Wednesday, October 21
College Station
7:00 PM
Texas A&M
13-6, 6-2SEC
3
vs
0
LSU
8-11, 4-4,SEC
1
2
3
F
LSU
19
22
18
0
Texas A&M
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Texas A&M Athletics
Texas A&M Wins Fourth Straight with Sweep over LSU
Oct 21, 2015 | Volleyball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M won its fourth consecutive match and closed out a three-match homestand with its third consecutive sweep, defeating LSU, 25-19, 25-22, 25-18 tonight at Reed Arena.
A&M improves to 13-6 overall, including 6-2 in Southeastern Conference matches only. LSU, which had defeated the Aggies in five sets in each of its previous two trips to College Station, falls to 8-11 overall and 4-4 in league play.
Aggie sophomore outside hitter Kiara McGee paced A&M with a match-high 13 kills, her season high for a three-set match. Junior redshirt middle blocker Jazzmin Babers added 12 kills, and senior middle blocker Shelby Sullivan pitched in 10 kills while hitting .529. Sophomore setter Stephanie Aiple dished out 40 assists as the Aggies led LSU, 45-31, in kills and outhit the Tigers, .376 to .103.
A&M also outblocked the Tigers, 11-7, with Babers tallying eight blocks, tying the team season high for a three-set match and moving her into ninth place in the A&M all-time career records with 372 total blocks. Sophomore libero Amy Nettles tied for match-high honors in digs with 11, as A&M outdug the Tigers, 46-39.
The first set was tied at 10 before McGee led the Aggies on a 6-1 run. LSU, which was outhit .278 to .028 in the frame, countered with a 4-0 rally to get within 16-15 but was unable to get any closer. A&M later held a 20-18 advantage when LSU had a bad set and Sullivan and McGee had back-to-back kills to put the Aggies ahead, 23-18. LSU ended the run with a kill, but McGee answered with her fourth kill of the stanza to put A&M at set point. Babers then posted her fourth kill, tipping in an LSU overpass for the set-winning kill.
LSU used a 4-0 run to take a 7-5 lead early in the second set, but McGee hammered in three kills and Babers added a kill and two blockers during a 6-1 A&M rally that put the Aggies ahead, 11-8. LSU got a kill, but Babers came right back with a kill and back-to-back blocks, and McGee followed with an ace and a kill from the back row to give A&M its largest lead, 16-9.
Although outhit .286 to .108 in the set, LSU continued to fight back and got within 23-22 before McGee posted her sixth kill of the frame with authority to put A&M at set point. LSU's next attack sailed out of bounds to close out the 25-22 win, giving A&M a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Tigers appeared primed to extend the match following the intermission, quickly jumping out to a 6-2 lead in the third set. LSU maintained its four-point cushion at 9-5 before Sullivan and Company took over. Sullivan got a kill and then stepped back to the service line and posted two aces during a 7-0 run that also featured three power-driven kills by McGee, who muscled a kill through the block and then crushed the ball off the top of the head of a blocker.
LSU got a cross-court kill to end the run, but Babers connected on back-to-back kills and then teamed with McGee for a block to put A&M ahead, 15-10. LSU later bot back within 18-16 but was unable to eliminate the deficit. Sullivan put down a kill, and junior defensive specialist Victoria Arenas followed with an ace. LSU then committed three consecutive attack errors to put the Maroon and White ahead, 23-16. Emily Ehrle ended the rally with a kill, but Sullivan countered with her sixth kill of the frame to put the Aggies at match point. LSU, which was outhit, .265 to .176 in the set, stayed alive with a kill but then served long to end the match.
A&M has a bye this weekend and then returns to action Friday, Oct. 30 at 21st-ranked and SEC leader Kentucky. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. CT at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky.
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 and Instagram by following @AggieVolleyball.
Texas A&M post-match quotes:
Texas A&M Head Coach Laurie Corbelli
On giving the team time off after the victory…
"I know that they wanted [the win] anyway. I know it is a grind. You've been going awhile and the end is starting to come in sight, but it's not really super close. I think this break for us falls at a really good time, and if we need to take the opportunity to really just rejuvenate and rest our bodies and minds. And then we just had a talk about it and how Monday when we come back, we need everybody to show that re-energized self; bring everything they can to get us back into our competitive mode, to get ready because Kentucky is going to be really a great trip, a really fun team to play against."
On is it good to have a break after being on such a roll…
"I think it's all mental and it is nice to keep playing, but it is also nice to get a break. So it just kind of depends on how you see it and how you approach it. We are really going to work hard on making sure the team comes back with a lot of adrenaline and a lot of excitement, kind of like we had summer break and we come back for two a days. They can't get enough, the first drill it's like they are running off the court, whatever it takes. I'm hoping they can come back with an excitement about them and a fresh outlook and get back to business quickly."
