Tough Test Awaits Islanders at Rice Invitational

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – In its final tune-up prior to the beginning of Southland Conference play, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball heads to the Rice Adidas Invitational II to face Houston, Rice and Yale in the two-day tournament.
 
The Islanders enter the weekend with back-to-back wins after defeating Texas State in a five-set thriller Tuesday night. A 16-block night keyed the comeback for the Blue and Green led by middles Madi Fitzsimmons and Morgan Williams.
 
FIRST SERVE
 
• The Islanders are 0-1 all-time versus Houston. The two open the invitational Friday at 11 a.m. The Blue and Green is 1-3 against Rice and 0-1 against Yale.
• A&M-Corpus Christi defeated Rice 3-1 last season at Dugan Wellness Center. Brittany Gilpin's seven kills lead all returners from that match.
• In each of the past two matches, libero Kate Klepetka has topped the 30-dig plateau. In the win over Texas State, Klepetka recorded 31 and three days before she just missed a career high with 35 against UT Arlington.
 
THE ISLAND BLOCK
• In Tuesday's historic win over Texas State, the Islanders blocked 16 Bobcat attacks, marking the most rejections in over five years.
• Middles Madison Fitzsimmons and Morgan Williams combined for 11 block assists in the Islanders' first-ever win over Texas State.
• Kristyn Nicholson added four block assists and freshman Erin Mulcahey jumped in with five as well.
 
THE OPPONENTS
 
Houston enters the Invitational at 5-4 overall on the season after a win against Louisiana-Monroe last Saturday. The Cougars are led offensively by Sarah Afflerbaugh with 111 kills while two other Cougars have over 90 kills to balance the attack.
 
On Saturday, the Islanders will open a doubleheader with a matchup versus Rice. The Blue and Green knocked off the Owls 3-1 last season in Corpus Christi. Rice is paced by Leah Mikesky and Chelsey Harris with 152 and 143 kills, respectively. The Owls have dropped three consecutive matches, including a five-set loss to Sam Houston State.
 
Yale and the Islanders will meet for just the second time on Saturday. The Bulldogs are currently 5-1 on the season after a 2-1 weekend at the UConn Invitational. The Bulldogs hit .241 as a team, led by Brittani Steinberg with 64 kills on the season. The only other meeting between the Islanders and Bulldogs came in 2001, a 3-1 win for Yale.
 
SOUTHLAND START
 
Following the weekend at Rice, the Islanders open Southland Conference play Tuesday night at Sam Houston State.