COLUMBUS, Ohio – Texas A&M junior outside hitter Hollann Hans tallied a match-high 25 kills while hitting .345 to lead the Aggies to a 24-26, 25-15, 25-13, 25-16 victory over Albany at the Sports Imports D.C. Koehl Classic at St. John Arena.
It is the second time in as many matches that A&M (2-0) dropped the opening set but came back to win the next three to get the victory. Albany, favored to defend its America East regular season championship title, falls to 0-2. The Great Danes lost to Ohio State, 3-1, in their season opener.
Hans, who finished with 28.5 points, also had 11 digs to complete a double-double. Sophomore setter Camille Conner also had a double-double with 42 assists and 15 digs, one shy of her career-high. Senior libero Amy Houser had a team-high 16 digs, and freshman defensive specialist Allison Fields, who made her first career start in the maroon and white, finished with 11 as A&M led the Great Danes in total digs, 66-55.
Freshman middle blocker London Austin-Roark posted a match-high seven blocks to lead A&M to an 8-4 lead in team blocks.
A&M also led in total kills, 56-32, while outhitting Albany, .279 to .021.
SET-BY-SET SUMMARIES
Set 1 – Texas A&M had built a 15-7 lead before Albany fought back and got within 20-19 following a solo block. Austin-Roark got a kill and then teamed with sophomore opposite hitter Morgan Davis to put the Aggies ahead, 22-19, but the Great Danes countered with a block and a kill to get back within a point. Davis countered with a kill and Albany hit long on the ensuing play to put the Aggies at set point, 24-21. A&M, however was unable to close out the set as Albany got back-to-back kills and the Aggies committed an attack error to tie the score. After an A&M timeout, the Great Danes won a challenge to force a replay and then took their first lead of the set on another hitting miscue by the Aggies. Albany then capped the set with an ace.
Set 2 – A&M used an 8-1 run to take a 10-4 lead, and this time the Aggies continued to add to the margin while outhitting Albany, .314 to -.057. A&M later used a 7-0 run to build a 21-10 cushion. Albany got within 21-12 but could get no closer as the teams traded points for the remainder of the set, which ended with a back-row kill by Hans, who finished the frame with six kills.
Set 3 – A&M outhit the Great Danes, .407 to -.065, and led the entire set. Palmer and Hans led the way, combining for 12 kills and only one error in 17 attempts. Junior transfer and opposite hitter Sydnye Fields also contributed as she made her first appearance of the match and recorded her first kill as an Aggie.
A&M had built a 14-9 lead before Palmer had three consecutive kills during a 7-0 run that put A&M ahead, 21-9. Albany countered with three points to get within 21-12 before another Palmer kill, an ace by Allison Fields and a kill by Hans put the Aggies at set point. The Great Danes staved off one set point with a kill before Conner dumped the ball in for the set-ending kill.
Set 4 – There were five lead changes and nine ties, with Hans tipping in a kill to knot the score for the final time, 15-15. It was a start of a 7-0 run for the Aggies, with Patterson recording the first two service aces of her career during the streak and freshman Sydney Little, who was making the first appearance of her career, helping out the back row defense. Albany ended the run with a kill but then committed four consecutive errors to put A&M at match point. Hans then sealed the victory with her ninth kill of the frame and her 25th kill of the match, marking the second most kills in her career.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M returns to the court this evening at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. CT) to close out the tournament against host Ohio State.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Laura "Bird" Kuhn
Opening statement…
"I am proud of their execution. We had a game plan set and it was a quick turnaround and they executed well. First set, we need to finish. That was a little disappointing, but they bounced back. I am proud of the way they responded the next three sets."
On what stood out…
"We were pretty specific with things and attention to detail right off the bat. The [inside set] to Hollann [Hans], seeing they were set up wide, little things that when you talk to them maybe it takes a play or two, they were on point from the first serve of the game. I was very excited about that. All of us were."
On tonight's match vs. Ohio State…
"We've got to grind. We will have a game plan. We've got to outwork them; that's what it's going to come down to. They are a great team. All of these teams have been really solid. It comes down to execution, so I am glad that we are focused today."
