October 28, 2005
Texas A&M used a solid all-around team performance to defeat Oklahoma, 30-22, 30-24, 30-18, and snap a four-match losing skid tonight at G. Rollie White Coliseum.
A boisterous crowd of 1,730 watched the Aggies post their first three-game Big 12 Conference victory of the season. A&M completed the sweep by registering a .360 hitting percentage, its second-highest hitting percentage of the season and A&M?â„¢s best hitting efficiency in a Big 12 match this year. In addition, A&M held Oklahoma to a .130 hitting efficiency, the lowest by an A&M league opponent this season.
?The team is making the little detail changes that we?â„¢ve been working with them on in terms of position, in terms of individual defense within the system, and just being a little bit more aggressive, a little bit more determined,? A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. ?They have been working very, very hard in practice on just execution of the skills and execution of the team skills. They did a great job of carrying that over.?
Laura Jones led the Aggies with 20 kills while hitting at a .333 clip. Lindsey Yon added 13 kills and also recorded career highs with a .550 hitting percentage and a match-high 14 digs. Kendra Felder, who played her first complete match since being diagnosed with a stress fracture in her left foot following a match at Kansas State on Oct. 1, had 11 kills and hit .474.
Holly Clay joined Yon in double-figure digs with 13, and Christi Hahn recorded a match-high four blocks as A&M outblocked the Sooners, 7-4.
?Holly Clay just really headed up the defense beautifully behind our block,? Corbelli said. ?Our block was a lot more solid. With Kendra back, it really does help the back court. Just her experience and knowing where to go has helped a lot with the defense.?
OU held a narrow 5-4 lead in Game 1 before the Aggies went on a 9-1 scoring run. The Sooners got within four points three times, the last at 19-15. A&M was ahead, 28-22 when Kari Kelley recorded a kill to put the Aggies at game point. OU?â„¢s next attack sailed wide to end the game.
There were five lead changes and 12 ties in the second game. Oklahoma overcame a four-point deficit to regain the lead at 21-20, but a kill by Felder and an OU attack error returned the lead to A&M. A block error by A&M knotted the score before A&M went on a 7-1 rally and pulled ahead, 29-23. Joanna Schmitt staved off game point with a kill before Yon answered with the game-winning kill.
A&M held a 12-11 edge in the final game before Jones sparked the Aggies, posting four kills during a 7-1 scoring run. The teams traded points until A&M rallied for five points to take a 27-16 lead. Anna Stadel ended the run with her sixth kill of the match. The teams exchanged kills, with Jones posting a kill to put A&M up, 29-18. The Sooners were then whistled for a ball handling error to end the match.
The Aggies improve to 10-11 overall and 3-9 in the Big 12. Oklahoma falls to 6-16, 1-12.
A&M returns to the road on Wednesday as the Aggies take on Baylor in Waco. First serve is at 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center.