CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's volleyball program got off to a fast start and then closed out McNeese 3-1 (25-16, 25-15, 26-28, 25-21) Thursday evening at the Dugan Wellness Center
The first-place Islanders (9-7, 6-0 SLC) were in total control of McNeese (9-8, 3-3 SLC) after two sets, but the Cowgirls were able to outlast A&M-Corpus Christi in a lengthy third. Though in the fourth, the Islanders went on a decisive run late to put it away.
"We came out playing almost flawlessly the first couple sets. Then, the team really handled a tough comeback by McNeese in sets three and four. I love how hard we worked through that match and showcased our athleticism and effort," said head coach
Steve Greene.
Junior libero
Carissa Barnes entered the match leading the nation in digs per set with a 6.68 mark. That number will improve after digging up 28 balls in four sets. Barnes is the reigning Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week winner.
The reigning SLC Offensive Player of the week winner, junior setter
Faith Panhans, dished out 44 assists and also buried six kills.
Freshman
Kyndal Payne and senior
Rachel Young did a lot of damage offensively. Payne registered a team-high 14 kills, while Young tallied 13 kills with no errors and a .650 hitting percentage.
Back on the defensive end, freshman
Kayla White was in double-figures with 10 digs and senior
Angel Felan notched seven digs.
"We had a couple key digs by Kayla and Angel that really kept rallies going and got the crowd involved," Greene said. "I'm so thankful to have such an awesome crowd come out and support breast cancer awareness tonight!"
A&M-Corpus Christi won the first six points of the match on Payne's serve. A kill by Young kept it at a 9-3 score, and a kill by Payne increased the advantage to 19-9. The set ended on a McNeese service error.
The Islanders stormed out to a 14-3 lead in the second set and it was never in doubt the rest of the way. A kill by senior
Kylie Filipiak made it 19-11, and a kill by freshman
Leah Stolfus won the set.
A&M-Corpus Christi was playing from behind for most of the third. Trailing 24-21, the Islanders saved three set points, which included a pair of kills by Young. The Cowgirls saved one match point down 26-25 and won the next two on a pair of kills by Regan Stiawalt to extend the match.
In the fourth, the match was tied 17-17 when Panhans rejected an attack for a block. A kill by Payne made it 22-19, and a big spike by Stolfus led to match point at 24-21. With Barnes serving, the match ended on an error by McNeese.
Aryn Johnson led the Cowgirls with 18 kills, while Lizzy Low turned in 26 digs.
A&M-Corpus Christi has won 11 consecutive SLC matches dating back to last year. The program improved to 14-5 all-time against McNeese (9-2 at home) and have won 14 consecutive meetings.
The Islanders will remain at home Saturday when they host second-place HBU at 1 p.m. at the Dugan Wellness Center.
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