Despite consecutive double-doubles from junior Roxanne Morris, the Javelina volleyball team suffered their sixth and seventh straight losses at the hands of Lone Star Conference (LSC) foes Dallas Baptist (25-18, 25-21, 25-23) and Tarleton State (25-13, 25-19, 25-23), respectively.
Friday’s action at the Burg Center in Dallas, Texas, kicked off with the LSC opponents trading points in route to a 3-2 lead by the Patriots. The home team would then score five unanswered points, extending their lead to 8-2. Over the course of the next 20 services, Dallas Baptist lengthened their lead to 20-10. A dart from San Antonio-native Kailey Estrada catalyzed a six-point run, pulling the Javelinas within four. DBU responded by scoring five of the next seven points, capping the first frame with a smash from Kasey Holland.
The second set saw the lead exchanged several times. TAMUK led three different times. A kill from senior Talleyshia Morris gave the visitors their largest lead of the second frame at 14-11. Despite a three-point run from the Blue and Gold, DBU would hang on to the lead for the remainder of the game.
A back-and-forth battle ensued for the entireity of the third set. DBU jumped out to an 8-5 lead, but the Javelinas took off on a 7-2 run, grabbing the 12-10 lead. The home team scored five of the next six points to regain the lead. The Javelinas continued to fight, coming with a single-point five times before sophomore Emily North blasted her third kill of the night, tying the score at 23-all. But North’s final score was the Javelina’s last mark of the night. DBU closed out the three-set win with kills from Emma Eakin and Brooke Clarke.
Roxanne Morris led the Javelinas in assists and digs with 18 and 15, respectively. Estrada spearheaded the net attack with six kills. Freshman Jordan Schenkel finished right behind Morris in the dig category with 14 scoops of her own.
hours later and 105 miles down the road, the Javelinas kicked off their last road game of the season in Stephenville against the Texans of Tarleton State (TSU).
After 16 services, the score was tied at 8-all. But the hosts commanded the rest of the opening frame. The Texans scored 12 of the next 13 points, jumping out to a 20-9 lead that the Javelinas couldn’t overcome.
The Blue and Gold got off to a strong start in the second set. Following a pair of bombs from Talleyshia Morris, the visitors jumped out to a 7-4 lead. But the Texans responded in dominant fashion, scoring 13 of the next 16 points. The home team’s scoring run gave them a comfortable 17-10 lead. TAMUK closed within three points, but TSU would hang on for the second-set win.
TAMUK jumped out to an early 6-3 lead in the third set. The next 10 points saw the visitors hang on to an 11-8 lead, but the Texans crept up and went ahead 15-14. The lead changed three more times before junior Kapri Pelle stuffed a TSU spike. A botched offensive attack by the Texans put the Blue and Gold up 21-19. The home team piled up the next three points to pull ahead, but a strong offensive effort from freshman Bryce Earl evened the score. Earl’s point ended the Javelina’s offensive performance and the Texans took the third-set with a 25-23 victory.
The final weekend of regular-season TAMUK volleyball features a home-stand on Nov. 15 and 16 against St. Mary’s and St. Edward’s.