CANYON, Texas – West Virginia's volleyball team and new head coach Avery Moore opened the season Thursday afternoon at the BritKare Lady Buff Classic, hosted by West Texas A&M and fell in four sets to the Texas A&M International Dust Devils, 3-1. All four sets were close but untimely runs by TAMI were State's undoing.
State falls to 0-1 on the young season while Texas A&M International advances to 1-0.
For State,
Hannah Steele slammed 13 kills, hit .286, and had six digs.
Maureen Matthews also had double digit kills with 11, hitting .304, and 2 blocks.
Valencia Wilder gathered seven kills, had a .267 attack percentage, and rejected seven Dust Devil attacks. Defensively,
Ashlynne Davis dug out 20 attacks and had three service aces. while
Kiersten Eggleton assisted 24 times.
Emma Pomaret had 15 helpers in her debut in a Yellow Jacket uniform.
The opening set was closely contested, with the Dust Devils emerging victorious 25-21. TAMI took an early lead, capitalizing on an attack error by WVSU's
Hannah Steele. Anna Ligart and Mia Molina contributed several key kills for TAMI, while the Yellow Jackets responded with kills from
Valencia Wilder and Maureen Mathews. State managed to tie the score at 4-4 with strong defense from
Kennedy Stewart and Maureen Mathews. However, TAMI regained momentum behind the powerful hitting of Sierra Long and Molina, extending their lead to 9-5. WVSU continued to fight back, with Steele leading the offense, but TAMI's service pressure, especially from Emma Lade, made the difference. Lade's two service aces late in the set, combined with multiple attack errors by the Yellow Jackets, helped TAMI seal the first set 25-21.
In the second set, State came out strong, jumping to a 6-0 lead thanks to efficient serving from
Kiersten Eggleton and blocks by Mathews and Wilder. The Dust Devils, however, mounted a comeback with kills from Caitlyn Cornell and Sierra Long. The momentum shifted back and forth as both teams committed errors, but TAMI's defense and strong serves from Ligart and Pomaret helped them inch back. WVSU tried to maintain control with key kills from
Hannah Steele and Maureen Mathews, but TAMI capitalized on WVSU's errors to tie the set at 18-18. In the final points, TAMI managed to outlast WVSU, with Molina and Long delivering clutch kills, and a critical attack error from WVSU allowed TAMI to close out the set 25-23.
The third set saw a determined WVSU bounce back to claim the set 25-18. Steele and Wilder powered WVSU's attack, while Eggleton's consistent setting allowed them to control the pace early on. TAMI struggled with errors, including multiple attack errors from Molina and Buenrostro. Despite some late efforts from TAMI's Long and Ligart, State's dominance in blocking and serving proved too much, and the Yellow Jackets were able to secure the set with a commanding lead.
The fourth set was a thrilling conclusion to the match, with both teams battling fiercely. TAMI took an early 5-1 lead thanks to key kills from Ligart and Long, but State quickly responded with kills from Wilder and Steele. The teams traded points, with neither able to pull away by more than a few points. WVSU managed to tie the set at 22-22 after a service ace by
Kennedy Stewart and an attack error from TAMI's Molina. However, TAMI's Caitlyn Cornell delivered a crucial kill to give them a 25-24 advantage, and a final attack error by Steele handed TAMI the set and the match 26-24.
State has a chance to bounce back from their opening day loss Friday morning with a matinee match against the University of Central Missouri Mules. First serve is scheduled for 10:00 am eastern daylight time.
