HOUSTON – For a second consecutive year, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball has navigated the Southland Conference slate in undefeated fashion, defeating Houston Baptist 25-16, 15-25, 25-19, 25-23 to finish the regular season at 16-0 in league action.
The Islanders (21-7, 16-0) lost just seven sets to conference opponents, dominating their way to another regular season championship. In 2015's title run, the Islanders dropped just eight sets.
On Saturday, junior
Brittany Gilpin once again powered the A&M-Corpus Christi attack as the outside blasted 17 kills to floor on 39 swings to hit .359 in the match. It was a continuation of form for the veteran who has racked up double-digit kills in 12 consecutive Southland matches. The 17-kill day followed a 20-kill output in the win over Lamar on Thursday.
Defensively, the Islanders shutdown the Houston Baptist (18-14, 9-7) attack which entered the day ranked second in the league.
Kate Klepetka and
Madison Woods played a big part in the effort, racing around the court to rack up a combined 38 digs. Klepetka finished with 25 while Woods added 13.
"Today was a total team effort against a really strong HBU team," said head coach
Steve Greene. "HBU did a great job blocking and playing defense throughout the match in addition o their aggressive offense that challenged our block.
"We had standout defensive performances from Kate and Maddie," Greene continued. "Their defense was so strong all match long and I'm really proud of their competitiveness and determination."
The win extended A&M-Corpus Christi's Southland winning streak to 34 consecutive regular season matches dating back to 2014. It also secured the second straight 16-0 season in league play.
"To finish the regular season 16-0 feels amazing," said Greene who capped off his first season with the Islanders in perfect fashion. "It takes an entire team to compete at such a high level night in and night out. This match was a prime example of that group effort."
Melissa Fuchs led the Huskies with 11 kills on the day, but the Islanders held her teammates in check, including Bailey Banks, one of the top hitters in the league, who finished with just nine kills. In the end, the Blue and Green held HBU to a .146 hitting percentage as a team.
BLOCK COMES BACK
The Islanders blocked nine Houston Baptist attacks, five of which came in the tone-setting first set. The Islanders rode three blocks from
Morgan Carlson and
Madi Fitzsimmons to run away with a 25-16 opening frame.
Fitzsimmons finished the day with five blocks while Carlson notched four total.
Morgan Williams and
Mallory Moran added a pair of blocks each while
Madeleine Doud recorded the Islanders' lone solo stuff.
OPTIONS ABOUND
Yet again, setter
Kristyn Nicholson had her pick of hitters Saturday. The Islanders had five different players record at least seven kills, led by Gilpin's 17.
• Nicholson had eight kills to set a new career high.
• Fitsimmons added eight kills to her five block assists.
• Carlson and Moran each knocked down seven kills in the victory.
ON TO CONWAY
At 16-0, the Islanders earned the number one seed at the Southland Conference Tournament which begins next Friday in Conway, Ark. The Blue and Green will look to repeat their tournament title and clinch a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.
