On Friday, the Javelinas fell short in the fifth set to the Lady Buffs of West Texas at the Steinke Physical Education Center in Kingsville. This is the first loss at home of the season for the Javelina Volleyball team (11-8, LSC 3-5).
The first set of the match started with the Javelinas on top, taking advantage of every error by West Texas and executing their kills (25-18). The second set grew with intensity as Sarah Miller (1) and Madison Brabham (9) combined a total of 11 points that included kills and blocks. The set ended with the Javelinas falling short just a few points with an end set count of 22-25. The Javelinas gained momentum back in the third set going on consecutive runs and dominating (25-16). The Javelinas lost the final two sets of the match, ending the home winning streak.
The Javelinas summed 26 errors on Fridays’ match which untimely set the squad back. Joseph Morales knows that the team will always have room to get better.
“Mistakes are going to happen. We’re still figuring out roles and positions,” he said.
Game leaders were Brabham, Miller, Haley Hutchinson and Talleyshia Morris. The group totalized 50 kills, 18 blocks, and four aces. Though the Javelinas put numbers on the board, it still was not enough to win the match.
With Friday’s game already on a page of the past, the Javelinas pushed forward to win their match on Saturday, assembling a 23-25, 25-21, 25-16, 27-25 match, beating the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds.
Senior Braham, who has come off of an injury from last weekend, has bounced back completely and clenched her fourth triple-double of the season.
“It’s really nice coming back from an injury and playing home on a comfortable court,” she said. Brabham had 14 kills, 22 assists and 11 digs against the Greyhounds with only three errors.
Head volleyball coach Tanya Allen knows exactly what to tell the Javelinas when a set is lost and the tempo has slowed down.
“We remind them of the scouting reports, so they don’t get caught up in the emotions of it, so they have a plan to execute,” she said.
Game leaders were Miller, Brabham, Melanie Casteel, and Morris, who collected 53 kills.
The Javelinas will be on the road for back-to-back matches against Cameron University and Midwestern State University on Oct. 5 and 6. The next match at home will be at 7 p.m. on Oct. 9 against Angelo State University.
