LAKE CHARLES, La. – For the first time this season, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi lost the opening set of a Southland Conference match but it did little to change the outcome as the Islanders roared back to take a 3-1 victory over McNeese State, 21-25, 25-14, 25-17, 25-20.
The come-from-behind victory seals the 2015 season as the best on the books in Islanders history, as the blue and green claimed their 22nd victory of the season.
"That was a great road win against a quality team," said head coach Tony Graystone. "McNeese came out strong and had us on our heels in the first set. We did a great job of finding a faster tempo in set two and played much better."
Senior Ivy Baresh delivered another masterful performance, turning in her eighth double-double of the season leading the Islanders (22-4, 10-0) with a match-high 18 kills and 12 digs on the defensive side. After the Cowgirls took a 25-20 first set, Baresh and fellow senior Kelsee Felux kicked the attack into gear. Felux would join Baresh in double-figures with 11 kills to finish as the match's second leading scorer.
"That was a great road win against a quality team," said head coach Tony Graystone. "McNeese came out strong and had us on our heels in the first set. We did a great job of finding a faster tempo in set two and played much better. This is a great win and to finish the road trip and we're so excited to play the next four in the Dugan."
The Islanders would string together dominating second and third sets to jump in front of the match 2-1 over McNeese State. With the chance to close it out in the fourth set, the Islanders rallied from a early 5-2 deficit to salt the match away with the 25-20 set.
TURNING THE TIDE
After dropping the first set, the Islanders flipped a switch and romped to a dominant 25-14 victory in the second set to wrest all the momentum back to the blue and green. A&M-Corpus Christi never looked back as the Islanders trailed by two or more points only once the rest of the way to their record-breaking 22nd victory.
The faster tempo was evident from the outset as the Islanders took a 2-2 set and raced out to a 16-7 lead. It was a team effort as well as eight different Islanders scored points in the decisive run.
"Ivy had a big match for us, but overall we were very balanced and everyone was scoring points for us," said Graystone."
• Three Islanders finished in double-digits as Baresh (18), Felux (11) and Madeleine Doud (10) all produced big offensive days.
• Brittany Gilpin and Morgan Carlson each added nine kills to the effort.
• Setter Kristyn Nicholson had a massive day with 53 assists and 14 digs for her double-double.
DOMINATING ON D
With the offense kicking into high gear, the Islanders locked down on the defensive end to put McNeese State away.
• The Islanders held McNeese State to a .135 hitting percentage Saturday afternoon.
• Libero Kate Klepetka turned in her fourth consecutive game averaging seven digs per set or better. Klepetka recorded 34 digs, just three shy of the school record to average better than eight kills per set.
• Three other Islanders finished the day with double-digit digs along the back as Nicholson, Baresh and Shayla Maldonado all had a dozen or more digs.
• In Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's 12-match winning streak, no team has hit above .200 against the Islanders.
"All of our back row players came up big today and did a great job of slowing down their hitters," said Graystone.
BACK TO THE DUGAN
The Islanders return to Dugan Wellness Center for their next four matches, beginning with Lamar on Thursday. At 10-0 in Southland play, the Islanders will have a chance to clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament during the four-match homestand.
For more information on the Islanders volleyball team throughout the season, check them out on Twitter (@IslandersVB) and on their Facebook page (Islanders Volleyball), and download the official Islanders Front Row app for scores, updates, live stats and live video of all Islanders events.
