Volleyball Sweeps California Baptist to Open Play at the Pepperdine Tournament

Friday, September 6

Malibu, Calif.

6:00 PM

Texas A&M

2-1

California Baptist

1-5

California Baptist

Texas A&M

Photo by: Sam Craft/Texas A&M Athletics

Sep 06, 2019 | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Texas A&M Athletics Communications

MALIBU, Calif. – Sophomore middle blocker Mallory Talbert recorded a career-high 13 kills en route to the Aggies' 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-19) sweep over California Baptist on the opening night of the Pepperdine Tournament.

Talbert surpassed her previous career-high 10 kills and also finished with a .522 hitting percentage with only one error.

Junior setter Camille Conner registered her 20^th career double-double after finishing with 10 kills, a .500 hitting percentage and 31 assists.

Senior Camila Gomez and freshman Karly Basham each tallied nine digs. Basham also had two service aces.

A&M finished the match with a .361 hitting percentage, while holding the Lancers to a .137 clip. The Aggies also out-hit the Lancers 48-28.

Set One
Mallory Talbert began a 4-0 scoring run for the Aggies, which included back-to-back kills by Hollann Hans and an ace by Karly Basham to put A&M ahead 6-2 early on. A&M continued to control the set after going on another run with two kills by Laruen Davis and an ace by Gomez, giving the Aggies a 12-8 lead. Texas A&M had their largest lead of the set at 21-13. Another 3-0 run helped A&M get to set point. Davis would end the set 25-17 with her fifth kill of the match, while finishing with a hitting percentage of .571.

Set Two
The set was tied at six before the Aggies put together multiple 3-0 runs to take a 13-9 lead. California Baptist came within five, but a 5-0 run ending with a Basham service ace would put A&M ahead 21-11. The Aggies would hold the Lancers to just 13 points to end the second set with a 4-0 serve run by Ciera Hecht to dominate, 25-13. Conner led the charge with five kills, while Talbert had four.

Set Three
Treyaunna Rush put the Aggies on the board first with a kill. Makena Patterson helped A&M jump out to a 6-1 lead with five straight serves. A&M eventually took a 23-13 lead and Davis' kill gave the Aggies match point. The Lancers had back-to-back kills to come within five, but Davis would secure the match with her ninth kill.

Notables

This is A&M's first sweep of the 2019 season.
The Aggies hit above .300 in every set, with a high of .444 in the third set.
Senior outside hitter Hollann Hans had six kills in today's match to tie Jazzmin Babers with 1,139 career kills during the 25-point rally scoring era.
Freshman Ciera Hecht had her first collegiate kill tonight.
Freshman Lauren Davis finished with nine kills, a .438 hitting percentage and six digs.
Sophomore Taylor Voss tallied six digs and had a service ace. Junior Makena Patterson also had two service aces to help the team finish with seven.

Thoughts from Coach Bird Kuhn
Opening statement:
It was a great 3-0 win," said Kuhn. "You're never going to complain about those, but we as coaches always want more. The team executed well offensively and we hit a good clip. Camille was so aggressive and I love that. We keep asking her to move the ball around and get people involved and she did that tonight. Defensively, we were in system. They executed the game plan, picked up the tips and rolls and stopped what California Baptist was trying to do. That makes it cleaner on both sides of the ball, so I was proud of them on that."

On Mallory Talbert's career-high in kills:
"Mallory has really come on," Kuhn said. "We talked to her about just going hard and she does that. Her and Camille have really built a trust and I think that's huge for middles and setters. She's really taking control and plays at the net and takes care of the net. It's hers."

Up Next
Texas A&M plays their final two matches in the Pepperdine Tournament tomorrow, Sept. 7. They will take on Fairfield at 1 p.m. (CT) and Pepperdine at 8 p.m. (CT).

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