CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Huskies fall to TAMUCC at Dugan Wellness Center in straight sets (19-25, 25-27, 21-25). HCU has lost both matchups against the Islanders in the conference season after splitting Southland matchups in each of the last two seasons. The Islanders continue to hold second place in the SLC standings while HCU moves to fifth place in the conference standings, five games back of Southeastern.

The Huskies (13-12, 8-5 SLC) scored the first point of the opening set with a kill by Cassidy Drapela before back-and-forth points by both teams found the Huskies down by one point at 7-6. A three-point run gave HCU their largest lead of the set at 9-7. The Islanders responded scoring five straight points to retake the lead at 12-9. After back-to-back points by the Huskies including a kill by Lexie Temple got HCU within one point but a three-point run by TAMUCC increased their lead to four points. The Huskies would narrow the deficit to one point at 20-19 off a kill by Drapela but the Islanders tallied the last five points of the opening set taking set one, 25-19.

TAMUCC (17-8, 12-1 SLC) grabbed an early 5-2 lead off a four-point run and held the lead Huskies tied the set at 8-8. After a kill by Kyndal Payne of the Islanders, the Huskies rallied five straight points Including two aces by Alexia Jones and a kill by Anna Gadway to snag a 13-9 lead. HCU held the lead until Corpus tied the set at 15-15. After a kill by Audrey Pearce, the Islanders scored back-to-back points to retake the lead before the Huskies retook the lead on two straight kills by Sara Arroyo. After alternating kills trailed by one point at 21-20. HCU reclaimed the lead on three straight kills by Gadway before the Islanders tied the set at 23-23. A kill by Drapela forced set point for TAMUCC, but a kill by Morgan Baese tied the set at 24-24 forcing extra points. HCU forced set point again off an error by the Islanders but three straight points by Corpus Christi knocked off the Huskies in set two, 27-25.

With their backs against the wall, the Huskies took an early, 5-2, lead off a four-point run capped off by three straight kills by Pearce. HCU would extend the lead to five points with an ace by Tatiana Evans at 8-3 and increase the lead to six points at 17-11 with a kill by Temple forcing a timeout by the Islanders. TAMUCC regrouped scoring three-straight points out of the break and claimed their first lead of the set off a six-point run to hold a two-point lead at 21-19. The Islanders tallied 14 of the last 18 points of the match to close out the Huskies in straight set claiming the final set 25-19.

The Huskies were led by Pearce with 13 kills and two blocks while Gadway and Drapela both added 10 kills. Grace McLaughlin recorded her ninth double-double of the season dishing out 37 assists along with 10 digs. Kaley Feris led the Huskies defensively with 13 digs. 

Kyndal Payne led the Islanders with 19 kills and 12 digs while Leah Stolfus added 14 kills and four blocks. Belle Morgan dished out 46 assists and Kayla White led TAMUCC's back line with 17 digs.

The Huskies return to Sharp Gym on Saturday at 11 a.m. for Dig Pink/Breast Cancer Awareness Match to battle New Orleans on Homecoming weekend. Come support your Huskies wearing your pink for Homecoming weekend. Live stats will be available at HCUHuskies.com!