Ladyjacks Defeat Islanders in Conference Opener; Extend Home Win Streak to 33

Thursday, September 26

Nacogdoches, TX

6:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

9-5,1-0Southland

Texas A&M - Corpus Christi

4-7,0-1Southland

A&M-Corpus Christi

SFA

Ladyjacks Defeat Islanders in Conference Opener; Extend Home Win Streak to 33

9/26/2024 9:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Amanda Paver, SFA Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

NACOGDOCHES, Texas- The Stephen F. Austin volleyball team (9-6, 1-0 SLC) opened up conference play against the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (4-7, 0-1 SLC) at home where the 'Jacks were looking to continue the longest home winning streak in the nation with their 33rd straight win.

The Islanders were not afraid of the Pressure Cooker to start the first set by jumping out to a 5-0 lead. SFA steadily fought back and cut the lead down to one off a kill from Caroline Kahle, 10-9. Eventually SFA tied the first set up at 18, but TAMUCC went on a mini-run to take a 21-18 lead. Both teams sided out for the next six points, before SFA won back-to-back points but fell to the Islanders 25-23 in the first set.

Early in the second set with the score tied at five, the 'Jacks offense slammed on the gas as they rattled off an incredible 12-0 run to take a commanding 17-5 lead. That 12-0 run included an ace from Jayden Flynn, two kills from Kyanna Creecy and Katherine Holtman, and kills from Kahle and Camryn Hill. For the rest of the set, SFA continued to slowly apply the pressure to TAMUCC and cruised to a 25-12 second set victory.

The third set was tightly contested as neither team held more than a two-point lead until SFA went on a mini three-point run to take an 8-5 lead. Later in the set, the 'Jacks went on a 6-1 run to take a 18-12 lead capped off by an ace from Sophia Wilson. SFA did not let their foot off the gas as they finished the third set on a 5-2 run finished off by a kill from Creecy. The 'Jacks won the third set by a score of 25-19.

With the 'Jacks looking to close out their first Southland match since 2020, the Islanders fought hard in the fourth set as they held a slim 6-4 lead early on in the fourth set. The teams traded blows until SFA went on a 7-1 run to take an 18-13 lead. The 'Jacks offense proved to be too much as they went on a 7-3 run to finish off the match. The final three points in the fourth set were service aces from freshman Wilson.

Top Players of the Match:

• Katherine Holtman: 15 kills (led team), .452 hitting percentage (led team), three blocks
• Izabella Ortiz: nine kills, seven blocks (led team)
• Camryn Hill: eight kills (recorded her 500th career kill), 13 digs (tied team lead)
• Jayden Flynn: 27 assists (led team), 10 digs (fifth double-double of the season), four aces (tied team lead)
• Brooklyn Shelton: 13 digs (tied team lead)
• Sophia Wilson: four aces (tied team lead, career-high), 13 assists

SFA will continue their conference opening weekend on the road in Edinburg against former WAC foe UTRGV. You can follow all the action on ESPN+ and sfavolleyblog.net on Saturday, September 28th at 2:00 p.m.

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