EDINBURG, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball team couldn't find a groove this week, finishing out the Southwest Showdown with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-23) setback to Texas State Friday.
The Islanders (1-4) continued to face struggles on their side of the court that allowed Texas State (3-1) to create separation on multiple occasions. A&M-Corpus Christi tried fighting back a turning point in the win-or-go-home third set, but a late 23-all tie wouldn't go in favor of the Islanders as the Bobcats escaped with the 3-0 win.
After getting down 6-2 in the opening set, freshman
Tatum Mason took a swing and sophomore
Virginia Van Der Werff dropped in an ace to pull the Islanders back within one. Another rally got Texas State back in front despite freshman
Logan Dyer adding a finish at the net to get within 15-11. Another kill from Dyer made it a 22-18 set before the Bobcats fired off their last three for the frame.
In the second set, the Islanders came out strong as senior
Katelyn Krienke delivered an early kill. However, a 12-3 lead boomed from Texas State before the Islanders could get one back from freshman
Jaeda Rawls-Fletcher who delivered a blow. Later, kills from Baumann, Mason, and Van Der Werff helped the Islanders surge back within 17-21.
Kenna Buchanan set up a late kill and Corpus Christi forced errors to narrow the gap, but Texas State sealed the second 25-19.
Mason and Rawls-Fletcher sparked the offense in the third, and back-to-back kills from Dyer and Krienke gave Corpus Christi a 19-16 lead. After Texas State reversed the score, Krienke's swing made it 22-23 in a tense back-and-forth.
Kaitlyn Baumann and Rawls-Fletcher combined for a block to even the score at 23-all, but Texas State responded with the final two points to escape 25-23.
Mason had an impressive nine-kill performance with a .438 efficiency, leading the team in both. Rawls-Fletcher followed her with six kills as the freshmen stepped up in their debut seasons.
Following the conclusion of the match, Van Der Werff was named to the Southwest Showdown All-Tournament Team. She averaged 9.17 assists/set through the two matches, topping her 9.00 average over opening weekend which earned her SLC Setter of the Week this past Monday.
The Islanders will look to regroup and get back to familiar territory when they return home for their Islanders Classic, presented by Schlotzsky's, next weekend in the Dugan Wellness Center.
#ShakasUp
