BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The No. 13 Texas A&M volleyball team downed No. 21 Missouri in its conference opener Wednesday evening at Reed Arena, 3-1 (25-20, 25-17, 24-26, 25-8).
Â
The Aggies (9-2, 1-0 SEC) extended their winning streak to four, while also capturing their first SEC win of the season versus the Tigers (8-4, 0-1 SEC). Texas A&M's victory was highlighted by Kyndal Stowers' 16 kills on offense, while Ifenna Cos-Okpalla was the defensive anchor logging a season-high 10 blocks.
Â
The Maroon & White opened the match on fire, ripping off a 5-0 streak to start the game. The Tigers battled back within one (7-6), however another Texas A&M flurry had the hosts up four at the media timeout, 15-11. The momentum held through the break, leading the Aggies to extend their lead despite a pair of Missouri timeouts (22-14). The train kept rolling, as Maroon & White took the opener, 25-20.
Â
Quick starts remained the theme with Texas A&M pushing out to a five-point advantage at the double-digit mark (10-5). The onslaught continued with the Aggies expanding the gap to seven, as the Tigers called their first break of the set (17-10). The final kick was spurred by Maddie Waak, as she recorded back-to-back aces as well as assisting four kills to double the lead (25-17), 2-0.
Â
Both teams came out of gate in the third trading blows, finding level seven times on their way to 11-11. The visitors forged a gap, prompting head coach Jamie Morrison to huddle up his squad (14-11). The two teams battled back-and-forth going into extras, however the Tigers claimed a set back in the match (26-24), 2-1.
Â
The Maroon & White were fired out of a cannon in the fourth behind three-straight blocks, as the visitors burned an early timeout, 6-1. Missouri didn't have a response, as it remained all Aggies with the lead extending to 10 forcing another Tiger break (15-5). Following the timeout, Texas A&M surged with seven unanswered points, leaving them three away from victory (22-6). The Maroon & White's offense sealed the deal through a pair of kills from Cos-Okpalla and one from Stowers to clinch the set (25-8) and match, 3-1.
Â
STAT LEADERS
Kills – Kyndal Stowers – 16
Hitting Percentage (Min. 10 kills) – Kyndal Stowers – .293
Assists – Maddie Waak – 43
Aces – Maddie Waak – 4
Digs – Maddie Waak – 14
Blocks – Ifenna Cos-Okpalla – 10
Â
COACH'S QUOTES
Head coach Jamie Morrison on today's win…
"It feels good. The SEC's a tough conference, so I think anyone you get in here you're happy with. Most of all I'm proud of the way the team played. I thought we let down a little bit into the third, but every time I push for a little bit more, they give me a little bit more."
Â
Coach Morrison on Ifenna Cos-Okpalla 's blocking performance …
"I think she's one of the best blockers in the country, if not the world. There was a play where we started talking about it on the sideline and the right after she began making really dynamic moves where we knew she was going to get stuffs."
Â
PLAYER'S QUOTES
Redshirt-Sophomore outside hitter Kyndal Stowers on playing in the SEC…
"Being in it (SEC) now, and winning, I mean it means more. That's kind of the whole point of the SEC. I feel like the atmosphere is a lot more rowdy than the Big 12. Obviously being here, that's on our side and it definitely paid off in the end and was a lot more fun."
Â
Senior middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla on the 12thMan…
"The 12thMan's always there to support us, having them behind us, rally for us, no matter what, whether we're up or down."
Â
UP NEXT
The Maroon & White return to Reed Arena Friday, as they host Vanderbilt with first serve set for 6:30 p.m.
Â
FOLLOW THE AGGIES
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 by following @AggieVolleyball.
Â
The Aggies (9-2, 1-0 SEC) extended their winning streak to four, while also capturing their first SEC win of the season versus the Tigers (8-4, 0-1 SEC). Texas A&M's victory was highlighted by Kyndal Stowers' 16 kills on offense, while Ifenna Cos-Okpalla was the defensive anchor logging a season-high 10 blocks.
Â
The Maroon & White opened the match on fire, ripping off a 5-0 streak to start the game. The Tigers battled back within one (7-6), however another Texas A&M flurry had the hosts up four at the media timeout, 15-11. The momentum held through the break, leading the Aggies to extend their lead despite a pair of Missouri timeouts (22-14). The train kept rolling, as Maroon & White took the opener, 25-20.
Â
Quick starts remained the theme with Texas A&M pushing out to a five-point advantage at the double-digit mark (10-5). The onslaught continued with the Aggies expanding the gap to seven, as the Tigers called their first break of the set (17-10). The final kick was spurred by Maddie Waak, as she recorded back-to-back aces as well as assisting four kills to double the lead (25-17), 2-0.
Â
Both teams came out of gate in the third trading blows, finding level seven times on their way to 11-11. The visitors forged a gap, prompting head coach Jamie Morrison to huddle up his squad (14-11). The two teams battled back-and-forth going into extras, however the Tigers claimed a set back in the match (26-24), 2-1.
Â
The Maroon & White were fired out of a cannon in the fourth behind three-straight blocks, as the visitors burned an early timeout, 6-1. Missouri didn't have a response, as it remained all Aggies with the lead extending to 10 forcing another Tiger break (15-5). Following the timeout, Texas A&M surged with seven unanswered points, leaving them three away from victory (22-6). The Maroon & White's offense sealed the deal through a pair of kills from Cos-Okpalla and one from Stowers to clinch the set (25-8) and match, 3-1.
Â
STAT LEADERS
Kills – Kyndal Stowers – 16
Hitting Percentage (Min. 10 kills) – Kyndal Stowers – .293
Assists – Maddie Waak – 43
Aces – Maddie Waak – 4
Digs – Maddie Waak – 14
Blocks – Ifenna Cos-Okpalla – 10
Â
COACH'S QUOTES
Head coach Jamie Morrison on today's win…
"It feels good. The SEC's a tough conference, so I think anyone you get in here you're happy with. Most of all I'm proud of the way the team played. I thought we let down a little bit into the third, but every time I push for a little bit more, they give me a little bit more."
Â
Coach Morrison on Ifenna Cos-Okpalla 's blocking performance …
"I think she's one of the best blockers in the country, if not the world. There was a play where we started talking about it on the sideline and the right after she began making really dynamic moves where we knew she was going to get stuffs."
Â
PLAYER'S QUOTES
Redshirt-Sophomore outside hitter Kyndal Stowers on playing in the SEC…
"Being in it (SEC) now, and winning, I mean it means more. That's kind of the whole point of the SEC. I feel like the atmosphere is a lot more rowdy than the Big 12. Obviously being here, that's on our side and it definitely paid off in the end and was a lot more fun."
Â
Senior middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla on the 12thMan…
"The 12thMan's always there to support us, having them behind us, rally for us, no matter what, whether we're up or down."
Â
UP NEXT
The Maroon & White return to Reed Arena Friday, as they host Vanderbilt with first serve set for 6:30 p.m.
Â
FOLLOW THE AGGIES
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 by following @AggieVolleyball.