ARKADELPHIA – The Ouachita volleyball team opened the home portion of its Fall 2021 season on Wednesday with a five-set loss to Texas A&M-Kingsville.

The Tigers (0-4) opened the match on a high note, winning the first set 25-19 before falling to the Javelinas (5-0) the in the next two sets 25-19 and 25-15. Ouachita roared back in the fourth set 25-23 to push a fifth and deciding set.

The fifth set went back and forth, and after an 11-11 tie, the Javelinas secured the win with three quick points, and later a kill from Jackie Alanis to finalize the match with a score of 15-12 in the fifth set. Alanis finished with a match-high 24 kills and a .351 hitting percentage.

For the Tigers, Rileigh Fielder paced the offense with 17 kills while also adding 11 digs on defense for her first double-double of the season and just the second of her career.

EJ Day also reached double figures with 14 kills. Emily Low and Karli Ferguson chipped in with eight and six kills, respectively. Low had a season-high six total blocks in the loss. Ferguson had four blocks.

Defensively, Lexie Castillow led the Tigers with 23 digs. Joni Schneider added 14, and Kellen Church had 12.

The Tigers are back in action this weekend in Denton, Texas with four matches in the Texas Woman's University Pioneer Invitational. Follow obutigers.com/coverage for links to live stats and live video.