Texas A&M
Nebraska
Nebraska Remains Undefeated with Win over A&M
Oct 22, 2008 | Volleyball
Oct. 22, 2008
LINCOLN, Neb. - The Texas A&M volleyball team went into Nebraska Coliseum hoping to tag No. 2-ranked Nebraska with its first loss of the season, but the Huskers would have none of it.
Nebraska, which entered the match riding a 50-match home winning streak, topped A&M, 25-16, 25-18, 25-13 in front of a sold-out crowd of 4,103 to improve to 19-0 overall and conclude the first half of Big 12 Conference play at 10-0. It was the Huskers' seventh consecutive sweep.
A&M, which remains winless in 16 visits to Lincoln, suffers its third straight loss and falls to 9-11 overall, 4-6 in the Big 12.
A&M stayed within striking distance throughout the first half of the opening set before Nebraska used an 11-1 outburst to pull away. The set began with Sarah Ammerman and Darla Donaldson getting back-to-back kills to give the Aggies an early 3-2 lead. A&M equaled its largest lead at 9-7 before Nebraska scored three straight points to take its first lead since 2-1. Ammerman returned the lead to A&M with consecutive kills, but a kill by Lindsey Licht and an A&M attack error put the Huskers back in the lead at 12-11.
Ammerman notched her fourth kill of the set and Donaldson followed with a solo block to give A&M its third lead at 13-12. A&M held onto a 15-14 lead going into a media timeout, but the Huskers came back and erupted for seven straight points, three points on blocks. A service error ended the run, but a kill by Jordan Larson returned serve to Nebraska. Two more kills and a block clinched the set for the Huskers, who outhit A&M, .345 to .065, posting five blocks to A&M's one.
Nebraska opened the second set by scoring the first three points en route to an 8-2 lead. A&M cut the lead to four points four times, the last coming at 21-17 following a three-point run by the Aggies. Tara Mueller, who had two hitting errors during the Aggies' run, responded with back to back kills and then teamed with Brooke Delano and Amanda Gates for a block to put Nebraska at set point, 24-17. Freshman middle blocker Stephanie Wells kept A&M alive with her third kill of the set before Nebraska tallied another block to end the set.
Nebraska, which outhit A&M .205 to .182 in the second frame, hit .478 to A&M's .067 in the final set. The Huskers held a 7-4 lead before going on a 7-1 spurt to take a commanding 14-5 lead. The Aggies still trailed by nine points at 20-11 but could get no closer as three consecutive attack errors and a kill by Larson put the Huskers at match point. Freshman outside hitter Kelsey Black got a kill for A&M, and Nebraska's attack sailed long on the ensuing play before an A&M service error ended the match.
Larson and Mueller each hit above .400 while leading the Huskers with 13 kills apiece. Gates posted a match-high eight blocks to lead Nebraska to an 11.5 to 3 advantage in blocks and a .319 to .106 hitting advantage.
Mary Batis led A&M with seven kills, coming within two kills of reaching 1,000 for her career. Wells had a career-high six kills while hitting .556, and freshman libero Chelsea Ringel led the Aggies with 13 digs.
A&M begins the second half of Big 12 play Saturday with a home match against Kansas. The start time of the match has been changed to 3 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum. The match was originally scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Several promotions will be held for the match. It will be "Volleyball Camper Appreciation Day," and children wearing a 2008 A&M volleyball camp T-shirt will be admitted free. Any fans wearing a costume also will receive free admission. Prizes will be awarded for the best student costumes, including a $250 book scholarship from Sterling C. Evans Library for use at the MSC Bookstore.
In addition, the volleyball team will hold its first-ever "Dig for the Cure" match. The Aggies will join a nationwide initiative to help raise money and awareness of breast cancer. Fans not wearing costumes are encouraged to wear pink to show support for breast cancer awareness. The team will be wearing pink socks, and head coach Laurie Corbelli will be wearing a special-edition pink training jersey which will be signed and auctioned off. Proceeds will benefit Breast Cancer Awareness and Research.
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