October 10, 2001
No. 17 Texas A&M remained undefeated on the road with a 36-38, 39-37, 30-21, 30-25 victory over Texas Tech in front of 1,172 at the United Spirit Arena.
The first two games were a back-and-forth affair with neither team capable of holding a lead. A&M appeared to be in control in the opening game, building its biggest lead of the game at 21-15. The Aggies maintained a four-point advantage at 28-24, but the Red Raiders reeled off four consecutive points to tie the game. Eight more ties and seven lead changes occurred over the remainder of the game with A&M serving for game point five times and Tech having four chances to serve the game-winner. A&M’s last lead occurrd at 36-35, but once again the Red Raiders answered as Stacey Poole posted one of her 14 kills to tie the score. Back-to-back kill errors by the Aggies gave Tech the come-from-behind victory.
A&M played the spoiler in the second game. It was Tech who appeared to be in control of the game after building an eight-point advantage at 20-12. The Aggies mounted a comeback, and with Tech leading 29-25, A&M scored four straight points behind the serving of Beth Skypala. The Red Raiders were serving for the game at 30-29, but a service error and kill error gave A&M its first lead of the game.
While Tech had two more chances to serve for game point, the Aggies served for game point five more times. Brandi Mount put down a kill to give A&M a 38-37 lead, and Red Raider Kelly Johnson’s attack went wide to give the Aggies the win and tie the match at one game apiece.
A&M got in sync in the third game and jumped out to an 11-3 lead. The Aggies held a lead throughout the game, although the Red Raiders got within three points at 21-18. With Melissa Munsch serving, the Aggies reeled off six consecutive points, three on blocks. A&M was ahead 29-21 when a Tech serving error ended the game.
A&M posted 19 kills and only one error in the game while compiling a .450 hitting percentage and take a 2-1 lead.
The Aggies carried the momentum in the final game a carried a lead from start to finish. Tech stayed close early, getting within one point at 12-11 before A&M scored three consecutive points. Tech could not get closer than three points, and Michelle Cole finished off the match with her 11th kill of the night.
Erin Lechler led the Aggies with 17 kills. Munsch added 13, and Mount contributed 10. Cole led the Aggies with a match-high 23 digs, and Tara Pulaski led the team in blocks with seven. Setter Jenna Moscovic notched 53 assists in the win.
Melissa McGehee led the Red Raiders with a match-high 22 kills.
As a team, A&M outhit Tech, .237 to .194 and outblocked the Red Raiders, 15-7.
The Aggies, 9-0 awy from home, improve to 12-2 overall and maintain a hold on second place in the Big 12 standings with a 5-1 mark. Tech, who was 8-0 at home entering the match, falls to 10-5, 3-3.
The Aggies return home to play host to defending national champion and second-ranked Nebraska on Sunday. The match begins at 2 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum and will televised live on FOX Sports Net in the Rocky Mountain and Midwest FSN regions, as well as in the Texas and Oklahoma viewing areas.
Later that evening, the nationally ranked Aggie soccer team hosts defending Big 12 champion Nebraska at 7 p.m. at the Aggie Soccer Complex.
The 12th Man is an integral part of these home competitions and all fans are encouraged to wear maroon at both events.