Bearkats-Islanders Squares Off Tomorrow
by Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
The two teams tied for second place in the Southland Conference will square off Thursday night at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum, as the Sam Houston State (13-9, 8-2) plays host to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (15-6, 8-2) at 7 p.m.
The Bearkats are winners of eight consecutive matches, a streak that started Sept. 22 against the Islanders in Corpus Christi. Sam Houston has racked up six straight-set victories during the winning streak and has only dropped two sets total.
Deveney Wells-Gibson, the reigning Southland Offensive Player of the Week, is coming off a career-best 27 kills against Lamar. Her 317 kills this season is tops in the Southland.
Kim Black, who received Southland Defensive Player of the Week honors, has led the Bearkats in blocks in eight consecutive matches and 19 of 22 contests this year. The senior’s 109 blocks this season leads the conference.
Tayler Gray keeps the Bearkat offense clicking with 837 assists this season. Her 10.59 assists per set is second-best in the Southland Conference.
For the Islanders, Shannon Hullum leads the offense in kills with 226. Hullum, the lone senior on the team, ranks seventh in kills in the league.
A&M-Corpus is the only team in the Southland to beat Central Arkansas this year. The Islanders topped the Bears in five sets on the opening day of league play Brianna Brink (197 kills) and Ivy Baresh (181) also are top scorers for TAMUCC.
The next action for Sam Houston will be Thurday. Oct. 25 at Oral Roberts.