November 26, 2003
The fifth-ranked Kansas State Wildcats clinched their first outright Big 12 volleyball championship with a 30-22, 30-23, 30-19 victory over No. 24 Texas A&M in front of 1,683 at Ahearn Field House.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 28-3 overall and 18-1 in the Big 12. In addition, they extend their winning streak to 16 matches and improve to 8-0 all-time against the Aggies in matches played in Manhattan.
A&M suffered its fourth consecutive loss at the hands of the Wildcats and falls to 20-9, 12-7.
The Wildcats never trailed in the opening game. A&M managed to tie the score three times, the last coming at 8-8, before K-State went on an 8-1 scoring run. The Aggies cut the lead to three at 18-15 following a Beth Skypala kill, but they could not get any closer.
The Wildcats, who outhit A&M, .364 to .119 in the game, held a 22-18 lead when they scored five consecutive points, four points resulting from A&M errors. K-State held a 29-22 lead when Sandy Werner put down the game-winning kill.
Game 2 was knotted at 2-2 when K-State pulled away by outscoring A&M, 11-2. Jayna Baker came off the bench to spark the Aggies, posting three kills and teaming for a block to help A&M get back within three points at 15-12. The Aggies, however, were unable to completely overcome the deficit.
The Wildcats maintained a 26-19 advantage when A&M scored three consecutive points to force a timeout. K-State matched the Aggies' three-point run following the timeout. Skypala staved off game point with a kill, but A&M's ensuing serve sailed long to give the Wildcats a 30-23 win and a 2-0 game lead going into the break.
A&M held its only lead of the match when Skypala put down a kill to give the Aggies a 4-3 edge in the third game. K-State answered with back-to-back kills and never trailed the remainder of the match. The Wildcats held a 24-16 lead when they recorded two kills and a block to build their biggest lead of the game. K-State led 28-19 when Valeria Hejjas put down her match-leading 12th kill of the game. The match ended when A&M was called for a blocking error.
K-State outhit A&M, .308 to .154, in the match and outblocked the Aggies, 12-5. Carol Price and Melissa Munsch led the Aggies with eight kills apiece.
A&M concludes the regular season Saturday as the Aggies play host to the Iowa State Cyclones. Match time is 7 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum. A&M's four seniors - Price, Skypala, Tara Pulaski and Rebecca Wynalda - will be honored following the match.