October 15, 2002
Texas A&M (11-5, 3-4 Big 12) will attempt to even its Big 12 record and snap a two-match losing skid when the Aggies return home Wednesday to play host to Texas Tech (7-9, 2-5 Big 12). First serve is at 7 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum... A&M has fallen into a tie with Colorado for sixth place in the league standings after dropping a five-game decision at Texas last Wednesday...Texas Tech also has lost its last two outings, getting swept by both Baylor and Texas last week. The Red Raiders are one win behind A&M and tied with Baylor for eighth place in the Big 12 race.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
The Aggies, who were idle over the weekend, are riding a two-match losing slide for the second time this season after dropping a four-game match to No. 5 Nebraska on Oct. 6 and then being edged out in a five-game decision at now-No. 25 Texas last Wednesday. With the loss to the Longhorns, A&M saw its streak of 111 consecutive appearances in the Top 25 come to an end as the Aggies fell from No. 25 to No. 34 in the poll released on Monday. This is the first time A&M has not been ranked since the 1995 season.
The Aggies are paced by Melissa Munsch, who leads the team in kills (3.66), aces (0.56), digs (3.25) and points (4.46) per game. The sophomore outside hitter has reached double figures in kills - including a career-high 25 kills at Colorado - in 13 of 16 matches and also leads the team with nine double-double performances.
Junior middle blocker Tara Pulaski, who tied her career high with 20 kills while hitting at a .484 clip against Texas last week, took over the team lead with a .315 hitting percentage for the full season. The California native also leads the squad with 1.03 blocks per game and has twice reached double figures in blocks this season. Her 11 blocks at Missouri still ranks as the most by a Big 12 player in league competition this season.
Setter Lexy Beers is ranked fourth in the Big 12 with 12.48 assists per game in conference play only and sixth for the full season with a 12.18 average. With the 5-9 sophomore directing the A&M attack, the Aggies are ranked second in the conference for fewest blocks allowed by an opponent for both the full season (1.82) and in Big 12 matches only (2.15).
As a team, A&M is hitting .246 and averaging 15.63 kills, 1.94 aces, 15.71 digs and 2.38 blocks per game for the full season. Opponents are being held to a .173 hitting percentage and are averaging 13.65 kills, 1.0 aces, 14.79 digs and 1.82 blocks per game...In Big 12 matches only, A&M is hitting .231 and averaging 15.59 kills and 14.74 digs per game...In addition to fewest blocks allowed by opponents, the Aggies are ranked second in the league for kills by opponents (14.15) and assists by opponents (12.63) in conference matches only.
A&M, picked to finish second in the league according to a preseason poll of the conference coaches, placed second with a 16-4 mark last year to tie the 1999 Aggies for the school's best record and equal A&M's highest finish. A&M has never finished lower than fourth place (1997, 1998) in the final Big 12 standings.
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
Texas Tech (7-9, 2-5 Big 12), who upset No. 21 Missouri two weeks ago, is trying to snap a two-match losing skid after getting swept by both Baylor and Texas last week. With the back-to-back losses, the Red Raiders are now tied with the Bears for eighth place in the Big 12 standings. Tech's only other conference victory was at Iowa State to open league play...Sophomore outside hitter Kelly Johnson, who had 18 kills in the loss to the Longhorns, leads Tech with 4.3 kills per game, and senior outside hitter Melissa McGehee is second on the squad with 3.93 kills per game. Junior middle blocker Angela Mooney is hitting a team-best .261 and also leads the Red Raiders with 0.63 blocks per game. Sophomore defensive specialist Jessy Herrera is the team leader in digs with 3.3 per game...As a team, Tech is hitting .216 and averaging 15.53 kills, 13.88 assists, 1.65 aces, 13.89 digs and 1.70 blocks per game. Opponents are hitting .207 and averaging 13.32 kills, 11.96 assists, 1.05 aces, 13.68 digs and 2.29 blocks per game...Tech tied for sixth in the Big 12 last year and advanced to the first round of the NCAA tournament...Coach Jeff Nelson (Ball State '86) is 159-90 in his eighth season at Tech.
SERIES RECORD
Texas A&M is 38-22 all-time against Texas Tech, including 17-7 in matches played at G. Rollie White Coliseum. In addition, the Aggies hold a 9-3 mark against the Red Raiders since Big 12 play began in 1996. A&M has won the last two meetings, defeating the Red Raiders at the United Spirit Arena, 36-38, 39-37, 30-21, 30-25, in what ranks as A&M's highest scoring four-game match, and concluding the regular season by defeating Tech in three games in College Station. Tech's most recent victory over the Aggies was a five-game thriller in Lubbock on Nov. 18, 2000, as the unranked Red Raiders upset No. 23 A&M, 10-15, 15-11, 12-15, 15-9, 15-13...Tech's most recent win in College Station was in 1998 as the Red Raiders defeated A&M at G. Rollie for the second consecutive year.
NEWS & NOTES
- A&M is 8-1 in home matches, 2-4 at away matches and 1-0 in matches at neutral sites. The Aggies' only home loss this season was to No. 5 Nebraska in four games on Oct. 6 which broke A&M's string of 17 consecutive home victories.
- The Aggies are 95-3 (.969) against unranked opponents in matches played at G. Rollie White Coliseum since Laurie Corbelli became head coach in 1993. The only unranked teams A&M has lost to at home since Corbelli took over are Texas Tech in 1997 and 1998 and Colorado last year. The Aggies are 113-18 (.863) overall in home matches during Corbelli's tenure, including 18-15 (.545) against Top 25 opponents. The highest ranked team A&M has defeated at home is No. 3 Nebraska on Nov. 20, 1998.
- Texas A&M and Texas Tech have faced five common opponents: Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Texas. A&M is 2-3 having defeated both Iowa State and Kansas. The Red Raiders also are 2-3 against common opponents, with the only difference being a win against No. 21 Missouri and a loss at Kansas.
KSU MATCH MOVED TO 2 p.m. START
Texas A&M faces Kansas State on Saturday in Manhattan, Kan., where the Aggies are 0-6. The match was originally scheduled for 7 p.m. but has been changed to a 2 p.m. start to accommodate Fox Sports Net's 6 p.m. telecast of the Texas-KSU football game...The Wildcats are 9-6 overall and in a three-way tie for third place in the Big 12 with a 5-2 mark entering a match at Kansas on Wednesday...A&M leads the all-time series against the Wildcats, 7-6, but neither team has been able to win on the road.