AUSTIN, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi knew it was in for a challenge Thursday as the Islanders faced two of the top five teams in the nation, but the Blue and Green stood tall to the challenge and battled deep with the top-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers. In the end, No. 1 Minnesota and No. 5 Texas proved too much for the Blue and Green.
No. 1 Minnesota 3 – Corpus Christi 0
In the nightcap, Corpus Christi flashed the type of play that has dominated the Southland Conference for the past two seasons as the Islanders battled top-ranked Minnesota to the wire.
The Islanders led in every set against the best team in the nation. In each of the frames, the Blue and Green opened a 3-1 advantage and held the lead into the middle points. However, Minnesota proved to have just enough firepower to hold off the Islanders.
Brittany Gilpin floored 13 kills to lead the Islanders. The senior's 13 markers were also the most by any player in the match.
Shanice Horn and
Kristyn Nicholson added five kills apiece.
The No. 1 Golden Gophers claimed a 25-20 win in set one before earning a 25-19 decision in the second. After the Islanders took a 3-1 lead in the third, Minnesota rallied to open up a seven point advantage, but the Blue and Green did not go away.
The Islanders clawed defensively, keeping the Golden Gophers in check at .297 hitting on the day. Minnesota entered the match hitting .320. In the end, however, 11 kills from Stephanie Samedy and 10 total blocks by the Golden Gophers proved too much for the Islanders to overcome.
No. 5 Texas 3 – Corpus Christi 0
The Islanders steadily improved in each set against the Longhorns Thursday afternoon, but fifth-ranked Texas proved too much in a sweep.
Brittany Gilpin led the Islanders with nine kills on the afternoon while
Madison Green added another five on the right side. A three-pronged attack from the Longhorns featured Micaya White, Lexi Sun and Chiaka Ogbogu all recording double-digit kills.
A slow start in the opening set placed the Islanders behind the eight-ball as the Longhorns took a 9-2 lead. The hot-hitting Longhorns finished the first set hitting .542 in a 25-13 victory.
The second set saw Corpus Christi start strong. A trio of kills from Gilpin helped the Islanders carve out a 6-3 lead in the early points. Moments later, an ace from freshman
Emily Hubacek made it a 9-6 edged for the Islanders, but Texas had an answer.
A 4-0 run put the Longhorns back in from and was part of a larger 14-3 Texas streak that gave the Horns a 20-12 edge in the set. Texas would close out the set at 25-15.
The Islanders' best play cam in the final set as Corpus Christi fought back from an 11-3 deficit to pull within 21-18 in the late going. Green's kill finished off the best rally of the match which featured three digs from
Madison Woods and earned an ovation from the Texas crowd.
A timeout from Texas steadied the Longhorns, who would go on to close out the set 25-20 for the sweep.
FRIDAY FINALE
The Islanders will face Denver at 5 p.m. on Friday night to close their American Campus Classic. The match can be seen live on WatchESPN and on tape delay on the Longhorn Network.
