RECAP: Texas A&M Sweeps MSU, 3-0

Sunday, October 8

College Station

1:30 p.m.

Texas A&M

5-7, 2-3SEC

Mississippi State

9-12, 0-6SEC

Mississippi State

Texas A&M

Photo by: Glen Johnson/Texas A&M Athletics

Oct 08, 2017 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (A&M 3, MSU 0)

By: Texas A&M Media Relations

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M senior outside hitter Kiara McGee had 11 kills while hitting .435 and freshman middle blocker Morgan Davis, making her first career start, added a match-high seven blocks to lead the Aggies to a 25-20, 25-15, 25-13 victory over Mississippi State today at Reed Arena.

A&M hit .304 while holding MSU to an opponent season-low .011, to improve to 5-7, including 2-3 in Southeastern Conference matches. In addition, the Aggies improved to 8-0 in the all-time series against the Bulldogs, with all eight matches resulting in three-set sweeps.

MSU suffered its sixth consecutive loss, falling to 9-12 overall and 0-6 in SEC matches only.

The Aggies got off to a slow start and State jumped out to an 8-4 lead in the opening set, forcing A&M coach Laurie Corbelli to call a timeout. The Aggies responded with five consecutive points, including two kills, an ace and a block, to take their first lead, 9-8. There were eight ties and six lead changes overall in the set, the last coming after freshman setter Camille Conner got a kill to start a 3-0 run that put A&M ahead, 17-15. The Bulldogs, who were outhit .179 to .097 in the frame, cut the deficit to one point four times, including 21-20 before a service error put A&M ahead, 22-20. Junior middle blocker Kaitlyn Blake then put down an MSU overpass, and sophomore outside hitter Hollann Hans followed with a kill from the back row to put A&M at set point. Senior libero Amy Nettles then set up Blake for the set-winning kill as the Aggies closed out the stanza on a 4-0 run.

A&M never trailed in the second set with Blake leading the way with five kills in six attempts without an error. McGee also pitched in five kills while hitting .500 as A&M outhit the Bulldogs, .406 to .097. MSU was within 8-6 before McGee had three consecutive kills, and Blake followed with two more during a 5-0 run that put A&M up, 13-6. Freshman opposite hitter Samantha Sanders later began another five-point run with a kill as the Aggies took a commanding 19-8 lead.

MSU could get no closer than eight points and trailed 23-15 when Blake put down her fifth kill of the frame to put the Aggies at set point. MSU's attack attempt on the ensuing play sailed wide to give A&M the 25-15 win and a 2-0 lead in the match.

The third set was tied, 3-3, when Davis got a kill and then teamed with Conner for back-to-back blocks to give the Aggies a lead they would not lose. A&M continued to pull away, posting seven team blocks—including five by Davis—in the set as MSU totaled 13 attack errors with only eight kills for a -.161 hitting percentage. A&M, which hit .316 in the set, closed out the match on a 5-0 run, punctuated by a match-ending block by McGee and Blake.

Nettles, who has appeared in a school-record 321 sets dating back to her freshman season, led the Aggies with seven digs to give her 1,261 for career, moving her into a tie with Kristie Smedsrud (1994-97) for eight place in the A&M career records.

Davis' personal-best seven blocks is the most by an A&M player in a three-set match this season and equals the most blocks by an A&M player in all matches this season. Conner, who directed the offense while dishing out 29 assists, also had a career-high in blocks with six—including two solo blocks—as A&M had a three-set season high for blocks and outblocked the Bulldogs, 10-4.

MSU was led by Jelena Vujcin, who recorded a match-high 14 kills. Libero Payton Harris had a match-high nine digs.

The Aggies return to the road on Wednesday and take on their sixth top-10 team of the season as they take on No. 10 Kentucky. First serve against the Wildcats is at 7 p.m. CT at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, and the match will be televised on 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 and Instagram by following @AggieVolleyball.

