Texas A&M volleyball hosted the LSU Tigers for its last home game of the season this Sunday at Reed Arena, in what is also the Aggies’ second to last SEC match of the season. It was also senior night for the Aggies, dedicating the last home match to senior libero/defensive specialist Ellee Stinson and redshirt senior middle blocker Molly Brown.
The Aggies got out to an early lead in the first set due to a couple of service errors from the Tigers, as well as a service ace from junior Pepperdine transfer outside hitter Emily Hellmuth. The Aggies offense ignited from a powerful kill from junior MB Morgan Perkins, putting the Aggies up 7-5.
The Maroon and White were unstoppable at the net tallying up six blocks in the first set compared to the Purple and Gold’s zero. A couple of back-to-back blocks from junior opposite hitter Logan Lednicky and junior MB Ifenna Cos-Okpalla allowed the Aggies to shut down the Tigers offense and limit them to a hitting percentage of .103, while the Aggies averaged .478.
The Aggies limited themselves to only two attacking errors throughout the first set, giving the Tigers no room for error. Efficient play allowed A&M to win the first set 25-14.
The second set started with back-and-forth action before the Aggies took it away with four attacking errors from the Tigers, allowing them to gain a six-point lead in the middle of the set. Cos-Okpalla was incredible at the net with five and a half total blocks, eventually getting to ten before the match was over. Not only was Cos-Okpalla a blocking machine, but she also finished the match with 13 kills on 20 attempts. The second set ended with a powerful hit from Hellmuth, ending the set 25-17
Although the Aggies were up two sets to none, the Tigers were not done fighting as they came out strong in the third set. LSU’s sophomore OH AC Froehlich had two back-to-back service aces, changing the momentum in the set. The Purple and Gold continued to dominate with three consecutive kills from freshman MB Jessica Jones, leading to a 25-16 Tiger win, forcing a fourth set.
The Maroon and White came out swinging right off the bat securing the first point of the fourth set with a kill from Lednicky, her 11th of the afternoon. The Aggies led the entire fourth set before emphasizing their lead with two kills from Cos-Okpalla and one from Lednicky before heading into a media timeout 15-10.
The Tigers came out of the timeout swinging with sophomore OH Jurnee Robinson getting three kills in the Bayou Bengals’ attempt at a comeback. Robinson had 18 kills this afternoon, being the Tigers’ go-to hitter all match. The Aggies secured the fourth set 25-17, in their last home game this season.
On a three-game winning streak, the Aggies will travel to Carolina Volleyball Center in Columbia, SC on Saturday, Nov. 30, to end regular season play against the South Carolina Gamecocks.
