September 21, 2002
Melissa Munsch recorded a career-high 25 kills, but it wasn't enough as the 17th-ranked Texas A&M volleyball team fell to the Colorado Buffaloes, 23-30, 30-22, 30-28, 28-30, 15-11, in front of 1,020 at the Coors Events Center.
The loss snapped the Aggies' four-match winning streak as A&M falls to 9-2 overall and 1-1 in Big 12 play. Colorado improves to 8-4, 2-0.
The Aggies led the entire first game, taking their biggest lead at 23-15 following a kill by Laura Jones. Colorado could get no closer than five points and, with A&M leading 29-23, Jones tooled the Buffalo block to end the game.
Colorado outhit A&M .444 to .303 to take the second game, 30-22. There were four ties before A&M took its only lead of the game at 10-9 following a service ace by Munsch. The Buffaloes responded with four unanswered points to regain the lead. Colorado remained on top for the remainder of the game, building its biggest lead at 29-21. Munsch held off game point with a kill, but the Buffs' Kim Taskey put down a kill for the game winner.
An 11-point Colorado scoring run proved costly for the Aggies in the third game as A&M fell, 30-28. A&M built a 15-8 advantage when Allison Barnes served Colorado to 11 unanswered points, posting four aces in the rally. The Aggies fought back to retake the lead at 23-21 following back-to-back aces by Munsch. Colorado tied the score at 23 before Jones posted consecutive kills to give the Aggies a two-point advantage. Colorado answered with four consecutive points to take a lead they would not relinquish. The Buffaloes were up 29-27 when Carol Price and Tara Pulaski combined for a block to get A&M back within a point, but an A&M attack sailed long to end the game and give Colorado a 2-1 game advantage.
A&M built a 19-14 lead in the fourth game before Colorado came back and, other than a 1-0 advantage, took its first lead at 23-22. There were three ties before A&M took the lead at 26-25 on a Munsch kill and held the lead for the remainder of the game. The Aggies went up, 29-27, on a Price kill, but Colorado answered with a kill. Munsch then ended the game with a kill.
A&M twice overcame early three-point deficits in the final game and tied the game at 9. A Colorado error gave the Aggies the lead, but the Buffs posted a block and a kill to regain the lead. A kill by Munsch knotted the score at 11, but Colorado scored four unanswered points on two blocks and two kills to win the match.
In addition to her match-high kill performance, Munsch also took match-high honors with 17 digs. Monique Gerlach led Colorado with 19 kills and six blocks.
As a team, A&M hit .267 to Colorado's .214 but was outblocked, 12-6. In addition, the Buffaloes posted 10 aces to the Aggies' seven to mark the first time this season A&M trailed in aces.
The Aggies return to action Wednesday when they face the Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Mo. First serve is at 7 p.m. at the Hearnes Center.