For the 12th time in the 36-year history of the Bearkat Invitational, Sam Houston won the championship in its own tournament to open the 2011 season at Bernard G. Johnson Saturday night.
SHSU's 4-0 record in the tournament marks only the second time since 1983 the volleyball program has started their season with four straight wins. Saturday the Kats defeated A&M-Corpus Christi 25-21 25-15 23-25 25-22 and Louisiana Tech 26-24 25-9 25-20.
Bearkat seniors outside hitter Carli Kolbe, middle blocker Kim Black and setter Kym Loving all were named to the all-tournament team. Kolbe was the event's "Most Valuable Player" after leading Sam Houston with 62 kills in the four victories. Black had 28 kills and participated in 23 blocks. Loving assisted on 156 kills and totaled 36 digs.
Up two sets to none in the A&M-Corpus Christi, the Bearkats fell behind 17-11 in the third set. Sam Houston regrouped to win 11 of the next 16 points and tie 22-22. But an attack error ended the run and the Islanders won two of the next three points to force a fourth set.
The last set was a war with 18 ties and seven lead changes. At 21-21, a Kolbe kill and a Haley Neisler ace put the Bearkats in control. At 23-22, Kolbe and Black closed out the match with a pair of kills.
Kolbe produced a season high 21 kills and also led the Kats with 18 digs in the victory over the Islanders. Neisler added nine kills and totaled five block assists. Libero Jamie Haas added 15 digs.
Louisiana Tech appeared headed to a first set victory to open the nightcap, leading 24-21. But the Kats survived by winning five straight points including three kills by Kolbe and one by Neisler.
The momentum of the comeback allowed the Kats to roll through the second set, totaling 13 kills to just three for the Techsters. Sam Houston totaled 16 kills in winning the third set.
Kolbe led both teams with 19 kills. Kelli Stewart added 10.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was the team runner-up. Other members of the all-tournament team were Brooke Alverson, A&M-Corpus; ChristiJuri Franzen, Texas-Pan American; Stephany Salas, Louisiana Tech and Alex Jones, Rutgers.
In other tournament action Saturday, A&M-Corpus Christi defeated UTPA 34-36 25-16 25-17 25-22, Louisiana Tech knocked off Rutgers 25-23 24-26 20-25 25-19 15-12 and Rutgers downed UTPA 25-10 25-20 25-13.
Next action for the Bearkats will be the University of North Texas Eagle Invitational Friday and Saturday in Denton. Sam Houston does not return home to Johnson Coliseum until Thursday, Sept. 22, when the Bearkats open Southland Conference action against defending regular season league champion Central Arkansas in a 7 p.m. match.
Tickets for all home Sam Houston volleyball matches are on sale now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the SHSU athletic ticket office located in Ron Mafrige Field House. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
