NATCHITOCHES, La. - Sophomore
Kyndal Payne's match-winning kill not only gave the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball team the 3-2 edge over Northwestern State, but also took her total to 28 to break the program's record for most kills in a match on Thursday night at Prather Coliseum.
Part of Payne's record-breaking night included getting a double-double, turning in 12 digs along with her 28 kills. She hit for a .344 mark, averaging 5.6 kills per set on the night. Her match-total is the most kills a Southland student-athlete has earned in a match this season.
"Kyndal really carried the team today," said head coach
Steve Greene. "She is not only a dynamic hitter, but a stellar defender as well as a true leader on the floor. She was unbelievable from start to finish and I am so proud of her."
Despite going down 2-1, the Islanders (3-15, 3-1) were able to rally in set four to force a fifth set and ultimately top Northwestern State (10-6, 3-2) 3-2. Along with the help of Payne, high offensive performances by sophomore
Leah Stolfus, senior
Faith Panhans and freshman
Tayah Little aided in the tight victory over the Lady Demons. Stolfus turned in 18 kills to record a .421 hitting percentage while Little went 7-for-8 for a .750 mark. Panhans garnered 47 assists, nine kills and seven digs.
Senior
Carissa Barnes led the match with 16 digs while freshman
Zoria Heard and sophomore
Kayla White picked up eight and seven, respectively. The defense only had one reception error on the night, compared to Northwestern State's seven errors on serve receive.
"Faith was able to really help Tayah and Leah who were very successful attacking out of the middle tonight," said Greene.
The opening set was the closest of the five, despite Northwestern State jumping out ahead for a 9-4 lead. Kills by Stolfus and Payne helped the Islanders gain momemtum, tying the score at 12-all and again at 13-all before the Lady Demons regained a lead. Down 23-19, A&M-Corpus Christi went on a 4-0 run to contest Northwestern State for a late tie, but the Lady Demons closed out a 25-23 win to go up 1-0.
Set two had the Islanders jump out to a 7-4 lead with a trio of kills by Panhans. Northwestern State would tie it up at 11 before a pair of kills by Stolfus pulled A&M-Corpus Christi back ahead for a lead never overturned as the Islander defense kept the Lady Demons to their lowest hitting percentage of the night in the second. Northwestern State came within two at the 18-16 mark but the Islanders took seven of the last 10 points to win 25-18 and even the playing field 1-1.
The third set featured a lot of back-and-forth from start to finish. Kills by Panhans, Stolfus and junior
McKenna Reiswig helped the Islanders to a 19-16 lead but the Lady Demons came out of a timeout with a 9-2 run to overpass A&M-Corpus Christi for the 25-21 late comeback win, putting Northwestern State up 2-1.
Set four was all A&M-Corpus Christi all the way, going up early at 2-1 with a lead that only grew. The Islanders' best hitting came in the fourth, turning in a .560 mark as a team. The largest lead of the night for either side also came in the fourth at set point after the Islanders earned three consecutive points to go up 24-13. Stolfus ended the fourth with a kill for the 25-14 win to even the match once more and force a fifth.
The Islanders led the deciding set the whole way as they never even allowed Northwestern State to tie the score. Back-to-back service aces by junior
Ella Litterell gave A&M-Corpus Christi a 8-4 lead heading to the media timeout and three kills in a row by Stolfus extended that lead to 11-5. Up 14-8, Payne was tied for the program's record for most kills in a match at 27, but officially broke it on match-point with the match-winning kill.
"The team really rallied and fought hard for this big road win. I'm very happy for them and this should help build their confidence as we continue to work hard to keep improving," said Greene.
A&M-Corpus Christi will continue on the road to Texas A&M-Commerce, facing the Lions for the first time in program history. The match is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and will be streamed on ESPN+.
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