November 09, 2001
The 15th-ranked Texas A&M volleyball team returns home Saturday to play host to the Iowa State Cyclones. First serve is at 7 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum.
The Aggies are 18-4 overall and in second place in the Big 12 standings with an 11-3 mark. They are coming off a 30-28, 30-24, 30-21 setback at No. 2 Nebraska on Wednesday which snapped a six-match winning streak.
A&M, which entered the week leading the nation in assists average and listed third in kill average, is led by All-American candidate Jenna Moscovic. The senior setter is hitting a team-high .332 and averaging 1.99 kills, 13.40 assists, 2.81 digs and 0.76 blocks per game.
Senior rightside hitter Brandi Mount has led the team in kills in each of the last five matches and is averaging 4.29 kills per game during that stretch. Senior leftside hitter Michelle Cole entered the week ranked ninth in the nation and leading the Big 12 with a 4.36 dig average. The Temecula, Calif., native had 10 digs against Nebraska and has now posted double figures in digs in 20 of 22 matches and needs 17 digs to move into fourth place in the A&M career records.
As a team, A&M is out-hitting its opponents, .243 to .189 for the full season and .231 to .199 in Big 12 matches only. In addition, the Aggies are averaging 17.6 kills, 16.31 assists, 1.46 aces, 19.71 digs and 2.54 blocks per game. Opponents are averaging 16.19 kills, 14.81 assists, 1.06 aces, 18.02 digs and 2.91 blocks per game.
ISU is 4-17 overall and in last place in the Big 12 with a 1-15 mark. The Cyclones, who have no seniors on the roster, have lost their last six matches -- all in three games -- after getting defeated, 30-28, 30-18, 30-21, by Kansas on Wednesday. ISU's most recent victory was against Oklahoma in four games on Oct. 17.
Outside hitter Mandi Harms, one of only two juniors on the squad, leads the Cyclones with 3.06 kills per game, while sophomore middle blocker Julie Mitchell is averaging a team-high 1.2 blocks per game. As a team, ISU is being out-hit .207 to .112 for the full season and .236 to .095 in league games.
A&M is 13-1 all-time against the Cyclones, including 11-0 in Big 12 contests and 5-0 in matches played at G. Rollie White Coliseum. Earlier this season, the Aggies defeated ISU, 30-22, 30-23, 30-25, in Ames, Iowa, to extend their winning streak to 12 against the Cyclones. In addition, A&M has not dropped a single game to the Cyclones throughout the 12-match stretch.
The Aggies return to the road on Monday to face the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman. The match originally was slated to be played Sept. 12 but was postponed because of the terrorist attacks on the U.S. Match time is at 7 p.m. at the OU Field House.