October 04, 2000
The 23rd-ranked Texas A&M volleyball team made history Wednesday, as the Aggies defeated the Iowa State Cyclones 15-5, 15-1, 15-9 before 946 fans at G. Rollie White Coliseum.
With the victory, the Aggies extended their home winning streak to a school-record 25 matches, breaking the previous mark of 24 set 18 years ago. A&M has not lost at home since Nov. 1, 1998.
Texas A&M jumped out to a 10-2 lead to start the match before the Cyclones scored the next three points to cut the lead to five. Sophomore outside hitter A.D. Achilefu put down two service aces to extend the lead, and junior setter Jenna Moscovic blocked down an ISU attack to give the Aggies a 15-5 game one win.
The Aggies used a strong attack to overpower Iowa State in game two, cruising to a 15-1 victory. The Aggies, who outhit the Cyclones .524 to -.048 in the game, closed it out on a kill by freshman middle blocker Tara Pulaski.
The Cyclones and Aggies battled it out through most of the early portion of game three, and ISU climbed within one at 10-9. Redshirt freshman Rebecca Wynalda helped give A&M some breathing room, putting down two kills to make the score 13-9. An Achilefu service ace and a kill by freshman outside hitter Beth Skypala gave A&M victory. The Aggies, who won 15-9, never trailed in the third game.
For the first time this season, every player on the Aggies' roster saw action on the court. Junior outside hitter Erin Gibson led the team in kills with eight, while senior middle blocker Heather Marshall and true freshman Beth Skypala posted seven apiece. Two outside hitters--sophomore A.D. Achilefu and redshirt freshman Rebecca Wynalda-totaled six kills each. A&M outhit ISU .389 to .205 for the match.
"It's fun to have this streak," A&M head coach Laurie Corbelli said. "We were looking for something special for this team to attach to, and I think the streak is good for us."
In attendance at the match was former A&M All-American and 2000 U.S. Olympian Stacy Sykora. The Burleson, Texas, native was a four-year letterwinnner for Corbelli in Aggieland and signed autographs for fans just days after she helped lead the United States women's volleyball team to a surprising fourth-place finish in Sydney.
A&M begins a tough stretch of conference play on Saturday when the team travels to Waco to face the Baylor Bears. First serve at the Ferrell Center is set for 7 p.m. The Aggies then return home on Wednesday, Oct. 11 to face the last team to beat them at G. Rollie White, 24th-ranked Texas Tech. First serve is at 7 p.m.