On beating LSU…
"It's nice. I'm really happy the team did such a nice job of executing the game plan and making the adjustments necessary and not dropping a set. That's pretty rare these days at our level. So many teams are going five sets, and it can happen to anyone. Being able to go 3-0 the last couple of matches here at home is really nice, and I can't tell you how much the 12th Man has made it so much fun, and so loud; energizing, just awesome. We're so excited the corps is bringing some of their companies. They're coming out and they're making more noise. It's just so cool. It makes such a difference for us. We really appreciate the 12th Man."
On Kiara McGee…
"She's a totally different player from a year ago, night and day in my mind. She transformed her body over the spring and summer and is touching higher. So she can play higher for her teammates. She's working every day for her defensive efforts. Our goal is to get her to be an all-around six-rotation player like [Emily] Hardesty is. We need to use her out of the back row. She is very athletic and can get to so many balls."
Stephanie Aiple, sophomore setter
On setting up one-on-one's…
"A lot of the times when other teams are scouting us before the game, since our middles are so dominant, they will send their middle with them no matter what. This opens up Kiara McGee on the outside. It's easy for me to see because I see their middle go straight behind me, so it opens her up and that's when I give her the ball."
On earning SEC weekly honors after early season injuries…
"It's great. It's totally not as individual an honor as it looks. It's completely a team thing because I can't look good without my passers or hitters. We're healthy, we're good, and it feels awesome to be back. Our connection is just really good right now."
On winning the third set after a slow start…
"I think we got down the first couple of points but I got Sully [Shelby Sullivan] on fire. She just kept slamming the ball down and getting kills and then she serves and gets two aces. That momentum from the crowd and our side of the court brought to life this energy and momentum for our team to keep pushing and get ahead of LSU."
Kiara McGee, sophomore outside hitter
On being set up for one-on-one's…
"I feel like I need to kill instantly because in practice we try and make sure if you're one-on-one the hitter always gets the kill. I just see the court and go wherever the block is not. It's easy when all of our hitters are on because they realize that their middles are just going to follow us everywhere."
On her increased role this season…
"I take it as a challenge for myself to try and come out and focus on my team with the ultimate goal of winning. I think I'm still developing my game to become an all-around player and it's coming along. My serving is getting there, blocking is getting there and my defense is getting better."
A&M improves to 13-6 overall, including 6-2 in Southeastern Conference matches only. LSU, which had defeated the Aggies in five sets in each of its previous two trips to College Station, falls to 8-11 overall and 4-4 in league play.
Aggie sophomore outside hitter Kiara McGee paced A&M with a match-high 13 kills, her season high for a three-set match. Junior redshirt middle blocker Jazzmin Babers added 12 kills, and senior middle blocker Shelby Sullivan pitched in 10 kills while hitting .529. Sophomore setter Stephanie Aiple dished out 40 assists as the Aggies led LSU, 45-31, in kills and outhit the Tigers, .376 to .103.
A&M also outblocked the Tigers, 11-7, with Babers tallying eight blocks, tying the team season high for a three-set match and moving her into ninth place in the A&M all-time career records with 372 total blocks. Sophomore libero Amy Nettles tied for match-high honors in digs with 11, as A&M outdug the Tigers, 46-39.
The first set was tied at 10 before McGee led the Aggies on a 6-1 run. LSU, which was outhit .278 to .028 in the frame, countered with a 4-0 rally to get within 16-15 but was unable to get any closer. A&M later held a 20-18 advantage when LSU had a bad set and Sullivan and McGee had back-to-back kills to put the Aggies ahead, 23-18. LSU ended the run with a kill, but McGee answered with her fourth kill of the stanza to put A&M at set point. Babers then posted her fourth kill, tipping in an LSU overpass for the set-winning kill.
LSU used a 4-0 run to take a 7-5 lead early in the second set, but McGee hammered in three kills and Babers added a kill and two blockers during a 6-1 A&M rally that put the Aggies ahead, 11-8. LSU got a kill, but Babers came right back with a kill and back-to-back blocks, and McGee followed with an ace and a kill from the back row to give A&M its largest lead, 16-9.
Although outhit .286 to .108 in the set, LSU continued to fight back and got within 23-22 before McGee posted her sixth kill of the frame with authority to put A&M at set point. LSU's next attack sailed out of bounds to close out the 25-22 win, giving A&M a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Tigers appeared primed to extend the match following the intermission, quickly jumping out to a 6-2 lead in the third set. LSU maintained its four-point cushion at 9-5 before Sullivan and Company took over. Sullivan got a kill and then stepped back to the service line and posted two aces during a 7-0 run that also featured three power-driven kills by McGee, who muscled a kill through the block and then crushed the ball off the top of the head of a blocker.
