Corpus Christi - Sam Houston defeated Texas Southern and lost to Villanova, both matches going three sets, to close out action at the Islander Classic volleyball tournament Saturday.
The Bearkats 61 minutes to blank Texas Southern 25-6 25-18 25-13 then fell to Villanova in an hour and 17 minute match 25-11 25-18 25-17.
The two results evens Sam Houston's season record at 6-6. Texas Southern fell to 0-6 while Villanova, winners of the Islander Classic tournament title with four victories, stands 8-3 for the year. The afternoon loss ended a four-match victory streak for the Kats.
Sam Houston's Kim Black and Kaylee Hawkins both were selected to the Islander Classic All-Tournament team. Hawkins hit .308 in the event with 21 kills in 52 attempts with only five errors. The sophomore led Sam Houston in scoring with 30 points also totaling five service aces and six blocks. Black was right behind her with 28 points, producing 16 kills, eight aces and seven blocks.
Other members of the all-tournament honor squad were Ashlee Cooper of Texas Southern, Victoria Weatherly of Houston Baptist, Isabella Arcidiacono of A&M-Corpus Christi and Kim Maroon and tournament MVP Maggie Mergen of Villanova.
Errors were the key statistic for Sam Houston in both the win and the loss. In the first match, the Bearkats made few mistakes. In the second there were too many.
Sam Houston committed only seven errors in 77 attempts against Texas Southern, totaling 36 kills while allowing the Tigers just 16. Texas Southern dropped to 0-6 for the year.
Kaylee Hawkins led the Bearkat hitting parade with eight kills in 13 attempts. Carli Kolbe posted seven kills in 11 tries with no errors. Freshman Brittany Hoag, playing only in the second and third set, totaled five kills in nine attempts.
Hawkins also had a hand in four of the Sam Houston front line's seven blocks.
Villanova, on the other hand, totaled 40 kills while allowing the Kats only 25. Sam Houston committed 17 errors in 103 attempts for a .078 hitting percentage. SHSU also committed six service errors and 10 return errors.
Kim Black and Kolbe were the top scorers in the loss, each totaling six kills. Morgan Petkovich and Maggie Mergan led Villanova with 10 kills each.
Following this weekend's contests, Sam Houston travel Sept. 17-18 to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl Invitational hosted by Tulane.
The Kats open Southland Conference action with a road swing Sept. 23 and 25 at Central Arkansas and Northwestern State. The next home action for the Bearkat volleyball team will be Thursday, Sept. 30 when they play host to A&M-Corpus Christi.
Tickets to home volleyball matches and Bearkat events are on sale online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets and at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
