SAN ANGELO - In front of a large group of fans and Belle volleyball alumni, The No. 13 Angelo State volleyball team bounced back with a 3-1 victory (25-16, 25-23, 20-25, 25-23) over Texas A&M - Kingsville in the Stephens Arena at the Junell Center on Saturday afternoon.

In the final set of the match the Javelinas took an early lead and managed to hold off the Belles for the majority of the set. It wasn't until, down 16-13, some big swings from upperclassmen Mallory Blauser and Brianna Sotello and a pair of TAMUK handling errors gave ASU the boost to take jump back into the driver's seat and taking a 17-16 lead. A big time block by Sotello and Leiyona Young and straight kills from Morgan Seaton and Sotello pushed the Belles ahead 20-18. The two squads exchanged points bringing the set back to an even 23 on the board. Juniors Abbie Lynn and Sotello then dropped in two consecutive points to put the Belles back in the win column.

"Both sides played very well in the fourth set with very few errors on either side," commented ASU Head Coach Chuck Waddington. "We had to be the team to make the play, and we did when it mattered. That's what it's about. You have to be able to execute when it matters, it's something we always talk about and today we did it."     

With the win, the Belles climb to 14-2 overall on the season and 5-1 in the Lone Star Conference. The Belles defensive efforts held the opposition to a .103 attack percentage by limiting the Javelinas to a -.064 clip in the first set and a .053 clip in the second set. Texas A&M - Kingsville slides to 12-5 overall and an even 3-3 in the LSC with the loss.

Leading the Belles scoring was outside hitters Blauser and Sotello. The duo each recorded a double-double as they turned in stellar defensive number to accompany their double-figure kills. Blauser led the squad as she fired in 16 kills for the afternoon. This marked her sixth match of the season with at least 15 kills. The Round Rock native chalked a career high 17 digs on the day to assist the defense. Sotello, who also assisted the defense with 15 digs, was second on the team with 13 kills for the day. She was also a force along the net as she co-led the team recording a season high four total blocks.

Also assisting the Belles attack from the right side hitter position was Lynn. The junior from Amarillo, Texas tallied nine kills for a .241 clip. On the other side of the ball she was second on the team with a pair of blocks.  

Heading ASU defensive efforts, Mallory Davidson recorded a career high 24 digs from the libero position. This marked the junior's fifth match this season with double-figure digs. She also added an ace to her numbers for the day. Young joined Davidson in leading the defense, recording four total blocks to co-lead the team in the category.

Distributing the rock for ASU, was setter Meghan Parker.  With a 43 assist performance against the hogs, the freshman recorded her ninth match of the season with no fewer than 40 assists. She added seven digs and an ace to her numbers for the day, as well.      

Angelo State opened the match with 5-1 run that saw points scored by Blauser, Lynn and freshman Tulani Titley. The Belles would maintain the lead throughout the set. With a 13-8 lead, Morgan Seaton took to the service line for ASU forcing three TAMUK errors and sinking an ace to push the lead to 17-8. The Belles continued its strong attack taking the score to 23-16. This is when, following a monster Blauser kill, Sotello lazered in an ace to close out the set for ASU.

Having just dropped the first set, the Javelinas attempted to turn things around in the second set by scoring the initial two points but multiple errors would keep the score at an even 3-3. A Davidson ace would give the Belles its first lead of the set and once again they would not relinquish. With the score sitting at 22-18 in favor of ASU, TAMUK pieced together a small rally to tie the set at 22, but another Blauser kills would put a halt to the run. Young and Sotello would combine on a block that would give the team a 2-0 lead heading into the break.

Despite taking an early 8-3 lead in the third set, the Belles would allow Texas A&M- Kingsville to take over the lead. Young, Sotello and Lynn would try to get ASU's footing back, but the Javelinas would regain its momentum and take the set.

The Belles hit the road next weekend making stops in Wichita Falls, Texas on Friday to face Midwestern State at 7 p.m. and Lawton, Oklahoma on Saturday at 2 p.m. to take on Cameron University.