COMMERCE, Texas – In a rematch of the 2023 and 2024 finals, No. 6 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and No. 3 Southeastern faced off in the first round this time and the Islanders swept their way past the Lady Lions Friday (25-16, 25-16, 25-17) to advance to the semifinals.
The last five years have seen either the Islanders or the Lady Lions raise the trophy at the end of the Southland Conference Tournament, but this year they were pitted against each other in the first round with the Islanders having the only chance now to reach the finals.
The Islanders (13-16, 8-8 SLC) entered the tournament as a first-time No. 6 seed and improved to 5-0 all-time over the No. 3 seed as their sweep over the Lady Lions (20-9, 12-4 SLC) came in similar fashion to last year's championship match.
A&M-Corpus Christi absolutely dominated with a .337 hitting percentage while holding Southeastern to just a .127 clip. The Islanders held all their opponents to under a .200 hitting percentage in last year's tournament en route to winning the title.
Freshmen led the offense on the winning side, with
Tatum Mason and
Jaeda Rawls-Fletcher nearly going kill for kill and both hitting above .400. Mason was named the Player of the Match afterwards with her match-leading 12 kills and a .476 hitting clip.
Virginia Van Der Werff was dishing to them, tallying 37 assists in the three-setter along with three digs and three kills. She is coming off a week that saw her named the final SLC Setter of the Week and to the All-Conference First Team.
The SLC Libero of the Year also proved her title, as
Brooklyn Jaeger picked up 21 digs in the team's defensive effort. It is her 17
th time this season recording over 20 digs, and fourth time doing it in a three-set match.
The Islanders are now 3-1 against Southeastern in the Southland Tournament.
Advancing to the semifinals, the Islanders will take on No. 2 UTRGV tomorrow at 2 p.m. for a chance at a spot in the championship match Sunday where they will look to defend their title.
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