Texas A&M
1-0
Creighton
1-1
VB Posts Sweep in Season Opener
Aug 26, 2011 | Volleyball
"I feel like this was such a great game to start out the year because it was such an even game for the whole team," the Tyler, Texas, native said. "It was very balanced in kills and we came, out very strong knowing our game plan and what we wanted to do on Reed Arena for the first time, and I think we achieved that."
The Aggies received contributions all around, getting a combined 17 kills from the outside hitter position -- including 10 from Kelsey Black and five from Chelsea Ringel -- 10 kills total from middle blockers Lindsey Miller and Elise Hendrickson, and four kills from sophomore setter Allie Sawatzky, who directed the Aggie offense to a .308 to .196 hitting advantage while dishing out 31 assists.
A&M found itself trailing 10-5 to begin the first set but managed to tie the score at 16- and 17-all. The Bluejays held a 20-18 advantage when A&M went on a 4-0 run to take its first lead since 1-0. Creighton ended the run on a kill by Karisa Almgren, who led the Bluejays with nine kills for the match. Hendrickson answered with a kill, and an ace by Sawatzky put the Aggies at set point. Creighton stayed alive by posting its fifth of six team blocks for the match before Kastmo clinched the set with a kill.
The Aggies, who were held to a .157 hitting percentage in the first set, hit .480 in the second set and never relinquished the lead after using a 4-0 run to go up, 4-1. A&M later scored five unanswered points to build its biggest lead at 20-11. Creighton never got closer than six points for the remainder of the frame, and a kill by Black and an ace by Hendrickson closed out the set.
A&M jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back in the third set, outhitting Creighton, .429 to .208, en route to the 25-16 match-clinching set. Libero Tori Mellinger, who tied for match-high honors with 11 digs, saw action on the outside for the first time in her Aggie career and posted two kills, and Megan Pendergast, a junior transfer from Nebraska, made her A&M debut at libero in the final frame. Senior defensive specialist Sarah Grace and junior middle blocker Stephanie Minnerly also made their season debut in the final set.
The Aggies return to the court at 7:30 tonight to take on UTSA. Earlier today, Creighton won the first two sets against the Roadrunners but needed five sets to finish off the match.
Complete tournament schedule/results:
Friday, August 26
Creighton def.
UTSA, 3-2 (25-15, 25-19, 25-27, 16-25, 16-14)
Texas
A&M def. Creighton, 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-16)
Texas
A&M vs. UTSA 7:30
p.m.
Saturday, August 27
Texas A&M vs. Creighton 12:30 p.m.
Tickets: $9 for reserved seats; $7 for adult general admission; $4 for youth (ages 2-high school) general admission. Children under 2 are admitted free in general admission sections. Single match as well as season tickets can be purchased at the Reed Arena entrance, online at AggieAthletics.com, or by calling 888-99-AGGIE.
Free parking for volleyball fans is available in lots 100a, 100b, 100g and 100f. Lot 102 is for handicap parking.
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