GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Texas A&M volleyball team claimed its highest ranked win in 24 years as it upset No. 4 Florida in a five-set thriller at Exactech Arena Wednesday evening, 3-2 (24-26, 25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 15-13).
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The two teams traded sets throughout the night, but the Aggies came out victorious after a strong finish in the fifth set. A&M strung together four-straight points late in the final frame and scored four of the final six points of the match to secure their first win over top-five team since knocking off No. 3 Hawaii in five sets in 1999.
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With the match on the line the Aggies (10-3, 2-1 SEC) and Gators (10-2, 2-1 SEC) traded points early, as the squads were tied at five. Florida tied together three-straight points to lead at the media timeout, 8-5. A&M scored four straight points to regain the lead and never trailed the rest of the way, sealing the upset on a kill from Caroline Meuth, 15-13.
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Florida opened the match fast, scoring the opening five points. The squads traded blows as the Aggies brought the teams within three, 14-11. A&M continued its charge, as it secured its first lead of the match, 17-16. The Gators strung together a four-point run to make it 21-19, prompting a timeout from head coach Jamie Morrison. The Maroon & White came out of the timeout firing and were within one point of claiming the first frame, however, Florida responded to take the set, 26-24.
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The Aggies started the second frame on fire with a three-point run spearheaded by Ava Underwood at the service line, as she served a pair of aces. A&M was the first to double digits, maintaining its advantage, 10-7. The squads traded points, but the Maroon & White held steady with their three-point lead, 18-15. Florida answered with a streak of its own, levelling the set at 18. Nothing separated the teams as they were all square at 22. The Aggies broke the deadlock with a 3-1 run finished by a kill from Logan Lednicky to take the set, 25-23.
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Back-and-forth volleyball opened the third frame, as the squads were locked at six. Florida created a slight advantage, 9-6, as Coach Morrison called his first timeout to reset his squad. A&M answered the call, knotting the programs once again at nine. The Gators pulled away on an 8-4 streak, as the Maroon & White called their final timeout of the frame, trailing 17-13. Despite a late Aggie charge, Florida stole the third set, 25-21.
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A&M opened the fourth as the aggressor on a 6-3 run. Florida flipped the momentum as it led at the media timeout, 15-12. Coming out of the timeout the Maroon & White caught fire with a 6-2 run, forcing a Gator timeout as the Aggies led, 18-17. Florida countered with a pair of scores as the teams were tied once again at 19-all. Regaining its rhythm, A&M applied pressure of its own and created separation to lead by three, 23-20, as the Gators called a timeout. With another change of momentum, Florida survived a pair of match points, knotting the teams at 24. Once again it was the Maroon & White who answered the call, ripping off a quick two points to claim the fourth set, 26-24.
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The Aggies owned the advantage in attack percentage at a .250-.217 clip. The Maroon & White posted a .316 hitting percentage in the decisive set along with three blocks. Lednicky put home 22 kills with a .390 success rate and added six blocks. Ifenna Cos-Okpalla landed 12 kills at a whopping .750 percentage and posted a match-high seven blocks. Mueth added 12 kills and 19 digs.
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UP NEXT
The Aggies return to Reed Arena Sunday as they host Missouri with first serve set for 3 p.m.
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COACH'S QUOTES
Head coach Jamie Morrison on today's match.…
"I'm so proud of my team and the way they showed up tonight. I thought our team made a conscious choice to be a team that would grind and that's the thing I'm most proud of."
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Morrison on the team's fight…
"This team didn't count themselves out. I think it's a trait this team has and that it's something we have been building throughout the season."
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Morrison's message in the final set…
"Pay attention to the little things that got us to this point, those little things that make us us. I thought we were getting after them with the serve, getting scrappy on defense and just playing our game which got us that win."
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STAT STANDOUTS
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter/X by following @AggieVolleyball.
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The two teams traded sets throughout the night, but the Aggies came out victorious after a strong finish in the fifth set. A&M strung together four-straight points late in the final frame and scored four of the final six points of the match to secure their first win over top-five team since knocking off No. 3 Hawaii in five sets in 1999.
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NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT ??
