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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.
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.
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.
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.
The Bears were led by Yossiana Pressley's 16 kills. Hannah Sedwick finished with a double-double of 40 assists and 12 digs.
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.
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.
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.
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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