For the 12th time in the 26-year history of the Sam Houston Volleyball' Invitational, the host team Bearkats are champions.
The young SHSU team went unbeaten through its four matches to earn the title, the Kats' first Invitational crown since winning in 2011.
Saturday afternoon, the Kats roared to a 26-24 25-12 27-25 thrilled over tournament runner-up Bakersfield . Then Saturday night Sam Houston held off Texas-Pan American in five sets 23-25 25-17 25-14 19-25 15-6.
Senior Bearkat outside hitter Deveney Wells-Gibson was tournament “Most Valuable Player” after totaling 79 kills in the four matches. She picked up 18 kills in the Bakersfield win and 22 in the victory over the Broncs.
Bearkat setter Michelle Griffith and middle blocker Shelby Genung also were all-tournament selections
“We have more offense on this year's team,” SHSU head coach Brenda Gray said. “No matter who we have in the rotation, there is someone that can score.”
In the first game against the Runners, CSUB rallied to take a 20-19 lead. With the scored tied 24-24, SHSU took advantage of a Eryn Riley service error then got a set-winning kill from Wells-Gibson.
The Kats broke open the second set with an early 11-4 run to go up 14-7. Sam Houston cruised the rest of the way, producing a .364 hitting mean for the stanza with 15 kills in 33 attempts.
The final set was full of drama with 18 ties and six lead changes. Tied 25-25, an error by the setter gave the Kats a match point. Again Wells-Gibson delivered to earn the three-set win.
Sam Houston's Michelle Griffith ran the floor for the Kats, picking up 39 assists on SHSU's 45 kills. White and Claire Kilpatrick each had 15 digs.
The victory over UTPA was a grinder with 13 tie scores during the match. Sam Houston out-pointed the Broncs 76-61 to earn the victory.
BAKERSFIELD 3 UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE 0
Kelsee Sawyer totaled 11 kills and Molly O'Hagan added 10 more as Bakersfield defeated ULM in three straight in Saturday's first match 25-19 25-22 25-16.
The Warhawks appeared headed for a second set victory, up 14-10 midway. The Roadrunners fought back to knot the score at 21-21 and won four of the last five points to go up 2-0.
Bakersfield never trailed in the third set. ULM was led by Alannah Cullum with seven kills.
MISSISSIPPI STATE 3, TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN 1
Chelsea Duhs collected 13 kills in 34 attempts to lead the Bulldogs to a four-set victory over UTPA in Saturday's second contest, winning 21-25 25-20 25-21 25-14.
Each of the first three sets were close with 13 ties and eight lead changes in the first, 11 ties and four lead changes in the second and five ties in the third.
The Bulldogs took control in fourth, never trailing with only one tie score. Anjane Janda led UTPA with eight kills.
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE 3, MISSISSIPPI ST 0
Led by Hadley Swartz with 17 kills, the Warhawks completed the SHSU Invitational with a 2-2 record after a 26-24 25-18 25-18 victory over Mississippi State in the eighth match of the tournament.
ULM out-pointed the Bulldogs 61 to 34. Hope Pawlik added 13 kills for the Warhawks. Chelsea Duhs led Mississippi State with seven kills as the Bulldogs ended their road trip 1-3.
TOURNAMENT FINAL STANDINGS:
1. Sam Houston 4-0
2. Bakersfield 2-1
3. ULM 2-2
4. Miss. St. 1-3
5. UTPA 0-3
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Deveney Wells-Gibson, SHSU - "Most Valuable Player"
Michelle Griffith, SHSU
Shelby Genung, SHSU
Molly O'Hagan, Bakersfield
Mariah Alvidrez, Bakersfield
Luiza Martins, Bakersfield
Hadley Swartz, ULM
Haley Durham, UTPA
Rayton Harris, Mississippi State
