EDINBURG, Texas – Late bursts weren't enough for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball team as early offensive woes kept them from closing the gap in a 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-19) loss to UTEP Thursday afternoon in the Southwest Showdown.
The Islanders (1-3) had multiple rallies across the match, highlighted by late surges in both the first and third sets that kept the Miners (4-0) on edge. However, UTEP used early-built cushions to close out each set as A&M-Corpus Christi couldn't get an offensive rhythm going until too late.
In the opening set, the Islanders erased an early deficit with a 6-2 run to pull within 14-13 fueled by kills from
Logan Dyer and
Hadley Burger. After UTEP pulled back ahead, Dyer got back to work with another strike following up the point from
Kaitlyn Baumann to keep within one at 18-17. However, UTEP rattled off a 7-1 run to finish the frame.
Set two featured more of the same, as the Islanders got down 8-3 mainly off errors. Though,
Kenna Buchanan powered three kills during a stretch that got A&M-Corpus Christi back within striking distance down 11-8. While the Miners stayed steady, Dyer and Baumann joined forces for a kill each and a combined block to keep the Islanders in it at 16-14. UTEP would find the end, however, and despite attacks from Buchanan and
Erin Herrmann fending off set point twice, the Miners closed out the second set.
The third set again had the Islanders fall behind 23-13. A&M-Corpus Christi rallied behind
Katelyn Krienke who helped string together a late surge to draw within 24-17. A service ace by Buchanan extended the set once more before UTEP finally grabbed the match point they were looking for.
Krienke anchored the offense with an errorless seven-kill day while
Brooklyn Jaeger kept the rallies possible on the back line with 17 digs, her most in a three-set match so far this season.
A&M-Corpus Christi returns to the court tomorrow, continuing tournament play with an opportunity to get back in the win column when they face off against Texas State tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.
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