Texas A&M
20-11
Texas
27-1
A&M's Season Ends at Sweet Sixteen
Dec 11, 2009 | Volleyball
Dec. 11, 2009
OMAHA, Neb. - Texas A&M's run in the NCAA Tournament came to an end at the Sweet Sixteen as the Aggies fell to No. 2 Texas, 25-18, 25-18, 25-21 in the semifinals of the Omaha Regional at the Qwest Center.
A&M, participating in the NCAAs for the first time since 2005 and playing in its first regional semifinal match since 2003, entered the contest riding a six-match winning streak, including wins against both No. 19 Arizona and No. 18 LSU to reach the regional semifinal. The Longhorns, who had swept the Aggies in each of the two regular-season meetings, ended the streak and the Aggies' season, hitting .402 for the match, a season-high by an A&M opponent.
The Longhorns (27-1) posted 11 blocks to A&M's one and held A&M to a .231 hitting percentage. A&M ends the season 20-11 and one win shy of reaching the NCAA regional final for the third time in school history.
A&M senior outside hitter Sarah Ammerman tied the opening set at 8-8 before Texas reeled off six unanswered points. A&M, which was outhit .457 to .216 in the frame, got within four points twice, the last at 18-14 following a Lindsey Miller kill. Texas, however, countered with three consecutive points. The Longhorns were up, 22-16, when Ammerman posted her fifth and sixth kills to put A&M within 22-18, but consecutive A&M attack errors and a Texas kill ended the set.
Texas used a 6-0 run to break away from a 2-2 tie in the second set. The Aggies got within 10-7 following a three-point rally but could get no closer as Texas then outscored A&M, 9-4, to build its biggest lead at 19-11. A&M went on a 7-3 run, which included a kill apiece from Mary Batis, Miller, Jennifer Banse, Kristen Schevikhoven and Ammerman, as well as an ace by Schevikhoven, to cut the gap to 22-18, but an A&M attack error and back-to-back blocks by the Longhorns ended the set.
A&M held a narrow 4-3 lead in the third set when Texas reeled off six consecutive points and went on to outscore the Aggies 8-1 to take an 11-5 lead. Ammerman ended the rally, posting three kills during a 4-0 run for A&M, but Texas came back to score the next three points to go up 14-9. The teams traded sideouts until, with Texas leading 19-14, Ammerman had back-to-back kills and libero Tori Mellinger added an ace to put A&M within 19-17. A 4-1 run by Texas put the Horns back up, 23-18. Ammerman posted her eighth kill of the set and Texas' next attack sailed wide, putting A&M within 23-20. A kill by Texas' Juliann Faucette put the Horns serving for the match, but Batis temporarily kept the Aggies alive with a kill before Destinee Hooker put down her match-leading 23rd kill to clinch the match.
The Longhorns advance to the regional final, where they will face Nebraska for the chance to advance to the Final Four. Nebraska advanced by defeating Iowa State, 3-0, in the other all-Big 12 Omaha Regional semifinal.
Ammerman led the Aggies with 16 kills, and Banse added 12. Batis and Mellinger tied for match-high honors in digs with 12 apiece. Schevikhoven had 31 assists.
It was the final match for A&M's six seniors: Ammerman, a first team all-region member who finishes her career ranked third in the A&M career records for points (1708.5) and fourth in kills (1,518); Batis, who ranks fourth in career points (1,619), fifth in digs (1,366) and eighth in kills (1,428); and Schevikhoven, who ranks fifth in assists with 3,203; as well as Jennifer Banse, who was named all-region honorable mention, and back-up setter Jola Kelner and defensive specialist Dylan Faulkner.
Texas A&M Post-Match Quotes
Head Coach Laurie Corbelli
Opening Statement
"Well, we're somewhat disappointed in how we finished our season because we felt like the team that we've been over the last month, we just didn't quite get there tonight and it stunned everybody and it frustrated a lot of us. It was a little bit of an unusual feeling. It was really hard to get into what we would typically like to show of Texas A&M volleyball. I think regardless of who was on the other side of the net, we were really trying to be concerned with our side, and I think that's where the disappointment is more than anything, but I'm so incredibly proud of my team and the season we have had. The ups and downs of playing in the Big 12...three of our 11 losses are to this team that's going to go and probably compete at the national championship match, a great possibility, or one of these teams out here now (Iowa State or Nebraska) who is going to go. In the Big 12, you're going to get to play every night against one of the best teams in the nation and it's made these girls better people. It's always a joy for me to get to play the best and it helps brings out the best in us, and I wouldn't want it any other way. It's just frustrating sometimes that it doesn't get the recognition it deserves."
