Corpus Christi - The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball team defeated UT-Rio Grande Valley 3-1 to remain perfect this season. The victory marks the first of three matches between the two schools this season, both teams will meet twice at the Comfort Suites Islanders Classic on Sept. 11 and 12.
"It was a great win tonight," said head coach Tony Graystone. "UTRGV is a new team under Todd Lowery, who has taken the program in a new direction, which really makes tonight a quality win for our program. In the first set, they got us on our heels and got the best of us. Our team did a fantastic job of regrouping a grinding down our opponents to set up the win."
Ivy Baresh led the Islanders offensively with 18 kills against the Vaqueros, while Kate Klepetka continued upon her defensive performance over the weekend to post 32 digs on the evening.
"I think those two were great for us tonight, " Graystone added. "Ivy has been playing under control and has made the small adjustments that we need from her, in order for her to be the anchor of our offense. As for Kate's performance, people need to expect more of these nights from her, because she can play at this level on a consistent basis."
The Islanders got off to a slow start in game one. The Vaqueros held the lead from the first point. The closest A&M-Corpus Christi managed to bring the score was within two at 12-14, before UTRGV went on a three-point run, eventually taking game one 25-21.
Hailey King provided a spark to the Islanders in game two, with a service ace to put the team ahead at 5-4. The Islanders went on a 5-0 run to extend the lead to nine at 18-9 behind three Morgan Carlson kills. UTRGV would only manage seven more points, en route to an Islanders win, 25-16.
Baresh picked up two of her kills early in game three, a set that A&M-Corpus Christi led start to finish. Nicholson used her set-attack to catch the Vaquero defense by surprise and providing easy points. The Islanders secured game three 25-16 with a Brittany Gilpin kill.
Game four provided the closest set of the match. With the scores level at 15-15, Kristyn Nicholson scored one of her six kills in the match, followed by a Kelsee Felux and Gilpin block. Felux finished the set 25-21 with her 10th kill of the match.
The Islanders will not reflect on this win for too long, as the team heads to Boise, Idaho, for the Boise State Invitational, hosted by the Boise State Broncos this weekend. A&M-Corpus Christi will face the Broncos on Friday at 6 P.M. CT (7 P.M. MT), Northwestern at 1 P.M. CT on Saturday, and Idaho State that afternoon at 3:30 PM CT.
Graystone's squad returns to the Coastal Bend on Friday, Sept. 11, for the first match of the Comfort Suites Islanders Classic. Purchase your single-game and season tickets today by going to GoIslanders.com/Tickets to watch all the action at the Dugan this season.
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.
