Page 6 - Sports
thesouthtexan.com
Thursday, November 8, 2018
Javelinas volleyball goes to playoffs
Team dominates in 2018, next matches will be at seasonal playoffs ASHLEY GONZALEZ Sports Reporter On Friday, the Texas A&M University - Kingsville Volleyball team (1813, 10-10 LSC) hosted the Midwestern State Mustangs (5-23, 3-17 LSC) and sent the Mustangs home with a loss. The match was a five-set battle which resulted in a large victory for the Javelinas. The entire match was a neck-to-neck battle with set scores of 25-18, 21-25, 25-21, 23-25, 13-15. The battle brought out the best of veteran senior, Haley Hutchinson, who is now the first Javelina to reach more than 500 sets played in a career and is now in the school record book. Hutchinson is one of the two only returners of last season’s volleyball team along with Madison Brabham. Head coach Tanya Allen gives most of the squad’s success to both Hutchinson and Brabham. “The seniors have carried us throughout most of the season,” Allen said, “both statistically and emotionally.” Freshman Mia Soto hit a new record for her rookie season by collecting 10 kills. Soto is a San Antonio native out of Southside High School. Game leaders on Friday night were Hutchinson, Brabham, Soto and Talleyshia Morris who collected 49 kills, 13 blocks and four aces collectively. On Saturday, the Javelinas played their last home match of the regular season and secured a win against the Cameron University Aggies with a
Players defending the Javelina home court.
Photo courtesy of javelinaathletics.com
3-1 final. Set scores were 25-23, 18-25, 2515, 25-23. The Javelinas gained momentum early in the first set and finally blew the Aggies out of the water after the third set. The Javelinas third set victory by 10 solidified the unstoppable momentum, which helped end the match in the fourth set. The dynamic duo, Hutchinson and Brabham, on their own contributed to a total of 32 kills. On senior day, team captain Brabham, with no surprise, logged-in her 13th triple double of the season. As per the NCAA website, Brabham leads the nation in the most triple-doubles in DII Volleyball with
11 season triple doubles. “Brabham is leading the country in triple-doubles, and her statistics have hugely contributed to our success,” Allen said. Game leaders for Saturday’s match were Hutchinson, Brabham, Morris and Kailey Estrada who dominated the court with 50 kills, 14 blocks and four aces collectively. Playing at home has always been an advantage for the Javelinas. The squad had an early away game streak in the first half of the season. That being said, finishing off the regular season at home had its perks. “I am very happy that we were able to have our last two conference matches at home,” Allen said. “It is certainly easier to play at home in this
conference than it is to play on the road.” The Javelinas concluded the regular season on Saturday and have come a long way as a team from game one of the season to the final season game. Allen and Brabham had their share of visible improvements that they were proud of. “All the of the girls have grown in their positions and we can see improvements all over the court. Personally, I have learned a lot about myself,” Brabham said. “As a leader, I have been able to fine tune my skills to end my career on a high note.” Allen gives credit to the freshmen players. “Over the course of the season, I’ve seen a lot of improvement in the freshman class,” Allen said. “They’ve learned a lot and grown within their given positions tremendously.” The Javelinas are going into the postseason with a simple objective and that objective is to win. “My goal is both encourage the team to play hard but also to play smart. I want them to apply all that they’ve learned over the course of this season,” Allen said. Postseason play is nothing new to Brabham. Nonetheless, focus has always been key for the captain. “Keeping everyone focused is our main goal [and] winning,” Brabham said. The Javelinas have their first playoff game at 12 p.m. on Nov. 8 in Stephenville, Texas, against the Angelo State University Rams.
Event promotes NCAA organization
Student Athletic Committee organizes community Trunk or Treat event
Vehicles parked along university boulevard for the event.
Photo courtesy of Madeline Maltais
ZACKARIAH WILSON Sports Reporter Trick or treating these days is a bigger worry for parents. At Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK), the Continuing Education Department and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) teamed up to give back to the community by ensuring parents their children can have a safe Halloween experience at TAMUK’s
annual Trunk or Treat event held Monday Oct. 9. “It’s an idea to bring the community onto campus...and show that we support the city of Kingsville,” said athletic trainer and SAAC adviser Julie Oberriter. University Boulevard is where many outside events are hosted and happened to be perfect for the Trunk or Treat event as well. “SAAC wants the community to
Children, families and athletes in costumes at the event.
Photo courtesy of Madeline Maltais
have a safe place for their trick or treating. They can interact with the athletes, get candy and even enter a costume contest. Each sports team is decorating the trunk of a vehicle to park on University Boulevard and pass out candy to the children,” said track thrower and SAAC president Madeleine Maltais. There were plenty of parents, children and young adults all along the boulevard enjoying themselves in the
spirit of Halloween and from the looks of the turnout, the event was a success. TAMUK strong safety Sean Landez was out at the event supporting SAAC and the Trunk or Treat event as well. “We just want to see all the smiles and costumes and creativity that Kingsville has to offer....It’s actually been an annual thing as long as I’ve been here and in SAAC the last two years...and it’s been a great turnout each year,” Landez said.