CONWAY, Ark. – The best season in program history culminated in dream fashion as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi claimed its first Southland Conference Tournament Championship, defeating Houston Baptist in four sets, 25-21, 25-20, 20-25, 25-17.
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The victory cemented the 2015 team as the best in Islanders history. At 31-4, the Islanders are just one victory away from tying the winningest season by any team in Southland Conference history. In the season full of firsts, it's only natural that it continues with two more: the Islanders' first Southland Championship and subsequently, their first NCAA Tournament berth.
"It feels so good," said head coach Tony Graystone. "I couldn't be prouder of these girls and all they've accomplished. We've been in this together since day and I don't know that I've ever had a team that's been this close. You could see it today, every player was celebrating for those individual moments from their teammates."
The Islanders rebounded from a slow start, rallying from an 11-6 deficit in the first set to even it up at 13-13. The Islanders closed out the opener with four-straight points as Shayla Maldonado closed the set on a service run.
With the early momentum in hand, A&M-Corpus Christi staked a 2-0 advantage heading into the intermission thanks to a sizzling attack in the second set. The Islanders hit .368 in the set, getting big games from seniors Ivy Baresh and Kelsee Felux who combined for 11 of the team's 17 kills in the frame.
After the Huskies found a rhythm to snag the third set, the Islanders left no doubt in the fourth and final game. The blue and green built a 17-12 advantage midway through the set and never looked back, reaching match point at 24-15. Two points later, junior right side Morgan Carlson did the honors, knocking her ninth kill of the match off the block, to seal the Southland title.
SENIORS SHINE
Fittingly, it was the senior class which led the Islanders to their first Southland Tournament title as the quartet of veterans capped their four years on the Island in the perfect way. Baresh knocked down a match-high 17 kills and dug up 13 Huskie attacks en route to being named the Tournament MVP.
Behind her, Felux finished the match with 11 kills, finding big point after big point for the Islanders. Defensively, Shayla Maldonado and Hailey King combined for 13 digs as the Islanders held Houston Baptist to a .151 hitting percentage.
"They all contributed big time," said Graystone. "I was really happy with Kelsey especially, she came up really big for us with some huge points. Ivy was her usual self and we've seen this for four years, so it's no surprise she led the team offensively. For those four seniors, it's so satisfying to seen what they've done in four years. They've been a part of so many things and it's really fitting for it to all end this way."
#BlockDERS
A term coined by assistant coach Morgan Thomas, the "BlockDERS" were out in force all weekend in Conway. The Islanders finished the weekend with 34 blocks in 10 sets, a staggering 3.4 blocks per set average.
• The Islanders finished Sunday's championship match with 11 blocks, three of the solo variety.
• Madeleine Doud rejected two Huskie attacks on her own and added another pair of block assists.
• Brittany Gilpin led the way with 7 total blocks, one of which was a solo stuff.
• Kristyn Nicholson jumped in on four blocks while Baresh had a pair and Felux and Carlson found one apiece.
RECORD HELP
Kristyn Nicholson broke the school's single-season assists record during the championship match. The sophomore entered the match needing just 23 assists to equal the all-time mark. Nicholson found those and then some, tallying 49 helpers to bring her total to 1,339 on the year, surpassing Logen Bourque's 2013 campaign.
SPREADING THE LOAD
• Five Islanders finished the match with 9 or more kills, with Baresh leading the way with 17.
• Felux, a fellow senior, also finished in double figures with 11 kills.
• Both Doud and Carlson ended the match with nine kills, while Gilpin added eight.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Three Islanders earned All-Southland Tournament honors, led by Baresh who was tabbed the most valuable player. Joining the senior were Nicholson and Carlson.
GOING DANCING
The Islanders will now have a week off before learning their NCAA Tournament destination during next Sunday's selection show. The 2015 Southland Conference Champions will be honored at Monday night's men's basketball game at the American Bank Center.
