October 07, 2006
Nebraska lived up to its No. 1 billing and remained undefeated after holding off a young but feisty Texas A&M team, 30-25, 30-24, 30-20, in front of 2,118 at G. Rollie White Coliseum.
The Cornhuskers, who have won 50 of their last 51 Big 12 matches, improve to 15-0, including 7-0 in conference play. A&M slips to 8-7, 1-6.
?It was pretty obvious that we were playing really well when it was early in the games,? A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. ?We were digging, we were confident and we were getting after it. But once you got to 20-all or 23-all, that is when you have to show that killer instinct and dig deep and know what play you need to run, and you have to execute it. We?â„¢re learning that we have to get that done.?
The score was tied for the 13th time at 20 in the first game when the Huskers capitalized on A&M mistakes to score four consecutive points. A&M answered with three straight points to pull within 24-23 before Nebraska began to pull away for the 30-25 victory.
Nebraska?â„¢s Sarah Pavan, a junior 6-5 right-side hitter and national player of the year candidate, posted 10 of her match-high 17 kills in the game while hitting .529.
?(Pavan) is pretty darn good and hard to stop for anybody, because she is another whole step above from where she reaches the ball, to how hard she hits that ball, to how accurately. She is the best player in the nation,? Corbelli said.
There were 10 lead changes and 19 ties in the second game. The Aggies used a four-point run to build their biggest lead of the match at 19-16. Nebraska called a timeout and then outscored the Aggies, 6-1, to regain the lead. A&M tied the score at 22 and 23 before the Huskers, who outhit A&M, .438 to .290 in the frame, used a 7-1 run to close out the game.
Back-to back kills by freshman Sarah Ammerman and junior Kelly Stanton gave A&M its third and final lead of the third game at 11-10. Nebraska responded with a 4-1 run to retake the lead for good. A kill by freshman Mary Batis kept A&M within 18-16 before the more experienced Huskers began to pull away once again. Nebraska used an 11-3 outburst to take a 29-19 lead. Ammerman held off match-point with a kill, but then served into the net to end the match.
?There were moments where we got caught doing things that don?â„¢t identify our team, but we didn?â„¢t do them as often tonight as we have in the past,? Corbelli said. ?Once the team starts to get that feel and get into that kind of groove, then we?â„¢ll be soaring. We?â„¢ll be doing a lot better things.?
Ammerman, who was celebrating her 19th birthday, led A&M with 14 kills. Freshman setter Courtnee Rhodes led the Aggies in digs with 14, and Batis added 11. Freshman defensive specialist Stephanie Cadavid also was celebrating her 19th birthday and finished the match with seven digs.
Pavan, who hit .394 for the match and also posted a match-high four blocks, was joined in double figures in kills by Jordan Larson, who had 11 for the Huskers. Larson took match-high honors in digs with 15, and Dani Busboom added 13.
Nebraska hit .342 for the match. A&M hit .220, the first team to hit above .200 in the Huskers?â„¢ last eight matches.
The Aggies return to action Wednesday as they take on Baylor at 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center in Waco.
Short Box Score (Match)
#1 Nebraska vs Texas A&M (Oct 07, 2006 at College Station, TX)
Nebraska def. Texas A&M 30-25, 30-24, 30-20
Nebraska (15-0, 7-0 Big 12) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Pavan, Sarah 17-3-4; Larson, Jordan 11-2-1; Cooper, Kori 8-0-3; Stalls, Tracy 7-0-1; Holloway, Rachel 5-1-0; Mancuso, Dani 3-0-2; Schwartz, Rachel 0-2-0; Totals 51-8-7.0. (Assists) - Holloway, Rachel 38. (Dig leaders) - Larson, Jordan 15; Busboom, Dani 13.
Texas A&M (8-7, 1-6 Big 12) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ammerman, Sarah 14-1-0; Hahn, Christi 9-3-1; Bryant, Kelsey 7-1-1; Stanton, Kelly 7-0-2; Batis, Mary 6-0-0; Rhodes, Courtnee 2-1-2; Totals 45-6-3.0. (Assists) - Rhodes, Courtnee 38. (Dig leaders) -Rhodes, Courtnee 14; Batis, Mary 11; Castillo, Zanny 9.
Site: College Station, TX (G. Rollie White Col.)
Date: Oct 07, 2006 Attend: 2118 Time: 1:33
Referees: Steve Robb, Steve Owen