Kingsville, TX—The Mustangs opened up conference play this afternoon, taking on the Javelinas of Texas A&M Kingsville (6-3). The Mustangs (3-6) looked to rebound after dropping their last match to Adams State last weekend in the final day of the Dixie State Classic.
 
Game Recap:
The Javelinas came out swinging taking a 9-4 lead before a Western timeout. The Javelinas would continue that run after the timeout going up 12-4 before a service error would break the eight point run. The Mustangs struggled to find a rhythm, with multiple ball handling errors and difficulty beating the Kingsville block. Kingsville went on to take the set 25-11.
 
Kingsville rolled through set one with efficiency, hitting .387 committing only two errors. Western committed five errors on six kills hitting .037.
 
Set two would be no different for the Javelinas who made quick work of the Mustangs going up 13-6 before a Mustang timeout.
 
Coming out of the timeout, Kingsville would show no mercy increasing their lead by as many as eight. A couple of kills by Sarai Migao (Temecula, CA/Chaparral High School) would keep Western alive, but only for so long. Kingsville would go on to take the set 25-14, and a 2-0 lead heading into the break. `
 
The third set proved to be a turning point for Western as they would gain an early 6-3 lead and have Kingsville on their heels. 
 
The teams would trade points throughout the set, until the Mustangs pulled ahead 21-19 forcing Kingsville to call their first timeout of the match.
 
A big block by junior middle blocker, Deyzha Samuelu (Garden Grove, CA/Edison High School) followed by a kill from Erin Moss (Kailua, HI/University Laboratory School) and a Javelina error would put the Mustangs up 24-21 and a point away from taking the set. Kingsville would pull within one before a block by Moss and Samuelu ended the set 25-23 in favor of Western.
 
Outside hitters Selai Damuni (Kula, HI/Tempview High School) and Bria Augustine (Bell Flower, CA/Mayfair High School) contributed kill after kill for Western, and lead the team to a 25-20 fourth set victory, forcing the game to a deciding set.
 
The fifth set proved to be an exciting one, with multiple Mustangs contributing. Erin Moss (Kailua, HI/University Laboratory School) would start things off with a kill early on. A service ace by Madelynn Culp (Vancouver, WA/Union High School) and hitting errors by the Javelinas put the Mustangs up 7-4.
 
Kingsville would come back to take the lead 12-11 before a Western timeout.
 
Kingsville would rally to come back and take the set into extra points. A ball sent over on the second hit ended it all at 17-15 in favor of the Javelinas.
 
Bria Augustine (Bell Flower, CA/Mayfair High School) finished the match with 13 kills, followed by Selai Damuni (Kula, HI/Tempview High School) with 12. The Mustangs out dug the Javelinas 68-66.
 
The Mustangs head to Laredo tomorrow for a non-conference matchup against the Dust Devils of Texas A&M International. First serve is set for 12 p.m. (CT).