Islanders Host UTRGV Tuesday

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball opens its 2017 home slate Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. inside the Dugan Wellness Center as the Islanders take on UTRGV in the South Texas Showdown presented by NavyArmy Community Credit Union.
 
The Islanders took two of three meetings from the Vaqueros a year ago as the Blue and Green claimed the inaugural South Texas Showdown.
 
PROMOTIONS
 
>> The first 200 fans through the door will receive a free t-shirt
>> Fans will also have the opportunity to take their photo with the South Texas Showdown trophy as the Islanders celebrate their victory from 2016-17
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
 
>> Tickets are just $6 for general admission and can be purchased online
>> All Texas A&M-Corpus Christi students receive free admission with a valid SandDollar$ ID
 
THE MATCHUP
 
The Islanders are 22-16 all-time against UTRGV, including winning two of three matchups a season ago. Both Corpus Christi and UTRGV enter Tuesday's matchup at 2-4 on the season after playing tough schedules through the opening two weeks.
 
In last season's clash in Corpus Christi, the Islanders claimed a 3-1 victory of the Vaqueros. UTRGV won a five-setter in Edinburg while the Islanders took a neutral site meeting at Baylor.
 
THE ISLANDERS
 
>> Brittany Gilpin leads the Islanders with 66 kills through the first two weekends of the season
>> Setter Kristyn Nicholson was named to the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational for her performance at Michigan State last weekend
>> Setter Madison Green showed her versatility by hitting and playing six rotations in Michigan
>> Freshman Chloe Thorpe got her first two starts Saturday in Michigan. Thorpe recorded a career-best five kills against Marshall
 
 
UTRGV NOTES
 
>> Ragni Steen Knudsen paces UTRGV with 78 kills on the season
>> Three Vaqueros have 50 or more kills on the year as Barbara Silva and Bojana Mitrovic round out the attack
>> UTRGV has already played three nationally-ranked foes in 2017
>> As a team, UTRGV is hitting .206 on the season while its opponents hit .238.