TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Texas A&M closed out the road portion of its season schedule with a 25-23, 27-25, 25-18 victory over Alabama tonight at Foster Auditorium.
It was the second consecutive road win for the Aggies, who improve to 16-13, including 9-8 in Southeastern Conference matches. Alabama, which defeated A&M, 3-2, when the teams met earlier this season at Reed Arena in College Station, falls to 19-12 overall and 6-11 in SEC play.
Sophomore setter Camille Conner dished out 38 assists, the most in a three-set match this season, and she also connected on nine kills while directing an offense that outhit Alabama, .318 to .158. Her 38 assists gave her 1,213 for the season to break the A&M record for assists in a season in the 25-point rally scoring era. The record was previously held by Allie Sawatzky, who had 1,187 assists in 2011.
Junior outside hitter Hollann Hans was Conner's primary target, as she finished with a match-high 19 kills—the most kills by an A&M player in a three-set match this season—while hitting .429. It was Hans' 16th consecutive match to reach double-figure kills. She also added 12 digs to complete her SEC-leading 11th double-double of the season.
A&M senior libero Amy Houser reached double-digit digs for the 21st consecutive match as she recorded a match-high 13 digs. She now has 460 digs for the season and needs only eight more to break the A&M record of 467 digs in a season in the 25-point rally scoring era, which Tori Mellinger set in 2010.
Freshman defensive specialist Allison Fields had both of A&M's aces to tie her career high, and freshman middle blocker Mallory Talbert tied Hans for the match-high in blocks with three.
Talbert, junior outside hitter Brookah Palmer and junior opposite hitter Sydnye Fields contributed seven kills apiece as A&M led Alabama in kills, 50-30.
Doris Carter led the Crimson Tide with nine kills.
SET-BY-SET SUMMARIES
Set 1 – A kill by Talbert gave A&M its largest lead at 8-4, but Alabama would use 8-1 scoring run to take its biggest lead at 13-10. The Aggies would tie the score three times, the last coming at 16-16 on a kill by Sydnye Fields. Back-to-back Alabama miscues returned the lead to A&M, 18-16, and the Aggies would keep the lead as the teams exchanged point for point for the remainder of the frame, with Fields putting down the set winning kill. A&M outhit the Crimson Tide, .333 to .226 in the set, with Hans leading the way with seven kills while hitting at a .500 clip.
Set 2 – A block by Hans gave the Aggies their largest lead at 8-3, but there would be nine lead changes and 10 ties before A&M pulled away to win the set. Alabama, which was outhit, .359 to .194, later used a 4-0 run to build its largest lead at 19-17, forcing A&M to call a timeout. Fields got back-to-back kills coming out of the timeout, and Hans also had a kill to put the Aggies ahead, 20-19. An Alabama attack error put A&M up, 21-19, but the Tide then put down three consecutive kills to retake the lead, 22-21. A kill by Palmer and an Alabama attack error gave A&M a 23-22 edge, but a service error tied the score once again. Palmer came through with her third kill of the set to put the Aggies at set point, but Alabama got a kill and a block to be serving for the set. Hans, who hit .636 in the stanza, countered with two of her seven kills in the set to return the lead to A&M, 26-25, and Alabama's next attack attempt sailed long to close out the set and give the Aggies a 2-0 lead in the match.
Set 3 – Alabama held a 7-6 advantage when back-to-back kills by Palmer and Talbert marked the start of an 8-2 run by the Aggies, and A&M would hold a lead for the remainder of the set. The Tide, which was outhit, .250 to .036, would climb back within a point four times before A&M went on a 6-1 run to go up, 22-16. The teams began to trade points, with an Alabama ball handling error putting the Aggies at match point, 24-18. Hans then pounded down the match-winning kill.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Laura "Bird" Kuhn
"We earned points tonight in transition, and that shows the fight and resilience of this team. Camille [Conner] had a huge impact with her attack mentality. When she plays that way, she opens everyone up and is able to get one on ones.
"Balance and consistency are what we work towards daily. I'm proud of the fight and finish tonight."
UP NEXT
A&M closes out the season against LSU, Friday at noon at Reed Arena. It will be Senior Day, and lone senior and team captain Amy Houser will be honored following the match.
Several promotions will be offered for what will be a full day of action at Reed with A&M women's and men's basketball also hosting games:
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 was the second consecutive road win for the Aggies, who improve to 16-13, including 9-8 in Southeastern Conference matches. Alabama, which defeated A&M, 3-2, when the teams met earlier this season at Reed Arena in College Station, falls to 19-12 overall and 6-11 in SEC play.
