September 08, 2007
Texas A&M extended its record start and won its third consecutive tournament title with a pair of sweeps today at the UTSA Classic at the Convocation Center.
A&M opened the day by defeating Auburn, 30-17, 30-22, 30-15, and topped Texas-San Antonio, 30-18, 30-24, 30-23, in the nightcap to go 3-0 at the tournament and improve to 10-0 on the season.
?To have a start like this is great for our confidence,? A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. ?I know that having experienced so many different types of teams now in these 10 wins and seeing how the teams have come hard at us with nothing to lose, this team has been able to withstand that. That is going to say a lot for us in the conference season.
?We were looking not only to come in and win a tournament but to improve our game in specific areas. It was an opportunity to really continue to work to get into our rhythm and feel like we are getting some speed, pace and deception on offense. Then it carries over to your defense. By looking at the stats, we were hitting very high percentages with very few errors. We were achieving our goals, and the team feels good about it.?
San Antonio native Mary Batis, a sophomore outside hitter, earned her second Most Valuable Player award of the season. She was joined on the all-tournament team by seniors Kelly Stanton, a middle blocker, and libero Jen Moore.
Batis led the Aggies with 11 kills and a season-high 19 digs in the victory against the Roadrunners (4-7) to help A&M clinch the tournament title. Stanton had 10 kills while hitting .529. Moore and Stephanie Cadavid reached double figures in kills with 13 and 10, respectively.
A&M used a four-point run to take a 9-6 lead in the opening game against UTSA. The Roadrunners managed to cut the lead to a point at 17-16 before A&M reeled off six consecutive points. The teams traded points until A&M, which outhit UTSA, .231 to -.023 in the game, went on its second six-point run to close out the frame.
The Aggies never trailed in the second game and built their biggest lead at 24-12 following back-to-back kills by Batis. UTSA then made an 11-3 run to cut the lead to 27-23. A UTSA service error made the score, 28-23, but the Roadrunners came back with a kill to get back within 28-24. Jenny Banse, also a San Antonio native, got consecutive kills to give A&M a two-game lead.
A&M spotted UTSA a 7-2 lead to begin Game 3. The Aggies then used a 6-1 run to tie the score. A&M took the lead at 10-9 after a Roadrunner attack sailed long. UTSA tied the score for the final time at 11-all as Victoria Prior put down one of her match-high 16 kills. A&M scored the next three points and eventually expanded its lead to 21-15. UTSA cut the lead to 25-22 following a four-point rally but A&M answered with a 5-1 run to close out the match.
In the earlier match against Auburn, Batis led the Aggies with 11 kills and 12 digs. Sarah Ammerman also reached double figures in kills with 10, while setter Kristen Schevikhoven and Moore posted double-digit digs with 11 and 10, respectively.
Kelsey Brant led A&M in blocks with six as the Aggies posted a season-high 12 team blocks while holding Auburn to two.
Every Aggie who played across the front row had at least two kills as A&M combined for a blistering .515 hitting percentage in the opening frame.
After building a 13-11 lead, A&M used a 13-2 run to quickly pull away. The Aggies were up 28-17 before Schevikhoven won a joust at the net and Batis followed with her fourth kill to end the game.
A&M hit only .104 in the second game yet led the entire game as Auburn was held to a -.089 hitting efficiency as the Aggies went on to win, 30-22.
Auburn (8-3) held its only lead of the match after scoring on the first play of the third game. A&M responded with six unanswered points and continued to build on its lead throughout the remainder of the game. Up 24-15, A&M reeled off six points with Batis putting down a kill for the match winner.
A&M outhit the Tigers, .308 to .025 for the match.
The tournament marked A&M?â„¢s final tune-up for Big 12 Conference play, which the Aggies begin Wednesday against Oklahoma. Match time is 6:30 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum. It also will be Fish Camp Night, and anyone wearing a Fish Camp T-shirt will be admitted free.