September 27, 2006
Texas A&M struggled to get in sync offensively and fell to Colorado, 30-23, 30-28, 30-22, in front of 704 at the Coors Event Center.
Colorado (8-4, 4-1 Big 12) took advantage of the Aggies?â„¢ passing woes, posting 11 aces and outhitting A&M, .287 to .173. Christi Hahn was the only A&M player to reach double figures in kills with 11. Zanny Castillo led the Aggies with a match-high 14 digs. Kelly Stanton tallied 10 blocks, leading A&M to a 12-5 advantage in team blocks.
Amber Sutherland led Colorado with 15 kills, and Austin Zimmerman added 11 kills while hitting at a .733 clip.
A&M used a four-point run early in the opening game to take a 5-3 lead, but it didn?â„¢t last long. The Buffaloes twice tied the score and took the lead for good at 9-8 on a block. A&M answered with a kill by Kelsey Bryant, but the Aggies then committed three consecutive errors. The Buffaloes continued to distance themselves and built their biggest lead at 27-18. A&M got within 29-23 before Sutherland ended the game with a kill.
Colorado used a four-point run to take its first lead of the second game at 4-2. The Aggies regained the lead at 11-10 on a kill by Sarah Ammerman and built their biggest lead at 23-20. Colorado tied the score three times before a Zimmerman kill put the Buffaloes ahead, 27-26. Bryant teamed with Stanton for a block to tie the score, but Colorado answered with a kill. The Buffaloes took a 29-27 lead following an A&M attack error, but the Aggies stayed alive. Another block by Bryant and Stanton put A&M within 29-28 before Mallori Gibson clinched the game for the Buffs with a kill.
Colorado used another four-point run to take its first lead in the third game at 6-4. The Aggies tied the score four times, the last coming at 12-all, before the Buffs began to pull away. Colorado, which outhit A&M, .421 to .070 in the final frame, built its biggest lead at 26-16, and the Aggies could get no closer than seven points before Zimmerman put down the match-winning kill.
The Aggies (8-5, 1-4 Big 12) have a bye this weekend and return to G. Rollie White Coliseum on Wednesday, Oct. 4, to face the Red Raiders of Texas Tech at 6:30 p.m. A&M continues its two-match home stand against the No. 1 Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday Oct. 7.
Short Box Score (Match)
Colorado def. Texas A&M 30-23, 30-28, 30-22
Texas A&M (8-5, 1-4) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Hahn, Christi 11-0-2; Batis, Mary 9-1-0; Stanton, Kelly 8-0-10; Bryant, Kelsey 6-1-8; Yon, Lindsey 3-0-0; Ammerman, Sarah 3-0-0; Phillips, Jillian 0-0-1; Rhodes, Courtnee 0-0-2; Totals 40-2-12.0. (Assists) - Rhodes, Courtnee 32. (Dig leaders) - Castillo, Zanny 14; Batis, Mary 9.
Colorado (8-4, 4-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Sutherland, Amber 15-2-1; Zimmerman, Austin 11-2-3; Schaefer, Lauren 9-0-2; Gibson, Mallori 9-2-0; Nu'u, Ashley 4-3-1; Buth, Alex 2-0-3; Bossow, Lara 0-2-0; Totals 50-11-5.0. (Assists) - Nu'u, Ashley 41. (Dig leaders) - Sutherland, Amber 10; Karlik, Kristen 9; Webster, Callie 8; Nu'u, Ashley 8.