October 18, 2002
Texas A&M (12-5, 4-4 Big 12) will attempt do what no other Aggie volleyball team has done when it faces Kansas State (10-6, 6-2 Big 12) on Saturday: defeat the Wildcats in Manhattan. The Aggies, who are 0-6 all-time in matches against Kansas State on the road, meet the Wildcats at Ahearn Field House at 2 p.m. The match was originally scheduled to start at 7 p.m. but was changed to a 2 p.m. start so as not to conflict with the Texas-KState football game that same evening...The Aggies, who are in sixth place in the Big 12 standings, ended a two-match losing skid by holding off Texas Tech in a five-game thriller in College Station on Wednesday. Meanwhile, K-State extended its winning streak to four matches and moved into a two-way tie with Missouri for third place in the Big 12 race by defeating rival Kansas in three games in Lawrence, Kan. on Wednesday.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
The Aggies are paced by Melissa Munsch, who leads the team in kills (3.68), aces (0.52), digs (3.15) and points (4.44) per game. The sophomore outside hitter has reached double figures in kills - including a career-high 25 kills at Colorado - in 14 of 17 matches and also leads the team with 10 double-double performances.
Setter Lexy Beers, who posted a career-high 63 assists in the five-game victory over Texas Tech, is ranked fourth in the Big 12 with 12.50 assists per game in conference play only and fifth for the full season with a 12.21 average. With the 5-9 sophomore directing the A&M attack, the Aggies are ranked second to Nebraska in the conference for fewest blocks allowed by an opponent for both the full season (1.79) and in Big 12 matches only (2.03).
Junior middle blocker Tara Pulaski, who tied her career high with 20 kills while hitting at a .484 clip against Texas last week, leads the Aggies with a .321 hitting percentage for the full season. The California native also leads the squad with 0.98 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.
Senior right-side hitter Julia Rex had a career-night against Texas Tech on Wednesday, posting personal bests of 17 kills and 13 digs to record the first double-double of her career. The lefty, who was making her eighth start of the season, also set career records with 31 attempts and a .355 hitting percentage, while tying her career record of five total blocks.
As a team, A&M is hitting .246 and averaging 15.63 kills, 1.87 aces, 15.55 digs and 2.35 blocks per game for the full season. Opponents are being held to a .175 hitting percentage and are averaging 13.54 kills, 1.06 aces, 14.57 digs and 1.79 blocks per game...In Big 12 matches only, A&M is hitting .233 and averaging 15.59 kills and 14.56 digs per game...In addition to second fewest blocks allowed by opponents (2.03), the Aggies are ranked second in the league for fewest kills by opponents (13.84) and assists by opponents (12.47) in conference matches only.
The Aggies' streak of 111 consecutive appearances in the Top 25 came to an end this week 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.
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.
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
Kansas State (10-6, 6-2 Big 12) won its fourth consecutive match and moved into a two-way tie with Missouri for third place in the Big 12 standings with a 3-0 victory at rival Kansas on Wednesday. Junior outside hitter Cari Jensen posted a season-high 17 kills on a career-high .389 hitting percentage as KSU ran its winning streak against the Jayhawks to 15...KSU is 4-2 in home matches with wins over Wichita State, Arkansas State, Texas Tech and Colorado, and three-game losses to both No. 5 Nebraska and Texas...Junior libero Laura Downey-Wallace, who entered the week ranked third in the nation in digs, leads the Big 12 with 5.05 digs per game, including a 5.74 average in conference games only. Jensen leads the Wildcats with 3.36 kills per game, and sophomore middle blocker Lisa Martin leads the squad with 1.02 blocks per game for the full season...As a team, KSU is hitting .229 and averaging 14.95 kills, 1.7 aces, 16.82 digs and 2.34 blocks per game. Opponents are being held to a .180 hitting percentage and are averaging 15.05 kills, 1.04 aces, 16.49 digs and 2.37 blocks per game...In Big 12 matches only, the Wildcats are outhitting their opponents, .232 to .186...K-State is ranked 24th in the nation in home attendance with a 1,130 average...The Wildcats were picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 standings according to a preseason poll of the league coaches...Coach Suzie Fritz (Florida Atlantic '94) is 30-14 in her second year at K-State.
SERIES RECORD
Although Texas A&M leads Kansas State, 7-6, in the all-time series, the two teams are tied at six in Big 12 Conference action as neither team has been able to win on the road. The last two meetings at Ahearn Field House have been heated contests that have gone the maximum five games. Only one match in Manhattan has gone less than four games.
UPCOMING
The Aggies host Baylor, Wednesday, Oct 23 at 7 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum and then hit the road to face league-leading and fourth-ranked Nebraska on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Lincoln.