September 25, 2002
Missouri extended its winning streak to 10 and defeated its second consecutive top-25 opponent as the Tigers downed No. 20 Texas A&M, 25-30, 30-27, 30-28, 30-16, in front of 1,376 at the Hearnes Center.
The Tigers, who opened Big 12 play with a 3-1 victory at No. 24 Texas last week, improve to 12-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference. A&M suffered its second consecutive conference loss and falls to 9-3, 1-2.
A&M led early in the first game, twice building four-point leads before Missouri fought back and took its first lead of the game at 13-12. The Tigers were unable to break away, never leading by more than two points. A&M tied the score five times before regaining the lead at 22-21 following a block by Tara Pulaski and Laura Jones. A&M took its biggest lead of the game at 27-22 on an ace by Jones. The Tigers twice got within three until, with A&M up 28-25, Missouri served into the net and then Tiger setter Lindsey Hunter was called for being in the net to end the game.
Pulaski tallied five blocks in the game as A&M posted 7.5 as a team, and held the Tigers to a .000 hitting percentage.
Missouri overcame a six-point deficit in game two and took its first lead of the game at 25-24 after rallying for four consecutive points. A&M tied the score at 25 following a kill by Jones, but the Aggies was unable to regain the lead. With the Tigers serving for the game at 29-26, Carol Price prolonged the game with a kill, but an Aggie serve into the net gave the Tigers the win and evened the match at a game apiece.
Missouri came from behind once again to win the third game. A&M never trailed until the Tigers posted back-to-back kills to take their first lead of the game at 15-14. A&M tied the score at 15 and 21, taking the lead at 22-21 after Missouri was whistled for being in the net. A block and consecutive kills gave the Tigers a lead they would not lose. Missouri held three-point leads three times, the last coming at 29-26. A kill by Melissa Munsch and an ace by Price put the Aggies within 29-28, but a kill by Missouri ended A&M?â„¢s comeback.
A&M held a 7-6 advantage in the fourth game when the Tigers outscored A&M, 13-2, to take a commanding 19-9 lead. Missouri built its biggest lead of the game at 27-13 and 29-15. Pulaski put down a kill, but then Mary Lauren Smith ended the match with her match-high 20th kill of the night.
Pulaski tied her career high with 11 blocks as the Aggies posted a season-high 17.5 blocks, while Missouri tallied eight. That was the only category A&M led as Missouri outhit the Aggies, .244 to .194, and posted 71 kills to A&M?â„¢s 53.
Jones led the Aggies with 12 kills, and Pulaski and Munsch added 11 apiece.
The Aggies return home Friday to play host to the Iowa State Cyclones. First serve is at 6 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum, where A&M has won 16 consecutive matches. The first 250 fans will receive a coupon for a free Chick-fil-A sandwich.