TEXAS A&M POSTMATCH QUOTES:

HEAD COACH LAURIE CORBELLI

On sweeping Mississippi State…
"They had nine wins when they started conference, so they are beating some teams out there in the country. It just kind of shows what a high level the SEC really is. It is one of the best volleyball conferences in the country, and it is never easy, especially when we are changing our lineup constantly. It is what we need to do to give these kids the experience and to find new ways to win. It sure feels good to get a win and to get a win with a convincing score with some really nice attacking numbers. We are starting to see progress. It's nice."

On her thoughts of the team at this point in the season…
"We've got a lot of young talent on the bench and on our roster. New, young talent to go with our returning talent. What blend is best is really something that we have to consider. It is just kind of a process for us right now. We just really have to show faith in our players, whoever is out there. We have to learn from every rally. We are in a learning season for sure."

On what she told the team after starting off slow…
"I thought right off the bat we did have a slow start. I don't know why, but I thought it was our passing. I challenged them to the things that we have been working on in our position sessions. I told them that if I took a picture of you executing this play, it needs to look like this every time. The passers I think took that pretty seriously. I challenged them that this is not what we do. We are here to play volleyball for another hour and a half. We are going to make the changes and see the results of those changes. I know how to raise my voice and raise my intensity a little bit to get their attention. I think they also knew that they weren't quite in a rhythm yet, and that they needed to work harder to get in that rhythm."

On Kiara McGee starting to play all six rotations…
"What about the passing of Kiara McGee. That girl has totally turned around her backcourt game. I don't know how or why, but it is just clicking for her. I think it is translating really beautifully into her front row play as well. It gives her more confidence. You get to stay out there and get into a rhythm. It is a real advantage for our whole squad. It gives us a threat from the backrow. We used it a few times today. She gets to continue to work on her leadership when she is back there, which is really important when you have a really young squad. She has three years of experience that we really need on the court. She is just really rising to the occasion, and it is wonderful."

On traveling to Kentucky…
"They are really strong. They have a lot of attackers in every spot. We go there, and we usually play them really well. We have had opportunities to win there so many times. It is not easy at all, but it is always a well-contested, hard-fought match. We intend to go in and bring our best game. That is all we have control over, and that is what we are going to do."

TEXAS A&M JUNIOR MIDDLE BLOCKER KAITLYN BLAKE

On the production from the middles…
"We have been working really hard on that in practice, even with a two ball, and just having the middles getting off and working on getting set more. We have been playing a lot with our outsides hitting, so we just are working really hard on getting all three hitters up, so the middles have been working really hard in practice with getting connection with the setters and being up early. That way not only can we help with the block, but also give ourselves a chance to take swings at balls and help spread out the offense a little more. I thought we did a really great job of that today. It is just really exciting to see that all coming together."

On her eight kills…
"I couldn't have done it without my team. It all starts with the pass and set. Of course, I am the one who has to take care of the ball. They are doing their job, so I have to do mine."

On setting the tone early…
"We are trying to be more of a middle-driven team. Just trying to set the tone early is a really big thing for us because if we get the middles going early then they have to worry about all three hitters. If they are worrying about all three hitters, then the team attack we can have is incredible. If we open it up, it gives our outsides and right sides a chance to swing, so setting the tone early is really important. I thought we did a really great job of that today. It gave everyone the opportunity to play well and get their kills."

On Kiara McGee…
"It is really awesome to see her in practice because she works so hard. She dives and throws her body. From the time I got here my freshman year to now, it is an amazing change. I have never been more proud of her to see the way she has stepped up not only as a leader, but also as a player. She has really done a great job this year."

TEXAS A&M FRESHMAN OPPOSITE HITTER SAMANTHA SANDERS

On playing opposite side…
"I think confidence helps. This year is my first time to really play in this position. Just continuing to get to play and getting more reps is helping me be more comfortable to play this position."

On her kills…
"I am starting to feel pretty good. We are working in practice a lot on the timing. Also, we are working on establishing our middles early so it is easier for all the other hitters to have the possibility of a split block. It just gives us a lot more options. My timing with Camille [Conner] has just gotten better and better, so that is really good."