September 09, 2000
Senior middle blocker Heather Marshall posted career highs of 18 kills and a .739 hitting percentage to lead Texas A&M to a 6-15, 15-2, 15-8, 15-7 victory over Eastern Washington and a 2-0 record at the Longhorn Classic.
Brandi Mount and Erin Gibson added 15 kills apiece, and Michelle Cole also reached double figures with 10 kills.
Defensively, Gibson, who recorded a career-high four service aces, posted a match-high 16 digs, while Marshall added a match-high seven blocks as the Aggies held the Eagles to a .193 hitting percentage.
"After the slow start, we put together maybe one of the best defensive games we?â„¢ve had," A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. "When our defense is sharp, we are able to get more hitters open.
"Our transition continues to get better, and Heather and Erin are becoming more consistent and complete players."
EWU led the entire first game, including 10-point leads at 13-3 and 14-4, as the Eagles opened the match with an easy 15-6 win. But the Aggies regrouped and raced to a 11-2 lead in the second game. Gibson then stepped to the service line and aced three consecutive serves to put A&M ahead 14-2. Marshall put down a kill for the game-winner as A&M posted 17 kills and only one error for a blistering .516 hitting percentage, while EWU hit only .172.
"Eastern Washington was very tenacious and proved to be a strong opponent just like we had seen on films and when we watched them play against Texas," Corbelli said. "A goal of ours was to out-hustle and be more tenacious and intense. In many ways, we did that after Game 1.
Game 3 was tied at 2-2 when A&M scored nine unanswered points to pull ahead, 11-2. A&M was up, 13-3, when EWU went on a rally of its own, scoring five points to make the score 13-8. But a kill by Gibson and a block by Marshall and Gibson finished out the game for A&M.
Corbelli was able to get a look at several of her reserve players in the fourth game after A&M scored the first seven points and three times held as much as a 10-point lead. EWU got within seven points at 14-7 before A.D. Achilefu put down a kill to end the match.
"I really wanted the starters to get some confidence and some rhythm," Corbelli said. "When we gained control of the match, I was happy to play some of the backups who are competing on a daily basis for playing time.
"This game was not a conventional power game that we are used to playing. EWU was a medium-sized team with a lot of speed. It was a good experience for us because of their speed, shot selection and great coverage. Their unconventional style helps us with our experience and helps prepare us for teams in the Big 12."
With the victory, the Aggies won their third consecutive match and improved to 4-2. A&M outhit EWU, .367 to .193 as the Eagles fell to 1-4 for the season and went winless in the tournament.
The match represented A&M?â„¢s final tune-up before beginning league play Wednesday at Missouri. The Aggies, who placed second in the conference last year with a 16-4 record, are picked to repeat as conference runner-up according to a preseason poll of the league coaches.