November 03, 2001
No. 14 Texas A&M won its sixth consecutive match and remained undefeated on the road with a 33-31, 33-31, 30-26 victory over Baylor in front of 942 at the Ferrell Center on Saturday.
With the victory, the Aggies improve to 18-3 overall, 11-2 in Big 12 play and 12-0 in matches played on the road. Baylor slips to 16-8, 7-8 in the Big 12.
A&M raced to an 11-3 lead in the opening stanza, but the Bears got within five points at 17-12 before scoring six consecutive points to take an 18-17 lead. Baylor built a three-point advantage at 21-18, but A&M erased the deficit and tied the score at 23 on a solo block by Tara Pulaski. A&M edged out to a 27-26 lead, but a Stevie Nicholas kill and back-to-back kill errors by the Aggies had the ears serving for game point.
Michelle Cole put down a kill, and Jenna Moscovic and Melissa Munsch teamed to block a Nicholas attack and tie the score at 29. A kill by Tisha Schwartz had Baylor once again serving for the game, but Moscovic collected a kill and Schwartz?â„¢s next attack sailed wide to put A&M up, 31-30. Nicholas had a kill from the back row to tie the score for the eighth time since an 18-18 tie, but Munsch answered with a kill behind the setter, and Moscovic followed with a game-winning kill.
Baylor overcame a six-point deficit early in Game 2 and tied the score at 18. The Bears took their first lead of the game at 26-25, but Mount tied the score with a kill. The teams exchanged sideouts as the score was tied at 27 and 28. A Mount ace had A&M serving for game point, but a Schwartz kill tied the score again. Daniela Lloreda followed with a kill to put the Bears serving for the game, but a spectacular game-saving dig by Mount followed by a Baylor kill error into the net tied the score at 30. Baylor was unable to handle Munsch?â„¢s set to the back corner as A&M went up 31-30. A kill error by A&M?â„¢s Erin Lechler tied the score, but the senior captain redeemed herself with a kill on the next play to give A&M another opportunity for the win. Nicolas?â„¢ attack was ruled long as the Aggies held on for the win and a 2-0 game advantage.
The teams were tied at 13 in the final game before A&M took the lead for good on a kill by Mount. The Aggies held a four-point lead at 24-20, but a Nicholas kill and two attack errors by A&M put the Bears within one point at 24-23. Munsch and Mount posted a block, but Schwartz answered with a kill to keep the Bears within one point. Cole notched a kill down the block, and Munsch made Baylor pay for an errant pass that hung over the net to put A&M ahead, 27-24.
The teams exchanged sideouts, and with A&M leading 28-26, Moscovic tipped in her seventh kill of the match to put the Aggies at match point. Nicholas, who finished the contest with a match-high 26 kills, hit ito the net to give A&M the win.
Mount and Cole led the Aggies with 13 kills apiece, and Lechler added 10. Cole also led A&M in digs with 15. Moscovic finished with 43 assists, and Munsch, Mount and Pulaski totaled a match-high five blocks apiece as A&M out-blocked the Bears, 12 to seven.
A&M narrowly out-hit Baylor, .202 to .200, but the Bears out-dug the Aggies, 69-66.
The Aggies return to the road on Wednesday to face second-ranked and league-leading Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. First serve against the defending national and Big 12 champions is at 7 p.m. at Nebraska Coliseum.