Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Claims Back-to-Back Tournament Titles
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HOUSTON – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi grabbed back-to-back Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament titles with a 3-1 win over No. 3 McNeese Sunday afternoon at Sharp Gym in Houston, Texas. The Islanders had three players log double-digit kills to go along with 14 digs from Libero of the Year Carissa Barnes.
A&M-Corpus Christi turned in a dominant performance recording 11 aces, 46 digs and 51 kills. Freshman outside hitter Kyndal Payne led the Islanders roster with 16 kills, two solo blocks and a pair of block assists. Rachel Young joined Barnes and Payne on the All-Tournament team after posting a .286 attack percentage recording five kills on 14 attempts.
McNeese’s Aryn Johnson and Anyse Smith were also named All-Tournament selections as the pair contributed 28 of the teams 60 kills. Lizzy Low added a service ace and 18 digs for the Cowgirls in the championship match.
Payne recorded the first point of the match and set the pace for the Islanders who earned nine of the first 10 points. McNeese fought its way back tying the set at 15 a piece behind one of the Cowgirls three blocks. A&M-Corpus Christi finished off the frame 25-23 behind a Payne kill.
The Islanders wasted no time in the second set recording the first four points. Montez Uigaese led the A&M-Corpus Christi attack with five kills on 11 attempts, pushing her team to a .357 hitting percentage. Leah Stolfus sealed the deal for the Islanders in a 25-19 set two victory.
Both sides traded points until the Cowgirls found their footing, taking a 12-8 lead in set three. The Islanders took advance of nine Cowgirl errors tying the game at 13-13. McNeese had no intention of going down without a fight as they pushed the third set to the limit, claiming a 26-24 win.
Juila Carter took control for A&M-Corpus Christi in the fourth set recording four of her team’s 13 kills. The Cowgirls mounted an offensive effort at the net but fell on the wrong side of seven attack errors. Uigaese closed the match with her 10th kill of the afternoon to grab the 25-21 win for the set and secure the 3-1 win.
The victory marks back-to-back Southland Tournament title for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and the fourth in program history. Though the Islanders have earned their automatic qualification into the 2021 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championships, A&M-Corpus Christi will now wait for the selection committee to announce their first-round opponent during the NCAA selection show Sunday, Nov. 28, on ESPNU.
Southland Volleyball All-Tournament Team
| Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
School |
| Carissa Barnes (MVP) |
L |
Jr. |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
| Kyndal Payne |
OH |
Fr. |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
| Rachel Young |
MB |
Sr. |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
| Aryn Johnson |
OH |
Fr. |
McNeese |
| Anyse Smith |
OH/OPP |
Jr. |
McNeese |
| Risa Sena |
OH |
Fr. |
UIW |
| Ellie Wipf |
S |
Jr. |
HBU |
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