Texas A&M
3-0
Northern Iowa
2-1
Aggies Are Tournament Champions
Aug 29, 2009 | Volleyball
Aug. 29, 2009
Texas A&M came from behind to defeat a scrappy Northern Iowa team , 23-25, 25-20, 25-18 25-23, today and win the Texas A&M Invitational championship trophy.
A crowd of 1,487 was in attendance at Reed Arena to see the match that would determine who would be crowned tournament champion as both teams entered the final match 2-0."That was one of the most impressive comebacks that we have had," A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. "That is one of the best defensive teams we've played in a couple of years. Their libero (all-tournament selection Ellie Blankenship) was in every seam. If their block wasn't closing, she was there. They ran down tips. We couldn't use any off-speed against this team because it wasn't working, and I think our hitters made some great adjustments to find what would work against this team that is very, very strong."
Tournament MVP Mary Batis (14 kills, 17 digs) and all-tournament selections Sarah Ammerman (19 kills, 14 digs) and Jennifer Banse (15 kills, 17 digs) each posted double-doubles in kills and digs to lead A&M to a 64-46 advantage in kills and an 88-69 lead in digs. In addition, senior setter Jola Kelner came off the bench to start the second set and rallied the team, getting freshmen middle blockers Lindsey Miller and Alisia Kastmo into the mix to open up the offense.
The Aggies were somewhat out of sync in the opening set, and the Panthers seemed to have an answer for every A&M attack. UNI equaled its largest lead at 20-17 after going on a 5-1 run, but A&M came back to tie the score at 21-21 on a kill by Miller. The teams continued to trade points until, with the score tied at 23-all, A&M had an attack error. Beth Discher then put down a kill to clinch the set for UNI.
"We had a shaky start with our ball handling and with our attacking," Corbelli said. "We weren't as explosive. We just weren't getting after attacking and we had to pick that up. Once we did, I felt like we got into our rhythm and the team just made some great adjustments."
A&M had fallen behind, 8-4, to open the second set, but the Aggies eventually fought there way back and took their first lead at 14-13 on a block by Kelner and Miller. UNI regained the lead and was up 18-17 when A&M reeled off four consecutive points. The Aggies continued to build on their lead and were up 24-20 when Kastmo got a kill to end the set and even the match.
A&M never trailed in the third set as the Aggies outhit UNI, .275 to .025. With the score tied at 3-3, A&M scored four unanswered points. UNI called a timeout and then came back with a kill to end the streak, but A&M immediately answered with a four-point run to pull ahead, 11-4. A&M later used a five-point run to build its biggest lead at 19-11. UNI could get no closer then five points before Kastmo once again put down the set-winning kill.
The Aggies confirmed their resilience in the fourth set as they trailed 18-14 late in the frame. Kills by Miller, Ammerman and Kelner, along with a Panther attack error tied the score for the first time since 10-10. An A&M attack error gave UNI a one-point lead, but Ammerman came back with a kill and Kastmo and Kelner teamed for a block to but the Aggies up, 20-19.
A&M built a 23-21 lead, but a kill by UNI and a bad play by A&M forced Corbelli to take a timeout at 23-all. UNI came out of the timeout and promptly served into the net to put the Aggies at set point. UNI then had an attack error on the final play as A&M completed the comeback to win the tournament.
"We were already up 2-1 and tied at 23-all, and I wanted the team to really be composed, be confident," Corbelli said. "I was really excited for them because they looked at me like, `we are going to take care of it,' and they did. Just a really good feeling.
"We realize our responsibility is taking advantage of every opportunity we get," Corbelli said. "We had an opportunity today against a Missouri Valley Conference team that does go to the NCAA tournament, and we had to show that Texas A&M volleyball is someone to consider. It just feels good that we had an opportunity."
The Aggies head west next weekend, taking on Saint Mary's College on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 9 p.m. (CDT) in Moraga, Calif., and the University of San Francisco, where Aggie coach Laurie Corbelli began her head coaching career, on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. (CDT) in San Francisco. Both teams received votes in the AVCA Top 25.
Texas A&M Invitational
All-Tournament Team
Mary Batis, Texas A&M (MVP)
Jennifer Banse, Texas A&M
Sarah Ammerman, Texas A&M
Ellie Blankenship, Northern Iowa
Bre Payton, Northern Iowa
Simone Asque, Virginia
Molly O'Shea, Iona
Final Standings
Texas A&M, 3-0
Northern Iowa, 2-1
Virginia, 1-2
Iona, 0-3
Tournament Results
Friday, August 28
Texas A&M def. Iona, 3-0 (30-28, 25-12, 25-10)
Northern Iowa def. Virginia, 3-0 (25-12, 25-14, 27-25)
Northern Iowa def. Iona, 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-15)
Texas A&M def. Virginia, 3-0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-18)
Saturday, August 29
Virginia def. Iona, 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-16)
Texas A&M def. Northern Iowa, 23-25, 25-20, 25-28, 25-23
