Texas A&M
Minnesota
No. 16 Minnesota Holds Off A&M, 3-1
Aug 31, 2008 | Volleyball
Aug. 30, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 30, 2008
Texas A&M Volleyball Contact: Debbie Darrah
No. 16 Minnesota Holds Off A&M, 3-1
OMAHA, Neb. -Texas A&M's comeback effort fell short as the Aggies suffered their second consecutive loss to a ranked opponent. A&M, which lost to No. 21 LSU in five sets in the season opener last night, dropped a 3-1 (25-18, 25-13, 23-25, 25-22) decision to No. 16 Minnesota today at the Bluejay Invitational at the Omaha Civic Auditorium.
In the opening set against the Gophers, A&M rallied for four straight points to take a 7-4 lead, but Minnesota answered with a six-point run to build a 10-7 lead. Minnesota, which outhit the Aggies, .143 to .256 in the set, would keep the lead for the remainder of the stanza, taking its biggest lead at 19-13. The Aggies got within three points at 20-17 following three straight Gopher attack errors. Minnesota, however, would quickly close out the set with a 5-1 run, including back-to-back aces to cap the frame.
The Gophers (2-0) opened the second set with six unanswered points to force an A&M timeout. The Aggies came back and scored the next two points to get within 6-2 but they could get no closer as Minnesota pulled away, building its biggest lead at 24-11. The Gophers, who outhit A&M .481 to .111 in the set, then got the set clincher on an A&M service error.
A&M came back from the break and spotted the Gophers a 3-2 edge to begin the third set. It would be the only lead in the set for Minnesota. Darla Donaldson put down her first of five kills in the set to tie the score at 3-3, and Sarah Ammerman gave the Aggies the lead with an ace.
A&M equaled its biggest lead of the match at 21-15 before Minnesota threatened a comeback. The Gophers outscored A&M, 8-2, to tie the score at 23 before Mary Batis put A&M at set point with a kill. Donaldson and Kristen Schevikhoven then blocked Kyla Roehrig on the ensuing play to give A&M the set.
Minnesota jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the fourth set before A&M called a timeout. The Aggies then rallied tying the score twice before taking their first lead at 18-17 following a Batis kill. A Minnesota attack went long to give A&M a 19-17 advantage, but the lead was short lived. The Gophers went on a 5-1 run to regain the lead. Sarah Ammerman put the Aggies within 22-21 with a kill but Roehrig answered with a kill following a long rally. The Gophers were then whistled for reaching over the net, keeping A&M within 23-22, but Minnesota ended the set and the match with back-to-back blocks.
Batis led the Aggies with 15 kills and 16 digs. After a rough season opener against LSU, middle blockers Darla Donaldson each hit above .450 and added 12 and 10 kills, respectively, against the Gophers. Ammerman also reached double digits in kills with 10, and Schevikhoven had 45 assists and 12 digs.
Roehrig led the Gophers (2-0) with 19 kills, and libero Christine Tan had 32 digs.
The Aggies close out the tournament against host Creighton tonight at 7:30 p.m. The Bluejays also are looking for their first victory after opening with a 3-0 loss to Minnesota and a five-game loss to No. 21 LSU
