KINGSVILLE, Texas - The Crimson Storm returned to the court for day two of the Texas A&M Kingsville Tournament as they took on the tournament host Javelinas and #16 Minnesota-Duluth. The Storm fell short as Texas A&M Kingsville defeated the Storm 3-1 and the No. 16 Bulldogs took the sweep over SNU.

Game 1

Kingsville (3-1, 0-0 LSC) got off to a hot start getting an early 7-4 lead. The Storm (1-3, 0-0 GAC) was unphased as Tessa Henry and Tynaa Mojica teamed up for a couple of kills to put the Storm within one.

Scoring runs proved to be costly for the Crimson Storm once again as the Javelinas went on a 16-6 run to finish off the Storm and take the set one victory 25-15.

Looking for a response, the Storm did just that. A few Javelina errors and a Henry kill gave Southern Nazarene a quick 3-0 lead to start the set. Kingsville responded with three points of their own before an SNU run of 6-0, to lead 10-4.

TAMUK rallied back a few points to cut the deficit, but the Crimson Storm remained in control thanks to a few kills from Riley Richardson and Kingsville errors. 

Isabella Labrada remained hot from the previous day teaming up with Kate Wright for a few more kills to finish off the Javelinas 25-14 for a set two victory.

SNU kept their foot on the gas jumping out to a 10-4 lead early. A 4-0 Kingsville run cut the deficit to two. After a handful of errors from the Javelinas, the Storm lengthened their lead to 13-9.

It was not long before Kingsville tied the score 18-all after a few errors from the Storm. From there TAMUK went on a 12-2 run to finish off SNU and claim the third set, 25-18.

The Storm looked to even the match as they jumped out to a 7-3 lead after a few kills from Henry and Rayanna Mauldin. Kingsville got a few points back before the Crimson Storm went on a 5-0 scoring run.

The Javelinas continued to respond as  they took a scoring run of their own to cut the SNU lead to 12-10. A kill from Whitney Bowie got the Storm back on the right side of the ball stretching their lead again.

Kingsville continued to hang around, but Mauldin and Kaylie Marshall powered down a few kills to keep the Storm in front, 20-18. Those would be the last points the Storm would get as the Javelinas finished with a 7-0 run to take the set, 25-20, and the match 3-1.

Game 2

The Crimson Storm (1-3, 0-0 GAC) met the No. 16 ranked Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (4-0, 0-0 NSIC) in their final match of the weekend. The Bulldogs lived up to their ranking as they took down Southern Nazarene in a quick 3-0 fashion.

The two squads battled early before a 3–0 run put the Bulldogs ahead, 11-8. Molly Langford powered down a kill for the Storm to put them back within two. 

Another quick run from Duluth kept them in control. The Bulldogs continued to tack on the kills to keep the momentum on their side of the net. A 4-0 would be the end of the set as Minnesota-Duluth claimed set one, 25-17.

Set two began the same as both teams battled at the net. A Mauldin service ace gave the Storm a 6-5 lead. The set remained back and forth until a big run from the Bulldogs put them ahead 17-9. 

They continued to dominate as they claimed the set two victory, 25-11.

Southern Nazarene looked to avoid the sweep as Henry, Riley Richardson, and Emma Grace Moddelmog teamed up for some early kills to give SNU the lead. 

The Bulldogs responded with a lethal 12-0 run to take the lead 17-6. From there Duluth powered down the kills to quickly finish off the Storm, 25-8, claiming the match sweep over SNU.

Next Up

The Storm will return to the court in Springfield Missouri at the Drury Invitational. The Storm is set to take on Rockhurst Thursday, September 12 at 4:00 PM, Drury Friday, September 13 at 1:00 PM followed by Southwest Minnesota State at 7:00 PM, and Roosevelt Saturday, September 14 at 1:00 PM.