— Texas A&M Volleyball (@AggieVolleyball) September 28, 2023
THE AGGIES UPSET NO. 4 FLORIDA IN GAINESVILLE ??#GigEm | #AggieVB | @espn | @NCAAVolleyball pic.twitter.com/J6cUReoCSC
With the match on the line the Aggies (10-3, 2-1 SEC) and Gators (10-2, 2-1 SEC) traded points early, as the squads were tied at five. Florida tied together three-straight points to lead at the media timeout, 8-5. A&M scored four straight points to regain the lead and never trailed the rest of the way, sealing the upset on a kill from Caroline Meuth, 15-13.
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Game point of @AggieVolleyball upset over No. 4 Florida ??#NCAAWVB x ?? ESPN / @AggieVolleyball pic.twitter.com/VFDgkLSbII
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) September 28, 2023
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Florida opened the match fast, scoring the opening five points. The squads traded blows as the Aggies brought the teams within three, 14-11. A&M continued its charge, as it secured its first lead of the match, 17-16. The Gators strung together a four-point run to make it 21-19, prompting a timeout from head coach Jamie Morrison. The Maroon & White came out of the timeout firing and were within one point of claiming the first frame, however, Florida responded to take the set, 26-24.
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The Aggies started the second frame on fire with a three-point run spearheaded by Ava Underwood at the service line, as she served a pair of aces. A&M was the first to double digits, maintaining its advantage, 10-7. The squads traded points, but the Maroon & White held steady with their three-point lead, 18-15. Florida answered with a streak of its own, levelling the set at 18. Nothing separated the teams as they were all square at 22. The Aggies broke the deadlock with a 3-1 run finished by a kill from Logan Lednicky to take the set, 25-23.
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Back-and-forth volleyball opened the third frame, as the squads were locked at six. Florida created a slight advantage, 9-6, as Coach Morrison called his first timeout to reset his squad. A&M answered the call, knotting the programs once again at nine. The Gators pulled away on an 8-4 streak, as the Maroon & White called their final timeout of the frame, trailing 17-13. Despite a late Aggie charge, Florida stole the third set, 25-21.
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A&M opened the fourth as the aggressor on a 6-3 run. Florida flipped the momentum as it led at the media timeout, 15-12. Coming out of the timeout the Maroon & White caught fire with a 6-2 run, forcing a Gator timeout as the Aggies led, 18-17. Florida countered with a pair of scores as the teams were tied once again at 19-all. Regaining its rhythm, A&M applied pressure of its own and created separation to lead by three, 23-20, as the Gators called a timeout. With another change of momentum, Florida survived a pair of match points, knotting the teams at 24. Once again it was the Maroon & White who answered the call, ripping off a quick two points to claim the fourth set, 26-24.
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The Aggies owned the advantage in attack percentage at a .250-.217 clip. The Maroon & White posted a .316 hitting percentage in the decisive set along with three blocks. Lednicky put home 22 kills with a .390 success rate and added six blocks. Ifenna Cos-Okpalla landed 12 kills at a whopping .750 percentage and posted a match-high seven blocks. Mueth added 12 kills and 19 digs.
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UP NEXT
The Aggies return to Reed Arena Sunday as they host Missouri with first serve set for 3 p.m.
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COACH'S QUOTES
Head coach Jamie Morrison on today's match.…
"I'm so proud of my team and the way they showed up tonight. I thought our team made a conscious choice to be a team that would grind and that's the thing I'm most proud of."
Â
Morrison on the team's fight…
"This team didn't count themselves out. I think it's a trait this team has and that it's something we have been building throughout the season."
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Morrison's message in the final set…
"Pay attention to the little things that got us to this point, those little things that make us us. I thought we were getting after them with the serve, getting scrappy on defense and just playing our game which got us that win."
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STAT STANDOUTS
- Logan Lednicky – 22 kills - .390 hitting percentage – 6 blocks
- Ifenna Cos-Okpalla – 12 kills - .750 hitting percentage – 7 blocks
- Caroline Meuth – 12 kills – 19 digs
- Margot Manning – 21 assists – 3 service aces – 4 digs
- Ava Underwood – 16 digs – 3 service aces – 6 assists
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter/X by following @AggieVolleyball.