Texas A&M
8-1, 1-0
Texas Tech
2-9, 0-2
Volleyball Opens Big 12 Play With Sweep; Spoils Tech Home Opener
Sep 19, 2009 | Volleyball
Sept. 19, 2009
**CORRECTED**
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas A&M opened Big 12 Conference play with a 25-15, 25-11, 25-17 victory against Texas Tech, spoiling the Red Raiders and first-year head coach Trish Knight's home debut at United Spirit Arena.
The Aggies hit a season-high .465, posting 44 kills with only four errors in 86 attempts as they won their fifth consecutive match and improved to 8-1.
Tech, held to a .128 hitting percent, drops to 2-9 overall, including 0-2 in conference, and suffers its fourth consecutive loss.
"I was extremely pleased with the limited number of unforced errors, as well as our consistency and execution on offense," A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. "This might have been the best performance we have ever had at the United Spirit Arena and the most fun."
Mary Batis led the Aggies with 13 kills with zero errors in 23 attempts for a .565 hitting efficiency. Sarah Ammerman added 10 kills while hitting at a .429 clip. Setter Jola Kelner, making her first start of the season, directed the offense with 39 assists, and libero Tori Mellinger led all players with a career-high 14 digs.
In the opening set, Tech held a narrow 3-2 edge when Jennifer Banse got a kill down the line and Batis followed with a kill through the block to give the Aggies a lead they would not lose. A&M continued to control the play and increased the lead to 20-10 following an 8-1 scoring outburst. Tech later used a short rally to get within 21-15 before the Aggies closed out the set with four consecutive points, including two kills by Ammerman and a set-winning kill by Banse.
The Aggies were errorless with their attack in the second set, posting 12 kills in 22 attempts for a .545 hitting percentage. Tech hit .000 in the frame with seven kills negated by seven errors.
The score was tied at 4-4 when the Aggies ran off six unanswered points and began to pull away. A&M stretched the lead to 19-10 and then scored four consecutive points to go up, 23-10. A Tech kill temporarily ended the rally before Ammerman tooled a kill off the block, and Alisia Kastmo punished the Red Raiders for an errant pass, putting down a kill following a Tech overpass to put A&M up, 2-0, in the match.
Tech had an early 3-2 lead in the third set when A&M reeled off four straight points, including two kills by Batis and an ace by Kelsey Black. Tech never regained the lead but was within 21-17 when Kelner posted a solo block and then got an ace to put A&M up, 23-17. Black and Ammerman then finished off the set and the match with back-to-back kills.
Amanda Dowdy led Tech with seven kills but hit .000 for the match.
The Aggies return to Reed Arena Wednesday to play host to defending Big 12 co-champion and eighth-ranked Nebraska. Match time is 6 p.m. It will be Fish Camp Night, and anyone wearing a Fish Camp T-shirt will be admitted free.
The match will be nationally televised live on ESPNU, with Beth Mowins calling the action and Cathy Nelson providing color commentary.
