Texas A&M
4-1
San Francisco
2-5
Aggies Sweep Dons in Corbelli Homecoming
Sep 06, 2009 | Volleyball
Sept. 6, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO - The Texas A&M volleyball coach Laurie Corbelli returned to the school where she began her head coaching career 24 years ago, and the Aggies made her homecoming a happy one with a 25-15, 25-23, 25-23 victory over the San Francisco Dons today at War Memorial Gym.
With the win, the Aggies improve to 4-1. USF, an NCAA tournament participant last season, drops to 2-5. Corbelli, a 1988 graduate of USF, improves to 7-0 all-time against her alma mater.
"I love the city of San Francisco and I really enjoyed my time here. It also was cool to be back in Memorial Gym, but it was more fun to get the win," Corbelli said.
The Aggies struggled with passing to start out the match as the Dons scored the first four points. Just as quickly as the Aggies fell behind, they promptly got on track with a six-point run and would never trail again as the spirited and boisterous Aggie soccer team cheered them on. USF tied the score for the last time at 7-7 and was down only a point at 9-8 when the Aggies blew open the set with six unanswered points. Senior outside hitter Sarah Ammerman and freshman middle blocker Lindsey Miller spurred the outburst, getting two kills apiece and also teaming for a block to help put the Aggies up, 15-8.
"It was fun having the Aggie soccer team in the stands," Corbelli said. "They had a lot of fun and brought a lot of energy, which we really needed. I credit them with helping us earn a few points as they brought the Aggie traditions to War Memorial Gym and probably helped disrupt USF's concentration at times."
The Aggies, who outhit the Dons, .429 to -.062 in the frame, later used a four-point run to build their largest lead at 21-11. The teams then traded point for point for the remainder of the set, with a USF error spotting the Aggies the clinching point.
There were 10 ties and five lead changes in the second set in which the Aggies used a late rally to get the come-from-behind win. The Dons equaled their biggest lead of the set at 15-12 before A&M reeled off four consecutive points to take its first lead since 3-2. The Aggies kept the lead at 21-19 but committed back-to-back errors and gave up a kill as the Dons regained the lead. A USF serve into the net tied the score at 22-22, but USF's Erin Kilroy got a kill to put the Dons up 23-22. USF's next serve went long to knot the score for the final time. Senior right-side hitter Jennifer Banse then gave A&M the lead with an ace, and then Miller and senior setter Jola Kelner blocked the Dons' attack to give A&M the win and a 2-0 lead in the match.
Corbelli used a much younger lineup in the third set. In addition to freshmen middles Miller and Mary Batis and Banse. Reserves Dylan Faulkner, a senior defensive specialist, and freshman middle Caitlin Adams also saw action as the Aggies closed out the sweep.
USF held an 8-7 lead in the final set when Kastmo put down a one-handed set by senior setter Kristen Schevikhoven to mark the start of five straight points, which included two kills by Black. A&M equaled its largest lead at 20-15 when the Dons began to make a comeback. USF outscored the Aggies 6-1 to tie the score at 21-all. A serve into the net and an ace by Black put the Aggies back up, 23-21, but a kill and block by the Dons tied the score for the fifth time in the set. Miller put the Aggies at match point with a kill on the slide attack, and then she teamed with Ammerman for the match-winner
"The players expended a lot of energy last night (in a 4-1 loss at Saint Mary's), so tonight it was important to not only get players in with fresh legs but also to give them some experience on the court. We have so much depth and still deciding the best combinations, so we like to get them on the court whenever we get the chance."
Ammerman led the Aggies with 13 kills, and Banse and Mellinger led in digs with seven apiece. As a team, A&M outhit the Dons, .296 to .157.
Sarah Mandala led the Dons with 15 kills.
The Aggies return to Reed Arena Tuesday to host the Italian National A2 Team. First serve of the exhibition match is at 6:30 p.m. A&M then concludes the preconference schedule at the Texas State CenturyTel Premier on Fri.-Sat., Sept. 11-12 in San Marcos, Texas. The Aggies face Hofstra, Texas Southern and Texas State during the two-day tournament.
