Final Stats (.pdf Format)
SAN ANGELO – Freshman
Kaelen Valdez recorded her team-leading 11th double-double of the season and hit a team-best .310, but it was not enough as Angelo State dropped a 3-0 (23-25, 14-25, 19-25) decision to West Texas A&M Saturday afternoon in Stephens Arena to close the regular season. The loss snapped a 10-match win streak for the 'Belles.
Valdez was the only 'Belle to register a double-digit kill performance in the match as she tallied 10 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore setter
Alex Woolsey also collected a double-double with 28 assists and 10 digs. Woolsey also contributed a kill and two total blocks. Sophomore libero
Caroline Cleveland excelled on defense once again as she tallied a season-high 19 digs. Junior
Kayla Smith turned in a solid performance as she notched 10 digs and five kills for Angelo State (17-11, 12-2 LSC).
The first set was an exciting one, as the two squads did not allow their opponent more than a three-point lead throughout the set. The Rambelles' defense held West Texas A&M (24-8, 14-0 LSC) to a .196 hitting percentage, while the Lady Buffs' defense was solid and limited the 'Belles to a .070 attack percentage. The set included nine ties and five lead changes as the two teams matched each other point-for-point. With a 22-22 tie, West Texas' Erika Dupree gave the Lady Buffs the lead for good as she knocked down her second kill of the match. West Texas pushed the game to set point after a Rambelle miscue, but a Valdez kill pulled the 'Belles within one (24-23). With another set point on the line, the Lady Buffs put away the first set, 25-23, on a kill by Ashley Davis.
Winning such a close first set gave the Lady Buffs momentum going into the second set as they quickly jumped ahead of the 'Belles, 7-2, forcing ASU's head coach
Chuck Waddington to call a timeout. The break in action did not stop West Texas, as it came back and took a 13-4 lead. The Lady Buffs took advantage of seven Rambelle attack errors and cruised to a 25-14 win.
The 'Belles offense came to life in the third set, as they knocked down 13 kills. However, West Texas' offense would not be outdone, as the Lady Buffs slammed 18 kills and hit .333 in the set. The third set started much like the first, with the two squads battling and trading points. Before the scoreboard reached 10 points for either team, the two squads had already tied the set five times. West Texas' Keidra Williams broke the final tie spiking a kill over the ASU front line. The 'Belles tried to keep the score close, but the Lady Buffs took a seven-point lead (22-15) on back-to-back Rambelle errors followed by a Lauren Thedford kill. West Texas pushed the score to 24-16, but the 'Belles played hard until the final point was scored. With
Alexa Williams at the service line, the 'Belles knocked down three consecutive points before Keidra Williams slammed her ninth kill of the contest to give West Texas a 25-19 victory.
West Texas A&M was led by Dupree's double-double (33 assists, 14 digs), Davis' match-high 13 kills and Thedford's 16 digs.
The 'Belles' next action will be at the Lone Star Conference Tournament in Canyon, Texas, next week. More information will be posted on AngeloSports.com as it becomes available.
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