On what she was specifically disappointed in
"I suppose it was our server-receive. Last time we played them it kind of broke down a little bit as well. I thought our first match against them in Austin, our serve-receive was probably at its best at that point. We really weren't as sharp and crisp with our passing, which then carries over into the next two touches. I thought that's where we struggled a little bit. And then our hitters couldn't get into a rhythm, our setters couldn't get the offensive rhythm going, and so, if we couldn't go hard at this team then you have to be able to find a way to block and defend them when they are all touching 10 feet and over, and trying to come at you very, very powerfully, and I thought we did our very best at defending. We knew what they were going to do. We had people in the right spots. It tends to be difficult to keep the ball in control many times when they are going off your block and at your diggers. But overall, it was more our side. Like I said, I felt like we really didn't display what we can do."
On Destinee Hooker
"I don't know how many of you would raise your hand if you want to go out there and play against her. It's really challenging. The range that she has up there. The different speeds they set her. It's not easy. There are not a lot of athletes like that in this nation. I think she should be in track actually, but she stayed with volleyball so bad luck for us. What a phenomenal athlete and she had a great match. This is the ninth time I've played against her and the last time."
On if she is disappointed that's the last time she has to face Hooker
"Not at all. No, I've admired watching her compete. I know she'll be on the track this coming spring. I don't know if there will ever be a player that can do the things that she does. I suppose I'm supposed to say it was a joy to play against her, but I'll be careful with that one."
Outside Hitter Sarah Ammerman
On the run they have made to finish the season
"I couldn't be more proud of our team and these past three weeks of volleyball that we've produced. We hit a pretty tough spot in the middle of the season and hit some really tough five-game losses, and losses we definitely didn't think we should (have). To be able to come back and turn that around and still be able to achieve our goal of getting into the tournament and making it to the Sweet 16, I couldn't be more proud of my team. We haven't made it to the tournament since I've been here, so this means a lot to me. To get to the Sweet 16 is pretty special, but losing is tough, but in the big picture you have to look at what we've done these past three weeks. We have all fought really hard and played some pretty incredible volleyball."
Outside Hitter Jennifer Banse
On if you have to overcome something mentally when you go against Texas
"That's a bunch of really confident girls. There is nothing else in their head other than beating balls and beating whoever is on the other side of the net. I think they are a great team. I think the rivalry is fun."
Texas A&M Post-Match Notes
• Texas A&M finished its season with a 20-11 record. In the program's 18th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance, the Aggies advanced to Regional play for the eighth time in school history. Texas A&M finished just one victory shy of matching its best-ever finish in postseason play, as the Aggies advanced to the Regional Final in both 1999 and 2001.
• The loss snapped the Aggies' six-match win streak, as A&M fell to Texas for the 12th straight time dating back to 2004. The Longhorns eliminated the Aggies from the NCAA Tournament for the third time (also a 3-0 Texas sweep in the second round of the 1985 28-team tournament and a 3-0 Texas sweep in the second round of the 1993 28-team tournament).
• Texas A&M fell to 22-18 all-time in the NCAA Tournament with the loss, including a 20-14 record under 17th-year head coach Laurie Corbelli.
• The loss snapped a two-match winning streak for Texas A&M against ranked opponents. The Aggies finished 2009 with a 4-8 record against ranked foes, including a 1-5 mark against top-10 teams.
• Texas hit .402 against the Aggies, marking the highest opponent hitting percentage of the season.
• Sarah Ammerman ended her tremendous career with 16 kills, six digs and 16.0 points against Texas.
• Mary Batis narrowly missed her 11th double-double of the season, finishing with 12 digs and nine kills.
• Freshman libero Tori Mellinger posted 12 digs, her team-leading 22nd match to post double-digit digs.
