COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M rallied to force a fifth set but TCU held on to win the exhibition match, 14-25, 28-26, 25-21, 23-25, 15-10, today at Reed Arena.
Texas A&M junior outside hitter Hollann Hans led all players with 20 kills, 19 digs and 23.5 points in the Aggies' first appearance at Reed under first-year head coach Laura "Bird" Kuhn. Junior outside hitter Brookah Palmer, who made the first appearance of her career at Reed after redshirting last season, added 10 kills, including three clutch kills during the Aggies' run to close out the fourth set.
Freshman Allison Fields, who split time with senior Amy Houser as a defensive specialist and libero, added 17 digs for the Aggies, and Houser registered 15 scoops to lead A&M to a 70-49 advantage in digs. Freshman middle blocker London Austin-Roark also contributed on defense with a match-high six blocks as A&M outblocked the Horned Frogs, 8-4, but the aggressive Aggies also committed nine blocking errors in the match, while TCU committed only three.
Sophomore setter Camille Conner dished out 37 assists and directed the Aggie offense to a .252 hitting percentage, while TCU hit .217.
Three Frogs reached double figures in kills, including élan McCall who had a team-high 19 kills while hitting at a .356 clip.
SET-BY-SET SUMMARIES
Set 1 – A&M never trailed in the opening set after a TCU attack error put the Aggies up, 2-1. The Frogs tied the score for the final time at 8-8 before a kill by Austin-Roark marked the start of a 12-3 run by the Aggies. A&M continued to pull away, outhitting TCU, .450 to -.074, in the set. Leading 22-14, Hans posted her fourth kill of the frame, and sophomore opposite hitter Morgan Davis put the Aggies at set point as she was credited with a kill after Kuhn won a challenge review that showed TCU was in the net on the play. Conner then closed out the 25-14 win with an ace.
Set 2 – There were 16 ties and eight lead changes in the second set. A kill and an ace by Hans put A&M ahead 21-20 before the teams began exchanging point for point. Hans later got a kill from the back row that put the Aggies at set point, 24-23, but TCU countered with a kill. Sophomore middle blocker Makena Patterson put A&M at set point for a second time, but the Frogs answered again with a kill to knot the score at 25-all. A&M was then whistled for four hits, putting TCU at set point for the first time. Hans delivered her sixth kill of the stanza to tie the score before an A&M attack caromed off the antenna to put the Frogs ahead, 27-26. TCU, which outhit A&M, .282 to .238, then blocked an A&M attack to secure the win and even the match at a set apiece.
Set 3 – TCU never trailed despite getting outhit, .300 to .290, although the Frogs did lead in kills, 14-9, and aces, 4-1. A&M stayed within striking distance, overcoming a 16-12 deficit to tie the score at 19-19 following a TCU attack error. The Frogs, however, reeled off four unanswered points to equal their largest lead at 23-19. Palmer ended the run with a kill down the block, but a kill by McCall put the Frogs at set point. Palmer countered once again with a kill before Sarah Swanson clinched the set for TCU with a kill.
Set 4 – A&M had led by as many as five points early in the frame, but TCU used a 5-1 run to take its first lead at 15-14. A&M, which was outhit, .234 to .150 in the set, later used a 3-0 run to regain the lead 19-18. TCU countered with a 4-1 run to go up, 22-20, and after trading points, the Frogs continued to hold the slim margin at 23-21. Palmer then took over, getting back-to-back kills to knot the score at 23-23. A TCU ball handling error put the Aggies at set point, and Palmer ended the set with her fourth kill of the stanza.
Set 5 – A&M used back-to-back kills by Austin-Roark and Hans to take its largest lead, 7-4, but the Aggies followed with three consecutive miscues, allowing TCU to tie the score, 7-7. Hans then tooled the block for a kill before TCU went on a 4-0 run to go up, 11-8. A kill by Hans and an ace by Conner put A&M within 11-10, but the Aggies were unable to score again, committing three errors during a 4-0 TCU run that closed out the match.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M opens the regular season against Ohio University on Friday, August 24 at the Sports Imports D.C. Koehl Classic, hosted by Ohio State. First serve is at 4 p.m. ET at St. John Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The Aggies also will face Albany and the host Buckeyes on Saturday, August 25 to close out the tournament.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Laura "Bird" Kuhn
Opening statement…
"I think we came out really strong. I loved our energy. I loved being in Reed Arena for the first time as a group; that was really cool. It was just our consistency over the course of the match that needed to be there and be a little sharper."
