CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Texans started strong at the Islander Classic in Corpus Christi with a win and near redemption against a team that's had their number, then ran into two tough programs on the second day to finish their four-match event 1-3.
Tarleton State (5-11) swept Sam Houston (1-15) 5-0 on Friday to start its weekend at Water's Edge Park, then nearly pulled off a victory against Texas A&M-Kingsville (18-10) in the third installment of the series this season, falling 3-2. On Saturday, the Texans lost both matches 5-0, the first against the host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (16-9), the second against Stephen F. Austin (16-10).
Two of Tarleton's five pairs went 2-2 on the weekend, while the other three went 1-3.
On Court 1,
Emma Halcomb and
Allison Bryant split their matches with a 21-8 21-14 win against Sam Houston's Avery Fowler and Michaela Panekova, then defeated Texas A&M-Kingsville's Liana Huesca and Rylan Pollard 21-8 20-22 15-7. The Texan pair lost to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Madison Morrow and Tess Spaansen 12-21 15-21 and SFA's Katie Hansen and Tessa Rogers 19-21 21-15 5-15.
Halcomb and Bryant are now 8-8 on this season, all matches together and all on Court 1.
On Court 5,
Christian Mitchell and
Sofia Bendele split their four matches. They defeated Sam Houston in a medical forfeit to start, then defeated Texas A&M-Kingsville's Clara Presmanes-Garate and Elizabeth Williams 21-16 21-15. They lost to the Islanders' Ruby Kayser and Veronique Magnan 8-21 16-21, then to the Ladyjacks' Meagan Ledbetter and Jennah Atchley 15-21 20-22.
Grayson Schirpik and
Hayden Huber were paired up on Court 2 all weekend, beating the Bearkats' Kenedi Miller and Ella Folse 21-9 17-21 15-13. They lost in two sets their next two matches, then took SFA's No. 2 duo to the wire, falling 17-21 21-18 12-15 to Lizzie Denyer and Olivia Zeigler.
On Court 3,
Amaya Brown played with
Bella Parayno, winning 26-24 21-10 against Sam Houston's Talan Dodson and Abby Clayton. The Texans lost in straight sets in the other three matches.
On Court 4,
Camilla Chun and
Charlize Ching beat Sam Houston's Payton Rink and Anna Merrell 21-8 21-7. The Texans then lost in three sets against the Javelinas' Emma Daughtery and Meghan Stiefer 21-15 19-21 5-15. The Texans lost both Saturday matches in straight sets.
Tarleton is now 1-0 against Sam Houston all-time, 0-2 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 0-2 against Stephen F. Austin, and 0-5 against Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Texans have played the Javelinas three times this year, losing 5-0 in the first match, 4-1 in the second match and 3-2 in the third.
Tarleton State will have one more regular season event featuring four matches before the Conference USA Beach Volleyball Championship. The Texans will face McNeese, Tulane, Florida Atlantic and Southeastern Louisiana on April 18-19 in New Orleans.
