THE RUNDOWN
DBU (2) took down Texas A&M Kingsville (6) Friday afternoon to advance to the Lone Star Conference Tournament Championship. The Patriots took sets one, two, and four, extending their winning streak to nine.
Karly Wells led the kill column with 16, and was joined in the double-digit club by
Claire Conner (14) and
Avery Keck (11). Setters
Zoe Gun and
Paityn Winters both logged double-doubles, facilitating the DBU attack and digging Javelina swings all afternoon long.
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A block by
Reagan Fifer and
Aizlyn Dewberry gave the Patriots a 6-5 lead in set one, and they wouldn't relinquish their advantage, eventually winning the frame 25-17. Texas A&M Kingsville was held to a -0.056 hitting percentage, while DBU hit .344 to kickstart the afternoon.
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DBU's front row made an emphatic defensive statement in the first two frames, recording 11 blocks to keep the momentum.
Kalin Hubbard and
Avery Keck combined for a block on three separate occasions in set two, leading the defensive efforts for the Patriots.
Claire Conner added a team-leading six kills to propel the group to a 25-20 set two victory.
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The Javelinas posted a .360 hitting percentage in set three while holding DBU to a .162 mark, even then, the frame was tied a whopping 16 times and featured five lead changes. Kingsville would take set three 25-21, utilizing a 7-3 run to close out the frame.
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The Patriots trailed 4-1 to start set four, but rallied back to knot the score at five. The score would be tied seven more times before DBU took a 15-14 lead, an advantage they would hold onto until their ticket to the LSC Championship was punched.
Karly Wells and
Lauren Witte led the way offensively with four kills each in the fourth and final set.
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THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- In each of their last nine games, DBU has held their opponent to a sub-.200 hitting percentage (.159 today).
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Claire Conner has turned in consecutive double-digit kill performances for the first time in her career.
- DBU's ninth consecutive victory makes their current winning streak their longest of the season.
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INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1578.5 -
Karly Wells' program-leading career point total (29 today).
2 - The Patriots will play in the LSC Championship for the second time in program history (2022).
62 - 62 kills is the most that DBU has recorded in a four-set game this season.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE WITH HEAD COACH JORDAN FISH, AIZLYN DEWBERRY, AND AVERY KECK
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UP NEXT
The Patriots (2) will await Angelo State (1) or St. Edward's (6) in the LSC Championship. Saturday's matchup is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM.
