CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Coming off a home opening victory, the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball team couldn't carry the momentum over and fell 3-0 to a tough Weber State team Friday in the Dugan Wellness Center on day two of the Islanders Classic, presented by Schlotzsky's.
The Islanders (5-3) out-defended the Wildcats (5-3) in the back row with 57 digs, but Weber State's offense powered through for three more match kills to edge A&M-Corpus Christi in every set.
Junior
Kayla White led the way with 17 digs, her sixth time this year recording 10+ digs in a match and third in a row. Junior
Kyndal Payne followed White with nine digs.
Payne also turned in the match-high 12 kills, her third double figure kill game in a row. Junior
Leah Stolfus added seven kills while sophomore
Tori Arrington and graduate
Morgan Smith each recorded four.
"Our team struggled to find our rhythm and just didn't get going full speed until the end of the third set," said head coach
Steve Greene. "Weber State was relentless on defense and kept so many balls in play that it really challenged us. We have a good mindset and are looking forward to turning things around and putting forth a great effort tomorrow night against UTRGV in the South Texas Showdown."
The double block by Arrington and Stolfus got things started as the Islanders denied Weber State the first point. Though, the Wildcats knotted it up and even went up 4-3 before back-to-back kills by Stolfus put the Islanders back on top. The teams rallied to a 16-all tie before sophomore
Tayah Little put it away for a one-point edge. Weber State didn't go away, however, finishing the set on a 9-3 scoring run for the 25-20 win.
Sophomore
Rylie Romero started the second and earned a kill early at a 1-1 score. The Wildcats responded with five straight points, taking a lead the rest of the way. Freshman
Kenna Buchanan made an appearance in the front row, nailing a cross court shot before her solo block gave the Islanders two points to cut into Weber State's lead 14-8. A pair of kills by Smith and another solo block by freshman
Reese Miller got the Islanders to 15, but the Wildcats closed out a 25-15 set two.
Graduate
Belle Morgan aced the Wildcats to keep a 7-5 lead in the third. Weber State reversed the score once again and went up as much as 18-11. Despite the deficit, the Islanders went to Payne who hammered down four balls to help get them within three at 20-17 before the Wildcats reached match point 24-19. Sophomore
Rylee Achtzehn and junior
Morgan Baese helped stave off the final for three more points, but Weber State finished 25-22 for the match win.
Closing out the weekend at home, A&M-Corpus Christi will face UTRGV for the second time this week in the second match of the South Texas Showdown, presented by Rally Credit Union. The rematch is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. first serve in the Dugan Wellness Center.
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