BOX SCORE
SEATTLE - (Oct. 20) Freshman Katarina Marinkovic turned in a career match Thursday night as the second round of Western Athletic Conference play began in the Connolly Complex. The rookie tallied 26 kills, 13 digs and five blocks as Seattle University volleyball avenged an earlier loss to the Vaqueros with a 25-17, 17-25, 26-24, 26-28, 15-8 victory.
Seattle U improved to 11-10 overall and an even 4-4 in WAC play while UTRGV dropped to 15-8 overall and 5-3 in the WAC.
Senior Iris Ivan added 19 digs and freshman middle blocker Kory White had nine kills on 17 swings with just one error to go along with a career-high 13 blocks. Sett Kerry Lane recorded a double-double with 47 assists and 10 digs.
UTRGV strung together six straight points midway through the first set to open up a 17-13 advantage that it would not relinquish in a 25-17 final.
The Redhawks rebounded in the second set, hitting a solid .300 while holding the Vaqueros to -.036. ON Marinkovic’s serve, SU turned a 4-3 lead into a 12-4 advantage before UTRGV would be forced to use its first timeout. The damage was done however, as Seattle U maintained its lead on its way to evening the match, 1-1, with a 25-17 win.
Capped by back-to-back points courtesy Marinkovic, Seattle U took a 2-1 lead going into the 10-minute break, winning set three, 26-24. The rookie put down a kill to give SU a 25-24 lead and then recorded set point on a service ace.
UTRGV pushed the match to a fifth and deciding set with a 28-26 win in set four. But set five was all Redhawks as they scored the final six points of the match, capped by Marinkovic’s 26th kill of the night.
Seattle U is back in the Connolly Complex Saturday at 1 p.m., hosting WAC leader New Mexico State.