CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – After suffering its first loss in nearly a month, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball returns to the Dugan Wellness Center and Southland Conference play with a pair of matches against Houston Baptist and Lamar.
The Islanders (11-7, 6-0) first host the Huskies (14-8, 5-1) of Houston Baptist Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. The match carries first-place implications as the Huskies are one of two teams just a game back of the Islanders.
Following Thursday's matchup, the Blue and Green welcome Lamar (3-14, 3-2) into the Dugan Wellness Center Saturday at 1 p.m. The Cardinals were one of three Southland Conference foes to push the Islanders into five sets a season ago.
ISLANDERS INSIGHT
Despite the setback in nonconference action at UTRGV Tuesday night, the Islanders still lead the Southland on the defensive side of the ball. On the season, the Blue and Green has held opponents to .171 hitting, a mark that ranks 49th in the nation.
In conference matches, the Islanders are even tougher on opposing hitters, holding Southland opponents to just a .114 clip. Libero
Kate Klepetka leads the league with a 5.35 digs per set average in conference matches while
Madeleine Doud is second in league play with 1.44 blocks per set.
Offensively, a balanced Islander attack has produced a Southland-best .266 hitting percentage.
Brittany Gilpin and
Morgan Carlson both rank in the top 10 in kills per set and average better than three points per set.
SCOUTING HBU
The Huskies enter Thursday's contest in a tie for second place with Stephen F. Austin at 5-1 in Southland play. HBU has won each of its past three matches since its lone conference loss to Lamar.
Houston Baptist last played Monday, sweeping Abilene Christian as part of a three-match week for the Huskies. A dangerous offensive team, the Huskies just edge the Islanders for the top spot in the conference, hitting .205 on the season.
• Bailey Banks leads the attack with 303 kills and is tops in the Southland with a 3.65 kills per set average.
• Melissa Fuchs adds another 233 kills while Ashlee Vann is third with 190.
• Middle blocker Blair Gillard leads the league with 1.28 blocks per set and 105 total on the season.
SCOUTING LAMAR
The Cardinals enter the weekend sitting fifth in the league at 3-2. Most recently, Lamar dropped a five-set match to Northwestern State last Saturday.
Lamar has a penchant for the dramatics this season with four of their five Southland matches going to five sets. The Cardinals have played in seven five-setters this season when factoring in non-conference action.
• Chelsea Grant is the linchpin of the Cardinals attack knocking down 220 kills, over 30-percent of the team total.
• Murielle Hlavac sits fourth in league matches with a .340 hitting percentage.
• The Cardinals have struggled defensively this season, allowing opponents to hit .266, which ranks 13th in the league.
• In conference matches only, the Cardinals are fifth offensively and ninth defensively.
BIG EASY
Following the pair of matches over the weekend, the Islanders hit the road to face New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana in Southland action next week.
