HOUSTON, Texas – The Huskies won a tough fought first set but couldn't hold off conference rival Texas A&M-Corpus Christi closing out the HCU in four sets (25-23, 20-25, 18-25, 15-25).

The Islanders (8-8, 3-1 SLC) jumped out to a quick lead scoring the first four points before the Huskies (8-8, 3-1 SLC) got the set within three at 12-9 off an Audrey Pearce kill. TAMUCC controlled the set until the Huskies racked up three straight points starting with a kill by Cassidy Drapela to get within two points at 20-18. After back-to-back kills by the Islanders, HCU rallied five straight points to take the lead for the first time in the set at 23-22. After an HCU error tying the game, the Huskies closed out the set taking advantage of two errors by the Islanders to take the opening set, 25-23.

The Huskies recorded the first two points of set two before the Islanders tied the game at 4-4. HCU tallied five of the next six points kickstarted with a kill by Sara Arroyo to take a, 9-5, lead. TAMUCC answered scoring seven of the next eight points to grab a, 13-11, lead. After back-and-forth points by both teams, the Huskies tied the game at 17-17 off back-to-back kills by Anna Gadway. Corpus Christi would close out the second set, 25-20, scoring six of the last seven points.

In the third set, the Islanders came out firing scoring the first two points before the Huskies answered with a pair of kills by Drapela and Pearce to tie the game at 2-2. The Huskies tied the game at 11-11 off an error by TAMUCC and an ace by Alexia Jones. The Islanders found a rhythm scoring six of the next eight points before the Huskies rallied four straight points to tie the game again at 17-17. Corpus Christi gained the momentum scoring four straight forcing a Husky timeout. After the break, HCU regrouped with a Grace McLaughlin' kill but couldn't hold off the Islander attack and TAMUCC claimed the third set, 25-18.

In the decisive fourth set, the Huskies held a 7-5 lead before the Islanders found their stride scoring nine of the next 10 points to grab a, 14-8, lead. After a kill by Gadway, TAMUCC continued to roll tallying five straight points to claim a 19-9 lead. The Huskies would fight scoring four of the next five points to get within seven points at 20-13. The Islanders closed out the decisive fourth set 25-15 and hand the Huskies their first loss at Sharp Gym in 390 days.

The Huskies were led by Gadway with 10 kills while Pearce added nine kills and two blocks. McLaughlin recorded a double-double with 27 assist and 12 digs. Libero Kaley Feris continues to lead the Huskies defensively racking up 17 digs.

The Islanders were led by Kyndal Payne with 21 kills and 17 digs. Belle Morgan dished out 53 assists while Kayla White led TAMUCC's back line with 25 digs.

The Huskies will host the Lady Demons of Northwestern State on Saturday at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available at HCUHuskies.com!