Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Volleyball - Islanders falter after strong start against UTSA on "Dig Pink" night
Islanders falter after strong start against UTSA on “Dig Pink” night
CORPUS CHRISTI – The Texas A&M – Corpus Christi volleyball team started out on fire but were unable to keep up the momentum on Wednesday night, falling 3-1 (25-15, 14-25, 18-25, 21-25) to the UTSA Roadrunners on the school’s annual “Dig Pink” night. The Islanders set a Dugan Wellness Center volleyball attendance record with 1,249 fans at the match.
The team falls to 7-11 on the year and 1-4 in Southland Conference matches. UTSA improved to 10-9 overall and 4-1 in league matches.
Emma Ridley led the team in kills on the night, picking up 12 for her sixth-straight double-digit kills match. Micah Nolan led the team with 21 digs and Logen Bourque added a team-high 38 assists on the night.
In the first set, the Islanders fell behind 2-0 before scoring six-straight points on a pair of kills from Ridley and two block assists each from Brooke Alverson and Ridley. The lead grew to as many as six before UTSA scored three-of-four points to get within 13-9. The Roadrunners would not get any closer however, as A&M – Corpus Christi ran its lead to 18-11 before finishing off the set at 25-15 on an Isabella Arcidiacono kill. Ridley led the effort with five kills in the set while Alverson added four.
In the second set, the roles were reversed as UTSA jumped out to an early 8-1 lead. The Islanders struggled to find their rhythm and fell behind by as many as 13 points at 18-5. A&M – Corpus Christi tried to make a comeback, but was unsuccessful, falling 25-14 to even the match at one set apiece.
The two teams traded points early on in set three before UTSA scored three points in-a-row to take a 7-3 lead. The Islanders closed to within one point at 14-13 before finally evening the score at 15-15. UTSA took the lead and was able to hold off several attacks from the Islanders. At 21-18, the Roadrunners scored the final four points to take the set 25-18 and a 2-1 lead in the match.
The final set was the closest of the night, with nine tie scores and four lead changes. UTSA scored the first point, but A&M – Corpus Christi quickly took a 3-1 lead early on. They held the advantage until UTSA gained the lead at 12-11. The Islanders once again struck quickly, taking the lead back at 13-12. The Roadrunners went ahead for good at 16-15, with the Islanders getting within 22-21 late in the set. UTSA score the final three points to take a 25-21 victory for a 3-1 match win.
Arcidiacono led the team with two block solos and Ridley and Alverson tied a match-high with three block assists each. Jessica Jennett added a season-high 16 digs on the night. Alverson was second on the team with nine kills while Jordan Flemmer and Arcidiacono tied for third with seven each.
Lamar comes to town on Saturday in the next match for the Islanders. Match time is set for 1:00 p.m. at the Dugan Wellness Center.
