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WACO, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball program put up a tough fight against fifth-seeded Baylor and even had a set point in the third set, but the Bears were able to pull out a 3-0 decision in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at the Ferrell Center.
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The Islanders (19-10, 13-1 SLC) held a lead in each of the three sets. They were ahead of Baylor (21-5, 14-2 B12) 21-19 in the first, 9-8 in the second and 24-23 in the third before the Bears were able to make enough plays late in each frame.
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Freshman
Kyndal Payne led the attack with 12 kills and neared a double-double with nine digs. Senior
Montez Uigaese posted six kills, while senior
Julia Carter and freshman
Leah Stolfus notched five apiece.
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Southland Conference Player and Setter of the Year, junior
Faith Panhans, dished out 27 assists and also dug up seven attacks. Junior
Carissa Barnes, the back-to-back SLC Libero of the Year and the nation's leader in digs per set, scooped up 16 digs.
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The Bears were led by Yossiana Pressley's 16 kills. Hannah Sedwick finished with a double-double of 40 assists and 12 digs.
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A&M-Corpus Christi was playing catch-up for most of the first set – but did catch up. It trailed 11-7 early and 15-12 at the media timeout. Still down 18-15, a kill by Uigaese started a 6-1 spurt as the Islanders went up 21-19 after a dig and kill by freshman
Kayla White. Though, the Bears came back to tie it 22-22 and won the last three points of the frame.
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The second set started well was the Islanders won the first three points on Panhans' serve. They went up 5-2 on a kill by Carter and were still in front 9-8 after a spike by senior
Rachel Young. However, Baylor went on a 5-1 run to take a 13-10 advantage, and then reeled off eight in a row to pull away 21-11.
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A&M-Corpus Christi grabbed a 14-11 lead in the third after a kill by Uigaese. After the Bears came back to tie it 16-16, they were seemingly in control with a 21-18 edge late. Though, the Islanders did not go away. Trailing 23-21, a kill by Stolfus and an ace by Barnes tied it, and A&M-Corpus Christi took the lead 24-23 on an error. However, the Bears saved a set point and ended the match after three consecutive kills.
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It concluded a two-championship season for A&M-Corpus Christi, which won both the Southland Conference regular season and conference tournament titles. The program made its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance and second in a row.
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