TYLER, Texas – The Louisiana Christian University volleyball team swept the Texas College Steers 3-0 on Saturday, winning 25-10, 25-15 and 25-23 at Gus F. Taylor Gymnasium. The Wildcats controlled the first two sets before answering a late challenge in the third to improve to 3-12 overall and 2-4 in conference play. Texas College fell to 2-14 and 0-8.
The opening set turned on
Kylie Elmore's extended stay at the service line. Elmore served during an 11-point run, including an ace, as Louisiana Christian stretched an 8-6 advantage to 18-6. The Wildcats maintained that separation through the finish, and
Holly Rowe converted a set-point kill from
Emma Cother to close the 25-10 victory.
Louisiana Christian carried its momentum into the second set by scoring the first seven points.
Joie Goodwin delivered four kills during the opening surge, while Cother added an ace and kept the Wildcats' attack organized.
Yadneli Molina then recorded three aces as the lead grew to 14-4. A Texas College setting error ended the set at 25-15 and gave Louisiana Christian a two-set advantage.
The Wildcats had to respond to their toughest test in the third.
Jalee Flores hit consecutive kills during a 5-0 run that erased a 9-7 deficit and put Louisiana Christian ahead 12-9. Texas College rallied from 15-12 down, tied the set at 15 and later held leads of 21-20, 22-21 and 23-22. After an attack error tied the score at 23, Rowe put the Wildcats at match point with a kill.
Mallory Wills followed with a service ace to complete the sweep, 25-23.
Rowe led the balanced attack with 10 kills on 15 attempts and a .467 hitting percentage. Cother finished with 27 assists, nine digs and three aces, contributing in each phase of the victory. Flores posted six kills while hitting .556, and Goodwin added six kills with a .400 percentage.
Natalie Aasen contributed four kills and seven digs, while Molina paired her three aces with seven digs. Wills recorded a solo block in addition to the match-ending ace.
Louisiana Christian finished with decisive advantages in kills (36-17), assists (34-17), digs (35-15) and aces (9-4). The Wildcats hit .243 and held the Steers to a minus-.014 percentage while combining for three blocks.
The Wildcats return home to face Southwest in a pair of Red River Athletic Conference matches. The first of the back-to-back with the Mustangs (2-5, 2-5 RRAC) will be on Fri., Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. at Gene Rushing Court at H.O. West Fieldhouse.