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.
It is the second time in as many matches that A&M (2-0) dropped the opening set but came back to win the next three to get the victory. Albany, favored to defend its America East regular season championship title, falls to 0-2. The Great Danes lost to Ohio State, 3-1, in their season opener.
Hans, who finished with 28.5 points, also had 11 digs to complete a double-double. Sophomore setter Camille Conner also had a double-double with 42 assists and 15 digs, one shy of her career-high. Senior libero Amy Houser had a team-high 16 digs, and freshman defensive specialist Allison Fields, who made her first career start in the maroon and white, finished with 11 as A&M led the Great Danes in total digs, 66-55.
Freshman middle blocker London Austin-Roark posted a match-high seven blocks to lead A&M to an 8-4 lead in team blocks.
A&M also led in total kills, 56-32, while outhitting Albany, .279 to .021.
SET-BY-SET SUMMARIES
Set 1 – Texas A&M had built a 15-7 lead before Albany fought back and got within 20-19 following a solo block. Austin-Roark got a kill and then teamed with sophomore opposite hitter Morgan Davis to put the Aggies ahead, 22-19, but the Great Danes countered with a block and a kill to get back within a point. Davis countered with a kill and Albany hit long on the ensuing play to put the Aggies at set point, 24-21. A&M, however was unable to close out the set as Albany got back-to-back kills and the Aggies committed an attack error to tie the score. After an A&M timeout, the Great Danes won a challenge to force a replay and then took their first lead of the set on another hitting miscue by the Aggies. Albany then capped the set with an ace.
Set 2 – A&M used an 8-1 run to take a 10-4 lead, and this time the Aggies continued to add to the margin while outhitting Albany, .314 to -.057. A&M later used a 7-0 run to build a 21-10 cushion. Albany got within 21-12 but could get no closer as the teams traded points for the remainder of the set, which ended with a back-row kill by Hans, who finished the frame with six kills.
Set 3 – A&M outhit the Great Danes, .407 to -.065, and led the entire set. Palmer and Hans led the way, combining for 12 kills and only one error in 17 attempts. Junior transfer and opposite hitter Sydnye Fields also contributed as she made her first appearance of the match and recorded her first kill as an Aggie.
A&M had built a 14-9 lead before Palmer had three consecutive kills during a 7-0 run that put A&M ahead, 21-9. Albany countered with three points to get within 21-12 before another Palmer kill, an ace by Allison Fields and a kill by Hans put the Aggies at set point. The Great Danes staved off one set point with a kill before Conner dumped the ball in for the set-ending kill.
Set 4 – There were five lead changes and nine ties, with Hans tipping in a kill to knot the score for the final time, 15-15. It was a start of a 7-0 run for the Aggies, with Patterson recording the first two service aces of her career during the streak and freshman Sydney Little, who was making the first appearance of her career, helping out the back row defense. Albany ended the run with a kill but then committed four consecutive errors to put A&M at match point. Hans then sealed the victory with her ninth kill of the frame and her 25th kill of the match, marking the second most kills in her career.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M returns to the court this evening at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. CT) to close out the tournament against host Ohio State.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Laura "Bird" Kuhn
Opening statement…
"I am proud of their execution. We had a game plan set and it was a quick turnaround and they executed well. First set, we need to finish. That was a little disappointing, but they bounced back. I am proud of the way they responded the next three sets."
On what stood out…
"We were pretty specific with things and attention to detail right off the bat. The [inside set] to Hollann [Hans], seeing they were set up wide, little things that when you talk to them maybe it takes a play or two, they were on point from the first serve of the game. I was very excited about that. All of us were."
On tonight's match vs. Ohio State…
"We've got to grind. We will have a game plan. We've got to outwork them; that's what it's going to come down to. They are a great team. All of these teams have been really solid. It comes down to execution, so I am glad that we are focused today."
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.
.@Bird_AggieVB talks about the Aggies' win against Albany and the upcoming match against Ohio State. #OwnIt #GigEm pic.twitter.com/yKUIn6xx2t
— Texas A&M Volleyball (@AggieVolleyball) August 25, 2018