Texas A&M
15-7, 7-4SEC
Missouri
15-11, 5-6SEC
Aggies Earn 3-1 Win Over Missouri
Nov 02, 2014 | Volleyball
Junior middle blocker Shelby Sullivan led the charge with a match-high 13 kills without an error in 17 swings for a .765 hitting percentage. Redshirt sophomore middle Jazzmin Babers, who leads the SEC in hitting percentage in conference matches, recorded double-figure kills for the sixth consecutive match with 11 while hitting at a .474 pace. Freshman opposite hitter Ashlie Reasor also reached double figures in kills with 11, and freshman setter Stephanie Aiple finished with 48 assists as A&M outhit the Tigers, .348 to .154.
Katelyn Labhart was A&M's leader in the back row with a match-high 12 digs. The sophomore defensive specialist also had a strong serving performance to help thwart Missouri's offensive efforts and finished with a career-high three aces.
Texas A&M improves to 15-7 overall and 7-4 in SEC matches only as the Aggies defeated their former Big 12 conference foe for the fourth time in the last five meetings. Missouri falls to 15-11, including 5-6 in conference matches.
A&M held a 10-8 lead in the opening set when Missouri scored three consecutive points to go up, 11-10. A Tiger service error tied the score at 11-11, but Missouri would outhit A&M, .515 to .258, in the set to pull away for a 25-17 win.
It was the Aggies who had the hot hand in the second set, outhitting the Tigers, .440 to .125 en route to the 25-13 win. A&M used a 3-0 run to take an 8-7 lead, and the Aggies would not trail for the remainder of the frame. Missouri tied the score with a kill before back-to-back kills by Angela Lowak and Reasor began a 5-1 run A&M, forcing Missouri to take a timeout trailing 13-9. An A&M service error and a block by Missouri put the Tigers within 13-11, but it would be the closest they would get.
A&M later held a 15-11 lead when Sullivan got a kill on the slide attack to send Labhart to the service line. Labhart had two aces and Emily Hardesty provided assistance at the net with two kills and a block during a 7-0 stretch that put the Aggies up, 22-12. A service error ended the run, but Lowak came back with a kill and Missouri was whistled for a ball handling error to put A&M at set point. Aiple and Sullivan then teamed for a block as the Aggies closed out the set on a 3-0 run to even the match at a set apiece
A&M never trailed in the third set and outhit Missouri .269 to .-086 to cruise to the 25-13 win. The score was tied at 4-4 when A&M used an 11-1 run to pull away. A&M later held a 17-11 lead before a Hardesty kill sparked a 4-0 run to give the Aggies a 10-point cushion. The teams then traded points until Lowak pounded down a kill and Hardesty followed with a kill from the back row to put A&M at set point. Missouri's next attack sailed long to end the set and give the Aggies a 2-1 lead in the match.
A&M also would never trail in the fourth set. Missouri managed to tie the score twice, the last coming a 9-9 before Lowak began a 6-1 A&M rally with a kill. A&M continued to reel off series of points, including a 5-0 surge that put the Aggies ahead, 22-13. A&M hit wide on the next play, but Hardesty and Sullivan had back-to-back kills to put the Aggies at match point. Missouri posted an ace and a block before Sullivan ended the contest with a kill.
Sullivan also took match-high honors for blocks with four, leading A&M to a 9-4 advantage in team blocks.
Sophomore outside hitter Carly Kan led Missouri and posted her league-leading 16th double-double of the year with 12 digs and 12 kills but was held to a .195 hitting efficiency.
The Aggies begin a three-match home stand beginning on Thursday, Nov. 6 as A&M plays host to a surging LSU team that comes to Reed Arena riding a nine-match win streak. First serve is at 6 p.m., and the match will be televised on the SEC Network.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook and on Twitter by following @AggieVolleyball.
Post-match Quotes:
Texas A&M Head Coach Laurie Corbelli:
On the team bouncing back after dropping the first set…
“I was really happy with the way we bounced back not only after losing the first set, but also after losing [at Alabama] on Friday night. That one stung a bit. We felt like some of the things that happened on our court that if we could have changed them or fix them sooner, then maybe we wouldn't have had that happen. I think this group is learning really quickly from their mistakes, and more timing of mistakes. When we are losing our focus or concentration, it's been at critical times. Today we didn't do that. I felt like they kept their focus very consistent, and we are really focused on execution.”
What was said after first set...
“I remember saying we aren't really in our game yet. We let them keep attacking us. We just didn't adjust very much, but that it's a good thing that set no longer existed in our minds. They did a great job of realizing how important serving and passing was going to be, and once we got our rhythm with that -- and we had a great serving and passing practice yesterday -- then I thought they really believed in what they could do after the serve and pass.”
On Missouri's offense in sets 2-4
“They couldn't run their middle very much once their passing broke down. I think both middles had five kills each after set one, which is unheard of against us. We haven't seen that much, so we just knew we had to really stay on them with our serving, and then our passing had to really steady out. I thought [Emily] Hardesty and [Katelyn] Labhart and [Angela] Lowak had a great passing day. And I thought [Amy] Nettles was nails with her passing today. It was really great to see.”
On facing LSU on Thursday...
“It's going to be a huge challenge. They have such talent in all positions. They're smart. They're physical. I think we match up with them relatively well. I think it's going to be a great Division I, top-level volleyball match. There is going to be a lot of great blocking and a lot of great defensive plays. We are looking forward to it.”
