HUNTSVILLE, TX- The Sam Houston Bearkats couldn’t overcome the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros as they lost 3-1 Thursday night.

This game was a battle between two top three teams in the Western Athletic Conference

The first set was constantly back and forth as there were nine ties between the Bearkats (6-13, 3-2 WAC) and Vaqueros (16-4, 5-0 WAC).

While the Bearkats kept up with UTRGV, the Vaqueros always seemed to have had an answer to everything. Sam Houston couldn’t get a run going.

Despite six kills by junior outside hitter Catherine Krieger, it wasn’t enough for Sam Houston as they lost set one 26-24 to UTRGV.

Set one ended with controversy as it would become one of the themes of the match. UTRGV won the set when the officials ruled that Sam Houston touched the ball one too many times.

Despite some debate, the call stood.

Set two went to the Vaqueros in dominating fashion as they won it 25-16, despite the Bearkats starting out the set leading 5-2.

There were a lot of errors and mistakes by the Bearkats, along with questionable officiating that wasn’t received well from either SHSU or UTRGV.

The Bearkats, however, wouldn’t go down easily.

Sam Houston was able to get on the board with a close 25-23 set three victory.

The largest scoring deficit was only three points when the Bearkats were up 12-9. The set had a whopping 13 ties.

The Bearkats then came out to a good start in set four, leading it 8-3 at one point.

The Vaqueros came back and tied it up 10-10 off a kill by graduate outside hitter Sarah Cruz and never looked back.

UTRGV went on to win set four 25-18, securing the three sets to one win over SHSU.

The Bearkats committed 46 total errors.

Sarah Cruz led the way for the Vaqueros as she got her third double-double of WAC play with 16 kills and 10 digs.

Junior middle blocker Luisa Silva Dos Santos had 11 kills and sophomore outside hitter Claudia Lupescu with 10 kills of her own.

Sophomore setter Luanna Emiliano had a game high 43 assists.

Catherine Krieger finished the night with 15 kills, a team high for the Bearkats. Sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Fielder finished with her fifth double-double of the season with 14 kills and 12 digs.

Freshman setter Avery Fowler set up a team high 24 assists.

The Bearkats will stay home in Huntsville, Texas as they will prepare for the New Mexico State Aggies (9-6, 2-2 WAC) to fly in Saturday.

The game will be radio broadcasted on 90.5 KSHU The Kat.