Sophomore setter Camille Conner dished out 38 assists, the most in a three-set match this season, and she also connected on nine kills while directing an offense that outhit Alabama, .318 to .158. Her 38 assists gave her 1,213 for the season to break the A&M record for assists in a season in the 25-point rally scoring era. The record was previously held by Allie Sawatzky, who had 1,187 assists in 2011.
Junior outside hitter Hollann Hans was Conner's primary target, as she finished with a match-high 19 kills—the most kills by an A&M player in a three-set match this season—while hitting .429. It was Hans' 16th consecutive match to reach double-figure kills. She also added 12 digs to complete her SEC-leading 11th double-double of the season.
A&M senior libero Amy Houser reached double-digit digs for the 21st consecutive match as she recorded a match-high 13 digs. She now has 460 digs for the season and needs only eight more to break the A&M record of 467 digs in a season in the 25-point rally scoring era, which Tori Mellinger set in 2010.
Freshman defensive specialist Allison Fields had both of A&M's aces to tie her career high, and freshman middle blocker Mallory Talbert tied Hans for the match-high in blocks with three.
Talbert, junior outside hitter Brookah Palmer and junior opposite hitter Sydnye Fields contributed seven kills apiece as A&M led Alabama in kills, 50-30.
Doris Carter led the Crimson Tide with nine kills.
SET-BY-SET SUMMARIES
Set 1 – A kill by Talbert gave A&M its largest lead at 8-4, but Alabama would use 8-1 scoring run to take its biggest lead at 13-10. The Aggies would tie the score three times, the last coming at 16-16 on a kill by Sydnye Fields. Back-to-back Alabama miscues returned the lead to A&M, 18-16, and the Aggies would keep the lead as the teams exchanged point for point for the remainder of the frame, with Fields putting down the set winning kill. A&M outhit the Crimson Tide, .333 to .226 in the set, with Hans leading the way with seven kills while hitting at a .500 clip.
Set 2 – A block by Hans gave the Aggies their largest lead at 8-3, but there would be nine lead changes and 10 ties before A&M pulled away to win the set. Alabama, which was outhit, .359 to .194, later used a 4-0 run to build its largest lead at 19-17, forcing A&M to call a timeout. Fields got back-to-back kills coming out of the timeout, and Hans also had a kill to put the Aggies ahead, 20-19. An Alabama attack error put A&M up, 21-19, but the Tide then put down three consecutive kills to retake the lead, 22-21. A kill by Palmer and an Alabama attack error gave A&M a 23-22 edge, but a service error tied the score once again. Palmer came through with her third kill of the set to put the Aggies at set point, but Alabama got a kill and a block to be serving for the set. Hans, who hit .636 in the stanza, countered with two of her seven kills in the set to return the lead to A&M, 26-25, and Alabama's next attack attempt sailed long to close out the set and give the Aggies a 2-0 lead in the match.
Set 3 – Alabama held a 7-6 advantage when back-to-back kills by Palmer and Talbert marked the start of an 8-2 run by the Aggies, and A&M would hold a lead for the remainder of the set. The Tide, which was outhit, .250 to .036, would climb back within a point four times before A&M went on a 6-1 run to go up, 22-16. The teams began to trade points, with an Alabama ball handling error putting the Aggies at match point, 24-18. Hans then pounded down the match-winning kill.
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Laura "Bird" Kuhn
"We earned points tonight in transition, and that shows the fight and resilience of this team. Camille [Conner] had a huge impact with her attack mentality. When she plays that way, she opens everyone up and is able to get one on ones.
"Balance and consistency are what we work towards daily. I'm proud of the fight and finish tonight."
UP NEXT
A&M closes out the season against LSU, Friday at noon at Reed Arena. It will be Senior Day, and lone senior and team captain Amy Houser will be honored following the match.
Several promotions will be offered for what will be a full day of action at Reed with A&M women's and men's basketball also hosting games:
- FREE Friday: Bring your 11/24 football game ticket to receive FREE admission.
- Bring Your "A" Game: Show your report card with an "A" (or equivalent mark) to receive FREE ADMISSION. Only available as a walk-up sale on the day of the event. No advance purchases.
- Tripleheader (VB, WBB, MBB): Fans are encouraged to stay for all three events with their purchased ticket, which serves as a GA ticket to the non-purchased games.
- Tripleheader Giveaway: Texas A&M wrapping paper to be given out at the main entrance 12th Man marketing table in Reed Arena all day long.
- Concessions Special: Half-off Aggie nachos
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.