On the excessive amount of net violations over the course of the match…
"I think that's just awareness. Of course we want them to be aggressive, but we just have to be more cautious on where we're starting. Like what is it? Is it our body? Is it at the top of the tape? That was an excessive amount; we do not want that. I want them to be aggressive 100 percent, but not to that extent that they're in the net. We hadn't noticed that being an issue, but I will be addressing it at practice."
On consistency in sets…
"That is volleyball; it is momentum. Your opponent is going to come out no matter what it is. It doesn't matter what team they are or what name is on their chest, they are going to fight back. So it is all about the response. If we are consistent with what we are doing and what we are, then that will be constant. But once you allow a team to steal some momentum and take it back, then it becomes a dogfight. We all tried different things because it was the exhibition, but at the end of the day we need to control what we can control and finish."
On Hollann Hans being the go-to for momentum…
"Hollann has been the go-to; she has the arm but we need balance. We have talked about that through the course of the preseason and even in the spring on how we need balance. We know that the easiest teams to beat are the ones that have one arm, so we know that is something we need to focus on. That is just part of the game and the connection we are talking about."
Sophomore setter Camille Conner
On what was learned from today's match…
"I learned today to just really make sure I am talking to my teammates if something is off or not where they want it to be. I am really just trying to communicate with them and figure out where they want the ball. I am just going to have to keep communicating with them through practice and other games."
Freshman Middle Blocker London Austin-Roark
On how she thought she performed in her first match…
"I think in the first set I started off strong, and then I know a lot of the net violations came after the first set. I feel like in the first set I got a lot of blocks, but then I got hungry for the ball in the second set and just got a couple net violations by just trying to attack when I just needed to stay clean."
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the team on Facebook and on Twitter and Instagram by following @AggieVolleyball.
Texas A&M junior outside hitter Hollann Hans led all players with 20 kills, 19 digs and 23.5 points in the Aggies' first appearance at Reed under first-year head coach Laura "Bird" Kuhn. Junior outside hitter Brookah Palmer, who made the first appearance of her career at Reed after redshirting last season, added 10 kills, including three clutch kills during the Aggies' run to close out the fourth set.
Freshman Allison Fields, who split time with senior Amy Houser as a defensive specialist and libero, added 17 digs for the Aggies, and Houser registered 15 scoops to lead A&M to a 70-49 advantage in digs. Freshman middle blocker London Austin-Roark also contributed on defense with a match-high six blocks as A&M outblocked the Horned Frogs, 8-4, but the aggressive Aggies also committed nine blocking errors in the match, while TCU committed only three.
Sophomore setter Camille Conner dished out 37 assists and directed the Aggie offense to a .252 hitting percentage, while TCU hit .217.
Three Frogs reached double figures in kills, including élan McCall who had a team-high 19 kills while hitting at a .356 clip.
SET-BY-SET SUMMARIES
Set 1 – A&M never trailed in the opening set after a TCU attack error put the Aggies up, 2-1. The Frogs tied the score for the final time at 8-8 before a kill by Austin-Roark marked the start of a 12-3 run by the Aggies. A&M continued to pull away, outhitting TCU, .450 to -.074, in the set. Leading 22-14, Hans posted her fourth kill of the frame, and sophomore opposite hitter Morgan Davis put the Aggies at set point as she was credited with a kill after Kuhn won a challenge review that showed TCU was in the net on the play. Conner then closed out the 25-14 win with an ace.
