September 21, 2005
No. 1 Nebraska played up to its top billing and remained undefeated by knocking off No. 20 Texas A&M, 30-24, 30-21, 30-19, in front of 4,094 at Nebraska Coliseum.
With the win, the Huskers improve to 10-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 Conference play. The Aggies, who were facing their fourth Top 10 team of the season, fall to 7-5, 0-3.
Laura Jones was the only A&M player to reach double figures in kills with 15, which gave her 1,593 for her career to move her into second place in the A&M all-time career records. Freshman Lindsey Yon, who started a match for the first time in her young career, finished with nine kills.
The Huskers, who had four players reach double figures in kills, outhit A&M, .384 to .109, for the match, recording 16 blocks to A&M's five. Freshman Jordan Larson led Nebraska with 14 kills, while sophomore Sarah Pavan added 13 kills while hitting .550. Jennifer Saleaumua and Tracy Stalls led the Huskers in blocks with seven apiece.
A&M overcame a four-point deficit early in the opening game and tied the score at 15 following back-to-back kills by Yon and Jones. The teams traded kills until a Yon kill tied the score at 17 and Kelly Stanton's kill gave A&M its first lead since 1-0 lead to start the match.
Jones gave the Aggies their biggest lead at 20-18 with a kill and a solo block, but Nebraska went on a 6-1 scoring run, four of the Huskers' points resulting from blocks. A&M could get no closer than 26-24 before Nebraska, which outhit the Aggies .271 to .093 in the frame, closed out the game with four consecutive points.
A&M built an early 4-2 lead to begin Game 2 before Nebraska went on a 7-1 run to take a lead it would not relinquish. The Aggies closed the gap to three points at 17-14 following a back-row kill by Jones and a solo block by Christi Hahn. Nebraska answered with three consecutive points and went on to build its biggest lead at 29-20. Yon held off game point with her seventh kill of the match before Pavan gave the Huskers a two-game lead with her 10th kill of the match.
Nebraska used a five-point run to take a 7-2 lead early in the third game, and the Aggies found themselves playing from behind the remainder of the frame. The Huskers outhit A&M 571 to .111 in the final stanza to complete the sweep.
The victory marked Nebraska's 25th consecutive Big 12 victory. In addition, the Huskers extended their winning streak to 12 against A&M and improved to 13-0 all-time against the Aggies at Nebraska Coliseum.
The Aggies were slated to return to action Sunday against Texas Tech at G. Rollie White Coliseum, but the match has been postponed because of the threat of Hurricane Rita. A&M's next scheduled match is Saturday, Oct. 1 at No. 17 Kansas State.