CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Just a few points decided the outcome between the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball program and UTRGV, but the Vaqueros were able to escape with a 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 20-25, 25-18, 16-14) decision on Monday at the Dugan Wellness Center.
Â
The match was part of the South Texas Showdown, presented by NavyArmy Community Credit Union. The Islanders (12-9, 8-1 SLC) won the attendance point over the Vaqueros (14-7, 5-2 WAC) 795-688 to pickup one point. As an institution, A&M-Corpus Christi is ahead in this year's standings 13-6.
Â
A&M-Corpus Christi had a match point leading 14-13 in the fifth set, but UTRGV was able to win the last three with a pair of kills and a block.
Â
"It was a very close match back-and-forth and I loved the atmosphere and strong crowd," said head coach
Steve Greene. "
Kyndal Payne played an outstanding match and I really loved her strong mental game and willingness to take big, aggressive swings. I love to hear
Angel Felan,
Kylie Filipiak, and
Carissa Barnes talking to the team and leading us. I couldn't be happier to know that even though we lost a close match that we will learn from it and improve."
Â
Payne registered a team-high 17 kills and a .438 hitting percentage. She was one kill shy of her career-high. Payne has registered double-figures in kills in eight of the last nine matches.
Â
Tallying 14 kills apiece were seniors
Montez Uigaese and
Rachel Young. Junior
Faith Panhans notched her second straight double-double with 50 assists and 14 digs.
Â
Junior
Carissa Barnes, who leads the nation in digs per set, dug up a match-high 30 balls. Freshman
Kayla White also made an impact defensively with 10 digs.
 Â
The Vaqueros were led by Sarah Cruz's 22 kills and 11 digs. Ioanna Charitonidi ended with a double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs, and Luanna Emiliano finished with 49 assists and 12 digs.
Â
A&M-Corpus Christi trailed 17-12 in the first set before making a comeback. A kill by
Rachel Young sparked a huge 12-1 run. An ace by white evened it 18-18, and another spike by Young made it 24-18. Payne finished the set off with a kill.
Â
The second was even 17-17 until the Vaqueros won three straight to go up 20-17. The Islanders cut the deficit to 23-22 after an error by UTRGV, but the Vaqueros held on by winning the last two points of the frame.
Â
The Islanders took control early in the third and never relinquished their lead. They darted ahead 8-2 after a kill by senior
Julia Carter and extended it to 20-13 on a solo block by Young. A kill by Uigaese clinched the set.
Â
The fourth was tied 9-9 when the Vaqueros went on a 4-0 spurt to go up 13-9. A kill by Uigaese trimmed the deficit to 16-15, but UTRGV reeled off five of the next six to go back up 21-17 and won it 25-18.
Â
A nail-biting fifth set saw UTRGV grab an 8-5 advantage at the media timeout. The Islanders fought back and tied it 9-9 on a kill by Young, and A&M-Corpus Christi went up 12-11 on a kill by Payne. An attack error gave the Islanders match point at 14-13, but kills by Perris Keys and Veronika Jandova on consecutive points swung it in UTRGV's favor and the match ended on a block by Jandova.
Â
The Islanders and the Vaqueros split the season series after the Islanders won 3-1 in Edinburg. A&M-Corpus Christi is now 27-21 all-time against UTRGV.
Â
The first-place Islanders will return to Southland Conference play Thursday when they host Nicholls at 6:30 p.m. in the Dugan Wellness Center.
Â
Stay Social
For more information on Islanders Volleyball, follow the team on Twitter (
@IslandersVB), Instagram (
@islandersvb) and like their Facebook page (
Islanders Volleyball).
Â
#ShakasUp
Â