DALLAS – The Texas A&M volleyball team played three back-and-forth matches today at the Lone Star Classic College Showcase at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Arena, marking the end of its spring offseason exhibition season.
The Aggies opened the tournament by defeating North Texas, 2-0, before falling to both Texas and Oklahoma by identical 2-1 scores.
"The team came prepared and united," A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. "We started off slowly with a bit of hesitation, but eventually we got into a nice rhythm on attack. Our passing and defense were spectacular, and all of the work we have been putting into serving was evident in numerous aces. Overall, the spring season resulted in stronger ball control, better blocking and greater team unity."
In the opener against the Mean Green, a block by freshman middle blocker Hollann Hans and senior-to-be setter Kaysie Shebeneck tied the score at 9-9, and then a solo block by senior-to-be outside hitter Emily Hardesty gave the Aggies their first lead of the set. A&M got up, 12-9, but UNT cut into the deficit and eventually tied the score, 20-20. Hans, who played the front row for the entire tournament due to injuries to the rest of A&M's corps of middle blockers, broke the tie with a kill. The Aggies continued to pull away down the stretch, with junior-to-be opposite hitter Ashlie Reasor getting a kill to cap the 25-23 win.
A&M trailed the second set until an ace by freshman outside hitter Amanda Heller tied the score at 7-7. The Aggies once again went on to build a 12-9 advantage, but the Mean Green fought back to regain the lead. A kill by Hardesty put A&M back in the lead, 19-18, but UNT went on a 4-1 run to go up, 22-20, forcing Corbelli to call a timeout.
A&M got back-to-back kills by Hardesty and Reasor coming out of the timeout, tying the score at 22-all. The teams then traded attack errors, and the score remained tied at 23-23. UNT committed another attack error to put A&M at match point, and sophomore-to-be defensive specialist Amy Houser served an ace to complete the 25-23 A&M sweep.
Immediately following the match against the Mean Green, the Aggies took on former conference rival Texas. The first set was tightly contested and once again went down to the wire. The Longhorns held a 21-20 lead before Hardesty got a kill and then stepped to the service line and nailed back-to-back aces to put A&M up, 23-21. A Texas kill followed by an A&M attack that sailed long knotted the score at 23-23. Shebeneck's dig fell in for a kill on the ensuing play to put A&M at set point, 24-23, but Texas got a kill to even the score, 24-24. The Longhorns, however, served long and then hit out as A&M got the 26-24 win.
The Longhorns took control in the second set, jumping out to a 12-5 lead. The Aggies got within 17-15 following a kill by Heller and an ace by junior-to-be defensive specialist Gabby Litwin. A&M was unable to get any closer, and the Longhorns pulled away for the 25-21 win to force a third set.
Texas once again took control and held an 8-6 lead at the third-set changeover. A&M was unable to cut into the deficit, and Texas went on to win, 15-10.
A&M faced former Big 12 foe Oklahoma in the finale. It was another tightly contested contest, with back-to-back Hardesty kills tying the opening set at 20-20. A&M went on to build a 22-20 lead following an ace by Shebeneck, but the Sooners fought back to tie the score at 23-23.
A kill by the lefty Reasor put A&M at set point, 24-23, but OU countered with a kill and an ace. The Sooners then got a block to close out a 26-24 win.
The second set was tied at 20-20 when the Aggies went on a 4-0 run and were serving for the set. The Aggies then committed three consecutive errors before Hans put down a kill to close out the 25-23 win to avoid a sweep and force a third set.
Oklahoma held an 8-5 lead at the third-set changeover and continued to pull away. Leading 11-8, the Sooners went on a 4-2 run to get the 15-10 win to close out the match.
The Aggies open the 2016 regular season August 26-27 at the North Texas Tournament in Denton, Texas.
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.
