KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M-Kingsville volleyball team is gearing up for a weekend road trip that will begin this Friday at 6 p.m. with a visit to the University of Arkansas Fort Smith.
The Javelinas (10-4, 2-0 LSC) are prepared for a rematch as they have previously squared off against the Lions earlier this season in the LSC Preview Tournament, where they lost a thrilling five-set match, 3-2. This rematch carries added significance as it is against the only team that has defeated them in the tournament and now serves as a Lone Star Conference matchup, with both teams maintaining undefeated records in conference play thus far.
TAMUK is coming off a recent loss, having been defeated three sets to one in a midweek non-conference matchup against conference opponent Texas A&M University-International. With a full eight days since their last match, the Javelinas are eager to take on this conference matchup with the aim of coming out on top.
In their previous outing, Junior middle blocker Ayanna Jackson and Sophomore right-side hitter Rylan Pollard were among the standout performers in the loss, each recording eight kills on the evening. These two were the only Javelina players to achieve a hitting percentage above .200, with Pollard boasting a .261 hitting percentage and Jackson at .250. Senior outside hitter Jackie Alanis also contributed significantly, being the only Javelina with double-digit kills at 10.
The Javelinas rank in the top five in the Lone Star Conference in both blocks and hitting percentage, standing in fifth place for blocks with a total of 116 and fourth place in hitting percentage with .236.
The University of Arkansas Fort Smith (13-3, 4-0 LSC) is one of four teams that remain undefeated in conference play, with Dallas Baptist (4-0), Angelo State (4-0), and TAMUK (2-0) also maintaining perfect records. This adds an extra layer of intensity to the match, which was already highly anticipated after their previous encounter in tournament play.
The Lions are looking to continue their winning streak, currently on a five-match run, thanks in part to their outside hitter, Caelyn Gunn. Gunn has accumulated 199 kills this year, including 24 in their last match, contributing to the Lions' 3-2 victory over Drury.
The Javelinas have a 1-5 all-time record against the Lions and are 0-2 at the Gale Kaundart Arena. Their sole win came during the 2022 season at the Steinke Physical Education Center.
Fans can keep up with Javelina volleyball throughout the season by visiting Javelinaathletics.com, where they will find links to live video and stats, as well as a recap at the conclusion of each match. Stay updated with all things related to Javelina volleyball 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
