Texas A&M
6-4
Gonzaga
2-8
A&M Goes Undefeated at Pioneer Classic
Sep 11, 2010 | Volleyball
Sept. 11, 2010
DENVER - Texas A&M completed a perfect weekend and capped its non-conference schedule by holding off Gonzaga, 25-22, 25-23, 27-25, to go 3-0 at the Pioneer Class at Hamilton Gymnasium.
The match marked A&M's final tune-up for Big 12 Conference play, which the Aggies open by hosting No. 5 Texas in the first edition of the State Farm Lone Star Showdown on Thursday, Sept. 16 at Reed Arena. Match time is 6:30 p.m., and it will be Fish Camp Night. Anyone wearing a Fish Camp T-shirt will be admitted free.
"We are real excited that we went 9-0 (sets) this weekend, and I thought that we got the best from each of the teams that we played," A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. "We are playing really well right now. We have a lot of attack options, and our attackers are playing with a lot more confidence. There is more tempo and rhythm in our offense than last weekend, and given that we pass really well, we have a lot of confidence that we can do some damage in the Big 12, so we are really excited about that."
A&M (6-4) had to rally under pressure in each of the three sets against the Bulldogs (2-8), using three-point runs at the end of each set to pull out the narrow victory.
"Gonzaga played a very smart match and was very effective from the outside," Corbelli said. "That gave us trouble for a little while, but I was really proud of the way our team showed a lot of resiliency. We needed matches where it is very tight, 22-all, 23-all. We need to be in those situations and find ways to win them, and that is what we did tonight. It was really important to me that we kept our cool and we stayed focused and executed. That was a really good feeling, and the team can take a lot of confidence from this tournament and get ready for Big 12."
Gonzaga jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the opening set, which saw nine ties and three lead changes. The Aggies chipped away and took their first lead at 13-12 on an ace by Tori Mellinger. The Bulldogs immediately regained the lead on a kill and an ace, but Lindsey Miller returned the lead to the Aggies, posting a kill and then teaming with Chelsea Ringel for a block.
A&M built its largest lead at 19-16, but Gonzaga fought back and tied the score at 21- and 22-all. A kill by Ringel put A&M up, 23-22, and returned service to the Aggies. Alisia Kastmo served an ace to put A&M at set point, and Kelsey Black blasted her fourth kill to close out the frame.
A&M held an 11-8 lead in the second set when Gonzaga used a six-point run to take a 14-11 advantage. The Bulldogs built their biggest lead at 17-13 before A&M once again raced back, outscoring Gonzaga, 6-1, to take a 19-18 lead. Following a service error, A&M got consecutive kills by Ringel, Black and Miller to equal its largest lead of the set at 22-19, but Gonzaga countered with four kills to go up, 23-22. Black blasted a kill to end the Bulldogs' run and then tipped a ball in for her sixth kill of the set to put A&M up, 24-23, and serving for the set. Gonzaga's next attack sailed wide to end the set.
There were 13 ties and eight lead changes in the back-and-forth third set, and each team fought off a set point. Other than an 11-8 A&M lead, neither team held more than a two-point lead throughout the set.
A&M used a three-point run, including two blocks by Stephanie Minnerly, to take a 22-21 lead. Gonzaga got a kill to tie the score but then hit into the net to put A&M up, 23-22. Black then aced a serve to put the Aggies at match point but then had an error to put Gonzaga within 24-23.
Back-to-back blocks by the Bulldogs put Gonzaga up, 25-24. Ringel staved of set point with a kill off the block, and another attack error by the Bulldogs put A&M at match point. Gonzaga, which hit .065 in the set, then sent its next attack out of bounds to end the match.
Black finished with a match-high 13 kills, and Miller added 11 kills and also tallied four blocks. Setter Allie Sawatzky and Mellinger tied for the team lead in digs with 12 apiece, and Ringel pitched in 11.
As a team, A&M outhit the Bulldogs, .193 to .116, posting 47 kills to Gonzaga's 32.
"We now have one of the most emotional and exciting matches of the season coming up in a few days," Corbelli said. "I know that it won't be a match that I have to worry about firing up the team or motivating them."
Tickets to home matches are $9 for reserved seating; $7 for adult general admission; and $4 for youth general admission. Children under 2 are admitted free in general admission sections. Single match and season tickets can be purchased at the Reed Arena entrance, online at AggieAthletics.com, or by calling 888-99-AGGIE. Also group rates are available by contacting the ticket office in advance.
NOTE: Because some teams played four matches in the tournament, which concludes Sunday, a champion will not be crowned. The all-tournament team will be announced on Sunday.