Lone Star Classic College Showcase results:
Texas A&M def. North Texas, 2-0 (25-23, 25-23)
Texas def. Texas A&M, 2-1 (24-26, 25-21, 15-10)
Oklahoma def. Texas A&M, 2-1 (26-24, 23-25, 15-10)
The Aggies opened the tournament by defeating North Texas, 2-0, before falling to both Texas and Oklahoma by identical 2-1 scores.
"The team came prepared and united," A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. "We started off slowly with a bit of hesitation, but eventually we got into a nice rhythm on attack. Our passing and defense were spectacular, and all of the work we have been putting into serving was evident in numerous aces. Overall, the spring season resulted in stronger ball control, better blocking and greater team unity."
In the opener against the Mean Green, a block by freshman middle blocker Hollann Hans and senior-to-be setter Kaysie Shebeneck tied the score at 9-9, and then a solo block by senior-to-be outside hitter Emily Hardesty gave the Aggies their first lead of the set. A&M got up, 12-9, but UNT cut into the deficit and eventually tied the score, 20-20. Hans, who played the front row for the entire tournament due to injuries to the rest of A&M's corps of middle blockers, broke the tie with a kill. The Aggies continued to pull away down the stretch, with junior-to-be opposite hitter Ashlie Reasor getting a kill to cap the 25-23 win.
A&M trailed the second set until an ace by freshman outside hitter Amanda Heller tied the score at 7-7. The Aggies once again went on to build a 12-9 advantage, but the Mean Green fought back to regain the lead. A kill by Hardesty put A&M back in the lead, 19-18, but UNT went on a 4-1 run to go up, 22-20, forcing Corbelli to call a timeout.
A&M got back-to-back kills by Hardesty and Reasor coming out of the timeout, tying the score at 22-all. The teams then traded attack errors, and the score remained tied at 23-23. UNT committed another attack error to put A&M at match point, and sophomore-to-be defensive specialist Amy Houser served an ace to complete the 25-23 A&M sweep.
Immediately following the match against the Mean Green, the Aggies took on former conference rival Texas. The first set was tightly contested and once again went down to the wire. The Longhorns held a 21-20 lead before Hardesty got a kill and then stepped to the service line and nailed back-to-back aces to put A&M up, 23-21. A Texas kill followed by an A&M attack that sailed long knotted the score at 23-23. Shebeneck's dig fell in for a kill on the ensuing play to put A&M at set point, 24-23, but Texas got a kill to even the score, 24-24. The Longhorns, however, served long and then hit out as A&M got the 26-24 win.
The Longhorns took control in the second set, jumping out to a 12-5 lead. The Aggies got within 17-15 following a kill by Heller and an ace by junior-to-be defensive specialist Gabby Litwin. A&M was unable to get any closer, and the Longhorns pulled away for the 25-21 win to force a third set.
Texas once again took control and held an 8-6 lead at the third-set changeover. A&M was unable to cut into the deficit, and Texas went on to win, 15-10.
A&M faced former Big 12 foe Oklahoma in the finale. It was another tightly contested contest, with back-to-back Hardesty kills tying the opening set at 20-20. A&M went on to build a 22-20 lead following an ace by Shebeneck, but the Sooners fought back to tie the score at 23-23.
A kill by the lefty Reasor put A&M at set point, 24-23, but OU countered with a kill and an ace. The Sooners then got a block to close out a 26-24 win.
The second set was tied at 20-20 when the Aggies went on a 4-0 run and were serving for the set. The Aggies then committed three consecutive errors before Hans put down a kill to close out the 25-23 win to avoid a sweep and force a third set.
Oklahoma held an 8-5 lead at the third-set changeover and continued to pull away. Leading 11-8, the Sooners went on a 4-2 run to get the 15-10 win to close out the match.
The Aggies open the 2016 regular season August 26-27 at the North Texas Tournament in Denton, Texas.
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.
Lone Star Classic College Showcase results:
Texas A&M def. North Texas, 2-0 (25-23, 25-23)
Texas def. Texas A&M, 2-1 (24-26, 25-21, 15-10)
Oklahoma def. Texas A&M, 2-1 (26-24, 23-25, 15-10)