CONWAY, Ark. – For the first time in 2016, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi trailed to a Southland Conference opponent as Sam Houston State opened Sunday's championship match with a 25-22 first set. It made little difference. The Islanders stormed back behind a career-high and match-best 23 kills from
Brittany Gilpin to capture their second consecutive Southland Conference Tournament Championship.
After dropping the opening set, the Blue and Green reeled off each of the next three frames to claim the title 22-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-22.
"We're really excited," said head coach
Steve Greene. "You can't really prepare for moments like this. I think you just enjoy it and kind of sit back and smile. It's been an awesome season and I'm really proud of the team for how they handled everything. It was a difficult conference tournament and we had to be really resilient the last three days."
For her effort, Gilpin was named the Southland Conference Tournament MVP recording yet another double-double. The outside hitter looked every part of her player of the year title, setting a career-best with 23 kills and matching her career high with 17 digs. On fire from the start, Gilpin hit .388 and had six kills in each set save the first.
"This year was really intense," said Gilpin. "Teams were really gunning for us so to win that final point – I don't really know how to describe that feeling. It was great. It was really overwhelming for the team and this year was such a team effort. It's just incredible to be champions again."
Watching from the outside, it was near-impossible to tell the junior was fighting off an injury.
"Brittany played out of her mind today," said Greene. "Having to battle injuries, sometimes it brings the best out of you and I think today shows what type of person she is. She's a very talented player and she played at such a high level today. She made a lot of great shots that really challenged the defense and her defense was unreal."
On the defensive side of the ball,
Kate Klepetka provided an equally aweing performance. All over the court from start to finish, the libero racked up 25 digs in the title bout. Her effort helped the Islanders slow a Sam Houston State attack that hit .289 in the first set. The Bearkats never reached that mark again, finishing the match at a .208 clip.
"I can't say enough about Kate," said Greene. "I'm really proud of the things she's done as a player. She's a leader for us, she's a phenomenal defensive player and a phenomenal passer. Libero's often get overlooked for the bigger awards and I wish we could give her more. She's deserving of All-Conference and All-Tournament and without her, we can't do any of the things we want to do."
FINDING A WAY
Make no mistake about it, the Bearkats provided perhaps the toughest test the Islanders have faced from a Southland team this season. Brooke White smashed 17 kills and Taylor Cunningham dropped 14 as Sam Houston State became the first Southland team to lead the Islanders in 2016.
Down a set and trailing 22-21 in the second, the Islanders turned to MVP Gilpin to spark the rally. Her 11th kill of the match sparked a 4-1 run that included kills from
Madeleine Doud and
Morgan Carlson as well as a block from the pair to level the match at the break.
In the third set, the Islanders found themselves down 8-3 before making a 7-0 run to take the lead. After Sam Houston State survived four consecutive match points,
Morgan Williams gave the Islanders a fifth set point. The Blue and Green turned again to Gilpin, who hammered home the set winner.
TAKING THE TITLE
Once again in a deficit in the fourth, the Islanders made the title-clinching move with a 5-0 run.
Mallory Moran provided two kills and a solo block in the run to help the Islanders build a 22-18 lead.
The final two points had a familiar ring. The Islanders turned to the MVP and Gilpin smashed number 22 and 23 of the night to send the Islanders streaming onto the court in celebration.
"It's crazy," said Klepetka of the Islanders' second championship in as many seasons. "The first one was surreal and this one is real. The second one is always harder and it's beyond words. This feeling is incredible."
QUICK HITS
• Carlson and setter
Kristyn Nicholson were each named to the All-Tournament team along with MVP
Brittany Gilpin.
• Moran finished second on the team with nine kills.
• Doud notched eight kills and four blocks in the win.
• Nicholson dished out 52 assists and added eight digs.
RETURN TO THE SHOW
With the win, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi clinches an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Islanders will learn their destination and first round opponent next Sunday evening during the NCAA Selection Show.