Set 2 – There were 16 ties and eight lead changes in the second set. A kill and an ace by Hans put A&M ahead 21-20 before the teams began exchanging point for point. Hans later got a kill from the back row that put the Aggies at set point, 24-23, but TCU countered with a kill. Sophomore middle blocker Makena Patterson put A&M at set point for a second time, but the Frogs answered again with a kill to knot the score at 25-all. A&M was then whistled for four hits, putting TCU at set point for the first time. Hans delivered her sixth kill of the stanza to tie the score before an A&M attack caromed off the antenna to put the Frogs ahead, 27-26. TCU, which outhit A&M, .282 to .238, then blocked an A&M attack to secure the win and even the match at a set apiece.
Set 3 – TCU never trailed despite getting outhit, .300 to .290, although the Frogs did lead in kills, 14-9, and aces, 4-1. A&M stayed within striking distance, overcoming a 16-12 deficit to tie the score at 19-19 following a TCU attack error. The Frogs, however, reeled off four unanswered points to equal their largest lead at 23-19. Palmer ended the run with a kill down the block, but a kill by McCall put the Frogs at set point. Palmer countered once again with a kill before Sarah Swanson clinched the set for TCU with a kill.
Set 4 – A&M had led by as many as five points early in the frame, but TCU used a 5-1 run to take its first lead at 15-14. A&M, which was outhit, .234 to .150 in the set, later used a 3-0 run to regain the lead 19-18. TCU countered with a 4-1 run to go up, 22-20, and after trading points, the Frogs continued to hold the slim margin at 23-21. Palmer then took over, getting back-to-back kills to knot the score at 23-23. A TCU ball handling error put the Aggies at set point, and Palmer ended the set with her fourth kill of the stanza.
Set 5 – A&M used back-to-back kills by Austin-Roark and Hans to take its largest lead, 7-4, but the Aggies followed with three consecutive miscues, allowing TCU to tie the score, 7-7. Hans then tooled the block for a kill before TCU went on a 4-0 run to go up, 11-8. A kill by Hans and an ace by Conner put A&M within 11-10, but the Aggies were unable to score again, committing three errors during a 4-0 TCU run that closed out the match.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M opens the regular season against Ohio University on Friday, August 24 at the Sports Imports D.C. Koehl Classic, hosted by Ohio State. First serve is at 4 p.m. ET at St. John Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The Aggies also will face Albany and the host Buckeyes on Saturday, August 25 to close out the tournament.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Laura "Bird" Kuhn
Opening statement…
"I think we came out really strong. I loved our energy. I loved being in Reed Arena for the first time as a group; that was really cool. It was just our consistency over the course of the match that needed to be there and be a little sharper."
On the excessive amount of net violations over the course of the match…
"I think that's just awareness. Of course we want them to be aggressive, but we just have to be more cautious on where we're starting. Like what is it? Is it our body? Is it at the top of the tape? That was an excessive amount; we do not want that. I want them to be aggressive 100 percent, but not to that extent that they're in the net. We hadn't noticed that being an issue, but I will be addressing it at practice."
On consistency in sets…
"That is volleyball; it is momentum. Your opponent is going to come out no matter what it is. It doesn't matter what team they are or what name is on their chest, they are going to fight back. So it is all about the response. If we are consistent with what we are doing and what we are, then that will be constant. But once you allow a team to steal some momentum and take it back, then it becomes a dogfight. We all tried different things because it was the exhibition, but at the end of the day we need to control what we can control and finish."
On Hollann Hans being the go-to for momentum…
"Hollann has been the go-to; she has the arm but we need balance. We have talked about that through the course of the preseason and even in the spring on how we need balance. We know that the easiest teams to beat are the ones that have one arm, so we know that is something we need to focus on. That is just part of the game and the connection we are talking about."
Sophomore setter Camille Conner
On what was learned from today's match…
"I learned today to just really make sure I am talking to my teammates if something is off or not where they want it to be. I am really just trying to communicate with them and figure out where they want the ball. I am just going to have to keep communicating with them through practice and other games."
Freshman Middle Blocker London Austin-Roark
On how she thought she performed in her first match…
"I think in the first set I started off strong, and then I know a lot of the net violations came after the first set. I feel like in the first set I got a lot of blocks, but then I got hungry for the ball in the second set and just got a couple net violations by just trying to attack when I just needed to stay clean."
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the team on Facebook and on Twitter and Instagram by following @AggieVolleyball.