LSU got a cross-court kill to end the run, but Babers connected on back-to-back kills and then teamed with McGee for a block to put A&M ahead, 15-10. LSU later bot back within 18-16 but was unable to eliminate the deficit. Sullivan put down a kill, and junior defensive specialist Victoria Arenas followed with an ace. LSU then committed three consecutive attack errors to put the Maroon and White ahead, 23-16. Emily Ehrle ended the rally with a kill, but Sullivan countered with her sixth kill of the frame to put the Aggies at match point. LSU, which was outhit, .265 to .176 in the set, stayed alive with a kill but then served long to end the match.
A&M has a bye this weekend and then returns to action Friday, Oct. 30 at 21st-ranked and SEC leader Kentucky. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. CT at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky.
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 and Instagram by following @AggieVolleyball.
Texas A&M post-match quotes:
Texas A&M Head Coach Laurie Corbelli
On giving the team time off after the victory…
"I know that they wanted [the win] anyway. I know it is a grind. You've been going awhile and the end is starting to come in sight, but it's not really super close. I think this break for us falls at a really good time, and if we need to take the opportunity to really just rejuvenate and rest our bodies and minds. And then we just had a talk about it and how Monday when we come back, we need everybody to show that re-energized self; bring everything they can to get us back into our competitive mode, to get ready because Kentucky is going to be really a great trip, a really fun team to play against."
On is it good to have a break after being on such a roll…
"I think it's all mental and it is nice to keep playing, but it is also nice to get a break. So it just kind of depends on how you see it and how you approach it. We are really going to work hard on making sure the team comes back with a lot of adrenaline and a lot of excitement, kind of like we had summer break and we come back for two a days. They can't get enough, the first drill it's like they are running off the court, whatever it takes. I'm hoping they can come back with an excitement about them and a fresh outlook and get back to business quickly."
On beating LSU…
"It's nice. I'm really happy the team did such a nice job of executing the game plan and making the adjustments necessary and not dropping a set. That's pretty rare these days at our level. So many teams are going five sets, and it can happen to anyone. Being able to go 3-0 the last couple of matches here at home is really nice, and I can't tell you how much the 12th Man has made it so much fun, and so loud; energizing, just awesome. We're so excited the corps is bringing some of their companies. They're coming out and they're making more noise. It's just so cool. It makes such a difference for us. We really appreciate the 12th Man."
On Kiara McGee…
"She's a totally different player from a year ago, night and day in my mind. She transformed her body over the spring and summer and is touching higher. So she can play higher for her teammates. She's working every day for her defensive efforts. Our goal is to get her to be an all-around six-rotation player like [Emily] Hardesty is. We need to use her out of the back row. She is very athletic and can get to so many balls."
Stephanie Aiple, sophomore setter
On setting up one-on-one's…
"A lot of the times when other teams are scouting us before the game, since our middles are so dominant, they will send their middle with them no matter what. This opens up Kiara McGee on the outside. It's easy for me to see because I see their middle go straight behind me, so it opens her up and that's when I give her the ball."
On earning SEC weekly honors after early season injuries…
"It's great. It's totally not as individual an honor as it looks. It's completely a team thing because I can't look good without my passers or hitters. We're healthy, we're good, and it feels awesome to be back. Our connection is just really good right now."
On winning the third set after a slow start…
"I think we got down the first couple of points but I got Sully [Shelby Sullivan] on fire. She just kept slamming the ball down and getting kills and then she serves and gets two aces. That momentum from the crowd and our side of the court brought to life this energy and momentum for our team to keep pushing and get ahead of LSU."
Kiara McGee, sophomore outside hitter
On being set up for one-on-one's…
"I feel like I need to kill instantly because in practice we try and make sure if you're one-on-one the hitter always gets the kill. I just see the court and go wherever the block is not. It's easy when all of our hitters are on because they realize that their middles are just going to follow us everywhere."
On her increased role this season…
"I take it as a challenge for myself to try and come out and focus on my team with the ultimate goal of winning. I think I'm still developing my game to become an all-around player and it's coming along. My serving is getting there, blocking is getting there and my defense is getting better."
Team Stats
LSU
TAMU
Kills
31
45
Errors
20
16
Attempts
107
105
Hitting %
.103
.276
Points
42.0
61.0
Assists
28
42
Aces
4
5
Blocks
7.0
11.0
Game Leaders
Kills
13
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
8
Kills
10
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
S
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L/DS
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
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L/DS
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