EL PASO, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball team closed out nonconference play in a tough 3-2 loss (23-25, 25-13, 25-23, 16-25, 10-15) to UTEP Saturday at Memorial Gym.
The Islanders (4-6) dropped the first set but powered back in the next two to take a 2-1 lead in the match. However, the Miners (9-2) were able to respond with a pair of sets of their own to win the five-setter on their home court.
"I am really proud of the way our captains, Kayla, Kyndal, and Leah, stepped up and led the team in set three," said head coach
Steve Greene. "Their confidence and voices really resonated with the team and pushed us to win that set. Unfortunately, in sets four and five, we didn't have the same attention to detail and effort as we did earlier in the match and that's tough to win especially when on the road."
Despite the loss, senior
Kyndal Payne had quite the day with a double-double of 12 kills and 17 digs, leading the team in both through the match. She also matched her career-high five blocks, first reached last October against Lamar, including three on her own accord.
It was her seventh 10+ kill performance of the year and second in a row. Her 17 digs mark her season high and helped her record her fifth double-double of the year.
Sophomore
Katelyn Krienke led the team with six blocks, her season best and two shy of her career mark. Junior
Tori Arrington added three blocks as the Islanders ended with 13 total compared to UTEP's 12. It is the second time this year that A&M-Corpus Christi had 10+ blocks in a match.
Senior
Leah Stolfus and junior Rylee Achztehn joined Payne in double figures with 10 kills apiece. It is the fifth time this year that Stolfus and Payne each recorded 10+ kills in the same match. It was Stolfus' sixth double-digit kill performance of the year and Achtzehn's first. Arrington neared the same with nine kills.
Stolfus was named to the UTEP Southwest Showdown All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the match. It comes after she led the team with 12 kills against Texas State and hit for an even .400 in that match.
"Leah was really solid in both matches this weekend and did everything we ask of her and more," said Greene.
Graduate
Alex Hoglund dished out 42 assists, four shy of her career best. She has been the match leader in assists five times this year.
Senior
Kayla White turned in her eighth double figure dig performance of the year with 11.
It was the sixth meeting between the programs, and first time the two faced off in El Paso since the 2019 season. It is the third time the teams played each other to five sets.
With the nonconference schedule out of the way, the Islanders will look to their SLC slate which will begin on the road at SFA and HCU next weekend.
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