CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The attack stayed red-hot for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi as the Islanders hit .327 and finished with four players in double figures to advance to the Southland Conference semifinals with a 3-1 victory over Sam Houston State Friday night.
Madeleine Doud matched a career high with 15 kills to lead the Islanders (15-13) in the 25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 25-17 victory. The senior committed just two errors to end the night hitting .591, also a match high. Doud capped the performance with five block assists as the Blue and Green rejected seven Bearkat attacks on the evening.
The Islanders hit over .300 in each set except the second, piling up 65 kills to mark the most in a four-set match this season.
Madison Green sparked the Islanders with four kills on seven swings in the first set. Green hit .571 in the frame as the Blue and Green hit .341 to cruise to a 25-19 victory.
The second set held a different tone as the set turned defensive with the Islanders holding Sam Houston State (14-16) to just .031 hitting. Green again had four kills along with Chloe Simon and
Madi Fitzsimmons to lead the Islanders in the 25-20 set.
After the Bearkats snuck away with a two-point victory in the third, the Islanders answered back with a dominant finish, earning a 25-17 fourth frame behind .412 hitting.
TALKING TEAM
Four Islanders finished with double-digit kills and another pair had seven or more in one of the most balanced efforts in program history.
Doud's 15 led the way with Green close behind with a dozen. Both Simons and Fitzsimmons ended the evening with 11 kills in the victory.
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Brittany Gilpin finished with nine kills and 13 digs to come just shy of double-double.
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Kristyn Nicholson knocked down seven kills while dishing out 50 assists.
GREEN IS GOOD
Sophomore right side
Madison Green might have been snubbed when she was left off the All-Southland teams, but the converted setter was as good as ever Friday night.
Green ended the match with 12 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. On the other side of the net, she racked up a career-best 22 digs. The match marks the seventh double-double of the year and the third straight for Green.
SEMIS SETUP
The Islanders will advance to face the No. 2 seed Central Arkansas on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. inside the Dugan Wellness Center. UCA earned a 3-1 victory over McNeese Friday.
