinas ran away with the set using an 11-2 surge featuring kills by Wallace, Jackson, Stiefer, Alanis, and Estrada to take the frame 25-10.
With the score knotted at four in the third set, an Alanis kill kick-started a six-point Blue and Gold swing that culminated with a successful Estrada attack and a 10-4 score line. WNMU answered with a three-point string of their own but kills by Wallace, and junior Tammy Jo Grohman helped keep the Mustangs at bay for a 19-13 Javelina lead. WNMU then took the subsequent five rallies trimming their deficit to one. The teams traded kills down the stretch before a Steifer kill, and a Mustang miscue handed the Javs a 25-22 set win.
Neither side could gain an inch in the fourth set, as the teams remained deadlocked at 18, before a kill by Jackson followed by a pair of successful Wallace attacks put the Javs up 21-18. Following a Mustang timeout, the Blue and Gold surge continued as Wallace, Steifer, and Jackson all combined for a block before a Wallace kill and a Whitmire ace put the Javs one points away from victory. WNMU then misplaced an attack securing coach Allen-Gonzalez's 200th Javelina win.
The Javelinas are set to face Chadron State on Wednesday, Sep. 20, in Chadron, Nebraska, ahead of the home opener on Thursday, Sep. 22, which sees TAMUK host Texas A&M International in a 6 p.m. nonconference matchup at 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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