October 21, 2000
No. 25 Texas A&M rallied to a capture a crucial 16-14, 15-13, 15-3 victory over No. 24 Missouri in front of 1,204 in attendance at G. Rollie White Coliseum. The win avenged the Aggies' conference opening three-game loss at Missouri earlier in the season and boosted A&M into a three-way tie for second place in the Big 12 Conference standings with the Tigers and Kansas State.
"This was really an important match for us," A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. "It was a revenge match to some extent, but it was more important that we were able to overcome some barriers we've been experiencing against some of the top teams, such as hitting the panic button, starting slowly and getting into a rhythm too late."
The Aggies did get off to a slow start, falling behind 11-4 in the first game, but setter Claire Harvey and outside hitter A.D. Achilefu came off the bench midway through the game to spark the Aggies to a come-from- behind win. With the two reserves on the court, A&M was able to get into a rhythm and cut the Tigers' lead to 12-10. Missouri went up 13-10, but a kill by Achilefu returned the serve to the Aggies. The sophomore then stepped back to the service line and recorded two consecutive aces with her powerful jump serve. Harvey then won a joust at the net for a kill to tie the game at 13-13. The Tigers pulled ahead 14-13 on an A&M attack error into the net, but A&M twice fought off game point. Harvey then nailed an ace to even the score at 14-14. A Missouri attack went wide and Gibson and Tara Pulaski teamed for a block for the game winner.
The Tigers took an early lead in the second game, pulling out to a 6-2 advantage, but the Aggies rallied again to tie the score at 7-7. A&M built a 9-7 lead, but Missouri regained serve and responded with five consecutive points without a sideout. Following an A&M timeout, Achilefu posted one of her 14 kills of the match for a sideout, and Gibson and Harvey followed with kills to get the Aggies within one at 12-11.
A&M eventually tied the score at 13-13 following a Missouri attack error and then took the lead when middle blocker Heather Marshall got a kill off a bad pass by the Tigers. The teams exchanged sideouts and then Achilefu ended the game with her third ace of the match.
Missouri scored the first two points of the third game before A&M went on a 13-0 run. Missouri scored its only other point of the game on an A&M ball handling error, but the Aggies finished off the game and the match with combined blocks by Marshall and Achilefu and Marshall and Harvey.
"We found a way to do what we needed to do," Corbelli said. "To have A.D. and Claire ready was so phenomenal. We were able to use reserves to get a win against the No. 24 team in the nation, and I am so proud."
Gibson led the Aggies with 18 kills and 14 digs. Achilefu finished with 14 kills and Marshall and Brandi Mount chipped in 11 apiece. Marshall also added a match-high six blocks, and Harvey posted a career-high 52 assists.
Naaron Branson led the Tiger attack with 15 kills, and Lisa Morris added 14. Christi Myers and Ashlee Johns also reached double figures in kills with 11 each.
As a team, A&M outhit Missouri .356 to .187, posting 70 kills to the Tigers' 57. The Aggies also outblocked Missouri, 9-6.
With the win the Aggies move to 13-5 for the season and extend their record-setting home wining streak to 27. The Tigers, who had their five match winning streak snapped, fall to 17-3 overall.
The Aggies resume action Wednesday, Oct. 25 against Kansas in Lawrence, Kan. The match will be televised on a tape delay basis by Fox Sports Net.