Texas A&M Falls to Alabama, 3-2, in SEC Opener

Friday, September 23

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

6:00 PM

Texas A&M

6-6, 0-1SEC

Alabama

12-2, 1-0SEC

Texas A&M

Alabama

Photo by: Thomas Campbell/Texas A&M Athletics

Sep 23, 2016 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (UA 3, TAMU 2)

By: Texas A&M Media Relations

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 19 Texas A&M's comeback fell short as the Aggies opened Southeastern Conference play with a 25-19, 26-24, 22-25, 16-25, 15-13 loss to Alabama tonight at Foster Auditorium.

Alabama improved to 12-3 overall as it picked up its eighth consecutive victory overall, as well as its third straight against the Aggies in matches played in Tuscaloosa.

Texas A&M, which dropped its SEC opener last year but came back to win the championship, falls to 6-6 overall.

Despite a slow start, Texas A&M led Alabama in hitting percentage (266 to .235), blocks (13-8) and points (87-82). But in the end, the Aggies were unable to overcome the 0-2 set deficit and a 29-kill performance by Crimson Tide All-American Krystal Rivers.

Texas A&M spotted Alabama a 4-0 lead to begin the match before Aggie freshman outside hitter Hollann Hans posted her first of six kills in the set to put A&M on the scoreboard. The Crimson Tide, which outhit A&M .278 to .175 in the set, came right back with a kill and went on to build its largest lead at 13-6. The Tide maintained their 7-point advantage before Texas A&M used a 5-1 run to get within 17-14. The teams exchanged points until a kill by Rivers began a 3-0 run by the Tide. Hans and junior opposite hitter Ashlie Reasor ended the run with back-to-back kills to put A&M within 23-18, but the teams would trade points for the remainder of the set, with Alabama getting a block to give the Tide the 25-19 win.

The Aggies got out to a 10-5 lead to begin the second set but Alabama would chip away and overcome the deficit. A kill by Aggie senior All-American middle blocker Jazzmin Babers put A&M ahead, 19-16, but the Tide would reel off three consecutive points to tie the set for the first time. Alabama tied the score again at 20- and 21-all before a kill by Hayley McSparin gave the Tide their first lead, 22-21. A&M had an attack error to put Alabama up, 23-21, but Aggie junior outside hitter Kiara McGee put a kill down the Alabama block, and the Tide followed with an attack error to knot the score at 23-23 and force an Alabama timeout. Rivers got a kill coming out of the timeout and Hans countered with a kill to tie the set for the ninth time, but Alabama would follow with back-to-back kills to win, 26-24, and take a 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.

A&M got in sync in the third set, using an early 8-1 rally to build a 9-4 lead. The Aggies never lost the lead despite getting outhit, .306 to .270. Alabama would get back within two points six times, the last coming at 24-22 after fighting off two set points with back-to-back kills before McGee clinched the set with an off-speed shot that fell in for a kill.

The Aggies carried the momentum in the fourth set, jumping out to a 13-7 lead. A&M, which outhit the Tide, .353 to .071, continued to pull away, using a kill by senior outside hitter Emily Hardesty and back-to-back aces by Kaitlyn Blake to build its largest lead, 22-13. Reasor later tooled the block to put the Maroon and White at set point, 24-16, and Alabama hit long on the ensuing play to close out the frame and even the match at 2-2.

Texas A&M held a 5-3 lead in the fifth set before Alabama rallied for five unanswered points. The Tide, which was outhit, .118 to .100 in the set, went on to build its largest lead at 12-7 before a kill by Reasor began the Aggies' comeback attempt. Alabama later went up 14-10, before a kill by Reasor, a block by Blake and setter Stephanie Aiple and an Alabama attack error put A&M within 14-13. Alabama used its final timeout, and A&M served long to end the match.

McGee led the Aggies with 17 kills while hitting .485. Reasor pitched in 15 kills while hitting at a .375 clip, and Hans finished with 12 kills in two sets played, while Aiple dished out a season-high 52 assists. Blake led all players with nine blocks, and Babers had four to move her into third place in the A&M records with 412 career blocks assists.

Libero Amy Nettles led the Aggies with 17 digs, and defensive specialist Victoria Arenas also posted double-figure digs with 14.

The Aggies begin the home portion of their SEC schedule Sunday as they play to host Auburn. First serve is at 2 p.m. at Reed Arena. The match will be televised on ESPNU with Paul Sunderland and Nell Fortner calling the action.

Promotions include:

Buy 1 adult ticket, get up to 4 kids in FREE (offer valid at the door)
Post-match autograph session
Pre-match Jungle Zone, exclusive for Junior Aggie Club members in the volleyball practice gym featuring Jungle Bounce house, balloon animals, crafts + more;
FREE pre-match kids court in the volleyball practice gym open to all kids featuring Aggie Bounce House, hula hoops, and more
Fish Camp members wear your Fish Camp shirt and stop at the marketing kiosk for a chance to win a trip for two on a rock climbing excursion courtesy of the Texas A&M Rec Center
Every Sunday is Bingo Day at Aggie Volleyball. Pick up a volleyball bingo card at the marketing kiosk on the concourse for chances to win Aggie gear & more

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.