CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A return home proved just what Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball needed as the Islanders rolled to a sweep of Lamar Thursday night inside a pinked-out Dugan Wellness Center.
Sporting fresh pink jerseys for the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Match, the Islanders (9-10, 6-2) earned a 25-23, 25-21, 25-20 sweep behind a match-high 11 kills from
Brittany Gilpin. The senior hit .375, committing just a pair of errors on the evening. Gilpin narrowly missed a double-double, grabbing eight digs defensively.
Behind Gilpin,
Madeleine Doud and
Shanice Horn provided balance to the Islander attack, knocking down seven kills apiece. Doud hit .429 to lead the match among players with more than 10 attacks, while Horn set a career-high with her .333 hitting percentage.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Islanders were clicking on all cylinders offensively to open the match, building a 22-15 advantage in the first set. After Lamar rallied back to close within one, Doud provided the needed kill to finish off the 25-23 set. Gilpin also played a major hand in the opener with seven of her 11 kills in the frame.
Kristyn Nicholson served up a 6-0 run in the set, finishing the night with five aces.
The second was all Islanders as the Blue and Green never trailed. The frame belonged to Horn who knocked down six kills on an errorless 11 swings. Corpus Christi hit .371 in the set, committing just two errors.
The third set turned defensive as both teams hit below .100. The Islanders stifled Lamar, allowing just six kills while forcing six errors as the Cardinals hit .000.
HIT THE HORN
Freshman
Shanice Horn flashed her talent with by far the best night of her career through 19 matches. Horn's seven kills marked the second most on the year for the rookie, while committing just two errors. The .333 hitting percentage marks the most efficient performance of Horn's young career.
WOODS AT IT AGAIN
Defensively, libero
Madison Woods was her usual self, racing around the court to scrape up 16 digs. The junior snagged seven in the first set alone, including a big chase off the block to give the Islanders momentum during a 6-0 run.
Woods has amassed double-digit digs in each of the last 12 matches and is averaging 4.50 per set. In Southland matches, Woods now averages over five digs per set.
SHOWDOWN WITH SFA
The Islanders will cap the weekend with a pivotal battle against rival Stephen F. Austin on Saturday at 1 p.m. The first 200 fans in attendance will receive free t-shirts.
