CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Standing at 10-0 in Southland Conference play, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball aims to take another step closer to its second consecutive regular season title Saturday afternoon when the Islanders host the University of the Incarnate Word for a 1 p.m. match.
The Islanders (15-7, 10-0) are coming off of road victories at New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana last week and have had a full week to prepare for the Cardinals (9-14, 5-5). Saturday is also Girl Scout Day as the Islanders welcome local scouts to the Dugan Wellness Center and host a clinic following the match.
Saturday's match, as are all Islanders home events, is available to watch for free on the Islanders Digital Network at
www.GoIslanders.com/IDN.
ISLANDERS INSIGHT
• The Islanders hold a 5-1 edge all-time over the Cardinals, including four-straight and all four mathes as Southland rivals. The Cardinals' only win came in 2000, the first year of volleyball for the Islanders.
• The Blue and Green continues to be the most potent offensive attack in the league, hitting .276 in Southland matches, 50-points better than second-place Lamar.
• The Islanders also boast the best defense in the league, holding opponents to a .138 hitting percentage.
• Libero
Kate Klepetka is just six digs away from tying the A&M-Corpus Christi school record of 1,584 career digs currently held by Micah Nolan.
• After moving to outside hitter this season,
Brittany Gilpin will set a career best for single season kills with her first point Saturday.
• With her seven aces last Saturday at Southeastern Louisiana, setter
Kristyn Nicholson now holds the school record for career aces.
SCOUTING UIW
The Cardinals enter Saturday's match at 5-5 and in seventh place in the Southland. In their final year of transition to Division I, the Cardinals are ineligible for postseason play. UIW dropped its most recent match 3-2 against UTRGV on Tuesday night, but the Cardinals have won four straight Southland matches.
• Autumn Lockley keys the attack for UIW, registering 292 kills while hitting .220. Lockley accounts for 30-percent of all UIW attacks on the season.
• Bryaunea Hall accounts for another 176 kills and leads the team with a .243 attack percentage.
• In conference matches, UIW ranks eighth offensively, hitting .195 as a team.
• Defensively, the Cardinals are seventh in the league as opponents hit .188 against UIW.
TRIPLE DOWN WEEK
The Islanders face a busy week following Saturday as the Blue and Green make the return trip to UIW on Tuesday before hosting McNeese and Nicholls in the final home matches next weekend.
