NACOGDOCHES, Texas – In a building that has traditionally haunted Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, the Islanders had a trick of their own on this Halloween night as the Blue and Green swept first-place Stephen F. Austin 25-15, 25-20, 34-32, Tuesday in Shelton Gym.
The road sweep of SFA (23-6, 11-2) marked the first in program history for Corpus Christi (11-13, 8-5).
Brittany Gilpin and
Madison Green led the way for the Islanders as they have all season long, both producing double-doubles in the sweep. Gilpin recorded a match-high 15 kills and tacked on a remarkable 18 digs. Green meanwhile, finished second in the match with 13 kills and added 13 digs.
The victory marks back-to-back sweeps over Southland frontrunners for the Islanders.
"Getting Fitzsimmons back has brought a huge step up in our competitiveness," said head coach
Steve Greene. "Our team mindset has made a distinct change in these last two games and we are looking forward to continuing to improve. Two 3-0 wins against well-coached and talented teams is a huge boost to our confidence at this time of year."
SENSATIONAL START
Tuesday night featured the best start to a match all season for the Blue and Green as Corpus Christi steamrolled the Ladyjacks 25-15.
The Islanders hit .350 while holding the usually stout SFA attack to just .175 in the set. The Islanders were able to side out at a 81-percent clip, failing to do so only three times in the frame.
Madi Fitzsimmons fired the Islanders' hot-hitting out of the middle, going 5-of-9 to hit .555 in the set and adding a pair of blocks.
BACK ON THE BLOCK
The Islanders matched a season high in Southland matches with nine blocks on Tuesday. Fitzsimmons led the resurgent front line defense with four block assists and a solo stuff to add to her eight kills offensively.
Green and
Madeleine Doud added a trip of block assists while Gilpin added a solo rejection and a block assist.
"Our blocking hasn't been as strong as we know it can be," Greene noted. "Individual players made huge improvements in their blocking this past week and it showed tonight. The defense was anchored behind by really solid positioning and quality touches as well."
The resurgent block helped the Islanders stifle the hottest attack in the Southland, holding SFA to a paltry .169 in attack. A season low in Southland matches for SFA, the .169 clip is the third lowest of the season for the 'Jacks.
WILD FINISH
After building a 2-0 lead with little resistance, the Islanders needed one of the longest sets in program history to finish off the sweep.
SFA returned from the break with a vengeance, leading for significant points for the first time in the match. Down 19-17 in the third, the Islanders rallied to take a 23-21 edge in the set.
The set would require extras as SFA moved to set point at 25-24 after back-to-back blocks.
Chloe Simon knocked down one of her 10 kills on the evening to stave off the first of five set points faced. After an extended battle, Simon struck again for a 33-32 lead before Nicholson floored her seventh of the night to finish it off.
HEADED HOME
The Islanders return to the Island on Saturday as Corpus Christi hosts Senior Day festivities in a 1 p.m. start against UIW.
