September 13, 2002
Tara Pulaski recorded a season-high 15 kills and posted a match-high .400 hitting percentage to lead No. 16 Texas A&M to a 30-24, 27-30, 30-21, 30-25 victory over Sam Houston State at the McDonald's Texas A&M Invitational II at G. Rollie White Coliseum.
Although A&M led in every statistical category, the Aggies appeared out of sync at times as they were forced to play without senior starting middle blocker A.D. Achilefu, who sustained an abdominal injury during pre-game warm-up drills.
"A.D. is a team captain and an inspirational leader for us," A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. "Tonight we realized how heavily we rely upon her, not only for her kills and her play, but for her emotional support. Tara did a beautiful job (of stepping up)."
SHSU held a 6-3 advantage in the opening game when A&M scored nine consecutive points. The Bearkats could get no closer than two points for the remainder of the game. The Aggies built their biggest lead of the game at 29-21, but a Bearkat kill and consecutive A&M attack errors closed the gap to five points before Melissa Munsch ended the game with one of her 15 kills of the match.
The Aggies built a six-point cushion early in the second game and were up 22-17 when SHSU scored six consecutive points to take its first lead of the game. A&M tied the score at 23 and 24, but a kill by setter Karlee Butler regained the lead for the Bearkats. The Aggies were unable to overcome the deficit, and with SHSU up 29-27, Bearkats outside hitter Carrie Sartain posted one of her match-high 20 kills to tie the match at one game apiece.
"With youth and inexperience at every position, it was kind of hard to know what to expect," Corbelli said. "But game two stunned me. We kind of crumbled and were not playing our game at all. Plus, we were trying to do some new things, and that didn't help the situation."
The Bearkats held a 6-4 advantage in the third game when A&M regrouped and rallied for six unanswered points. SHSU could get no closer than two points throughout the remainder of the game. Up 27-21, the Aggies closed out the game on a kill by Carol Price, an ace by Munsch and a kill by Beth Sykpala.
In the final game, the Bearkats overcame a five-point deficit to tie the score at 18. A&M responded by going on an 8-1 run to take a comfortable 26-19 lead. SHSU could get no closer than four points before Aggie setter Lexy Beers, who posted a career-high 56 assists, closed out the contest with her seventh kill of the match.
The Aggies (6-1) return to action Saturday at 1 p.m to face Louisiana-Lafayette at 1 p.m. and close out the tournament against BYU at 7 p.m.
The Bearkats, who fall to 6-3, meet BYU Saturday at 11 a.m. The Cougars are 1-0 in the tournament after sweeping Louisiana-Lafayette in the opening match.
Tournament Results/Schedule
Friday, September 13, 2002
BYU def. UL Lafayette, 3-0 (30-28, 30-22, 30-17)
Texas A&M def. SHSU, 3-1 (30-24, 27-30, 30-21, 30-25)
Saturday, September 14, 2002
SHSU vs. BYU, 11 a.m.
A&M vs. UL Lafayette, 1 p.m.
UL Lafayette vs. SHSU, 5 p.m.
A&M vs. BYU, 7 p.m.