September 30, 2001
The 16th-ranked Texas A&M volleyball team won it fourth consecutive match and remained undefeated in Big 12 Conference play with a 30-22, 30-23, 30-25 victory over Iowa State Sunday afternoon at Hilton Coliseum.
With the victory, the Aggies improve to 10-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big 12. Iowa State falls to 3-6, 0-4.
“This was one of those matches that you really have to want to win because Iowa State is going to go after everyone as hard as they can,” A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. “Mentally it takes extra effort to be ready to go against a team that hasn’t won but has a lot to offer. That was our challenge today.”
The Aggies were sluggish at the start as Iowa State held an 11-10 advantage before A&M scored six consecutive points to take a 16-11 ead. The Cyclones never got closer than three points as A&M slowly pulled away for the opening-game 30-22 victory.
The score was tied at 10-10 in the second game when Melissa Munsch put down one of her 11 kills of the match to give A&M a lead it would never lose. A&M built a 16-11 advantage, but the Cyclones scored four unanswered points to get back within one point, 16-15.
A&M outscored Iowa State, 11-2, to take a 10-point advantage, but the Cyclones fought back and got within five points at 28-23 to force an A&M timeout. Erin Gibson then put down a kill and Iowa State was called for a lift to end the game and put A&M ahead, two games to none.
The Aggies never trailed in the final game, although the Cyclones came from four points down to tie the score at 17. Lechler gave A&M the lead for good with one of her 12 kills of the match. The Aggies eventually built their biggest lead of the game at 26-20, but three times Iowa State cut the lead to four points before Munsch put down the match-winning kill.
A.D. Achilefu led the Aggies with a match-high 13 kills. Michelle Cole hit a match-high .611 and posted a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs. Setter Jenna Moscovic finished the match with 39 assists and a team-high 12 digs.
Mandi Harms led the Cyclones with nine kills and 14 digs. Steph Suntken collected a match-high seven blocks as Iowa State outblocked A&M, 10-4.
“We didn’t play our best, but we did some nice things,” Corbelli said. “A.D. was fantastic and did a super job. Erin mixed up her shots well, and Michelle led with intensity.”
Corbelli will be going for her 300th career victory and her 200th victory at A&M when the Aggies return home to play host to the Colorado Buffaloes on Wednesday. First serve is at 7 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum.