NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi volleyball team posted a season-high .333 hitting percentage and 10 Islanders nailed at least one kill to sweep New Orleans, 3-0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-15) today at the Human Performance Center.
The Islanders (8-11, 1-1 SLC) claimed its first Southland Conference victory of the season and snapped a string of three losses with a solid team effort. Seniors Brianna Brink and Ashley Phelps led the way with six kills apiece while Brittany Gilpin, Haley Satterwhite Day and Kelsee Felux each chipped in five kills each. Kristyn Nicholson and Chelby Stanford ran the offense with Nicholson dishing out 21 assists and Stanford adding eight.
It was a tremendous effort by the defense as the Islanders held the Privateers (5-11, 0-4 SLC) to -.078 hitting. Leading the defense was junior Hailey King with 13 digs and Brink with eight. A&M - Corpus Christi also controlled the net to outblock the Privateers 7-5. Brink and Satterwhite both picked up two block assists each.
The Islanders came out strong in the first set to hit .269 and cruise to a 25-11 win. After opening with a 9-2 lead, the Islanders extended their lead to 15-4 after consecutive kills by Brink and Gilpin. The Islanders kept the momentum going to finish the first set on a 6-2 run that ended on a kill by Morgan Carlson. A&M - Corpus Christi held the Privateers to -.105 hitting and were led by King who tallied seven of the team's 16 digs.
The Privateers controlled the early part of the second set at 7-3, until the Islanders rallied back to knot the set at 8-8. Following that, it was all Islanders as they surged ahead, 14-8, on a 6-0 run that included kills by Phelps and Nicholson. The Islanders maintained their lead to win 25-13 on .303 hitting. A&M - Corpus Christi's defense was outstanding as they held the Privateers to -.097 hitting while registering 20 digs to UNO's 10.
The Islanders dominated early in the third set with a 14-3 lead after scoring seven straight. During the run, Gilpin, Satterwhite and Felux put down kills while Erica Luke served up an ace. The Islanders held their lead to win 25-15 to clinch their first Southland sweep of the season. A&M - Corpus Christi put together an impressive .440 hitting percentage in the third set and limited UNO to .000 hitting. Felux led the set with four kills while Luke chipped in a pair of aces and Stanford passed out eight assists.
The Islanders will now return home for a three-match homestand. First up is a day match against Houston Baptist on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 1 p.m.
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