KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Ouachita Volleyball team dropped its two opening day matches, falling to Texas A&M-Kingsville 3-0 and New Mexico Highlands 3-1.
In the loss against A&M-Kingsville, the Tigers struck first on a kill from
Kellen Church, but the Javelinas answered back, taking a lead and holding it for the remainder of the first set, winning 25-18. In the second set, Ouachita jumped out to a 10-5 lead. Kingsville answered back with a couple of deep runs that proved to be the difference in the set, which the Javelinas won 25-20. The third set was also 25-20 in favor of Kingsville, with the Javelinas holding on to a lead from the start.
Coutrney Hanson racked up 20 assists across the three sets to lead the Tigers.
Kellen Church tallied 10 digs to lead the Ouachita defense.
Riley Braziel led the Tigers in kills with seven and aces with three.
The Tigers kept things close in the match with New Mexico Highlands University, with three of the four sets being decided by just two points. Ouachita won the first set 26-24. That first set started with a kill by
Emily Adams and Ouachita would not trail for the remainder of the set. Highlands tied the set at 22-22, with both teams trading the next four points to keep it tied at 24-24. The Tigers scored the next two on kills from Church and
Riley Braziel to win the first set 26-24.
The second set was the only set decided by more than two points, as New Mexico Highlands won 25-21. Sets three and four saw Ouachita put together several runs and comeback from down as many as five points, but the Cowgirls were able to edge the Tigers to take both sets by just two points each to win the match 3-1.
Riley Braziel led the Tiger offense and defense with 12 kills and 16 digs, her first double-double of the season.
Hanson also recorded a double-double, dishing out 34 assists to lead all players and grabbing 15 digs for her first double-double of the year.
Two other Tigers recorded double-digit digs:
Kylie Kisgen had 14 and
Peyton Church recorded 13.
The Tigers will look bounce back tomorrow against Tiffin University at 8:30 a.m. and Colorado State-Pueblo at 2:30 p.m. in the final day of the Kingsville Invitational.
