Following a win against Troy on Sept. 22, Texas A&M volleyball is spiking into SEC play with a 9-1 record under coach Jamie Morrison.
Against the Trojans, the Aggies had 51 kills, 50 assists and 46 digs and showed why junior middle blocker Ifenna Cos-Okpalla earned SEC Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 16. Her ability to lead the team in blocks and disrupt opposing offenses is giving A&M the upper hand in closely contested sets.
As A&M approaches conference action, its key to continued success will be building on the strengths it demonstrated in nonconference matches.
A&M’s ability to distribute the offensive load, as seen with four players hitting double-digit kills against Northern Iowa on Sept. 19, is critical. If the Maroon and White maintain this balance, they will keep SEC opponents guessing, especially against tough defenses such as No. 12 Kentucky and No. 15 Florida.
The Maroon and White’s undefeated streak was snapped after a hard-fought 3-0 loss to No. 7 Wisconsin, which could be a valuable lesson as the team goes into SEC play. The Badgers were able to create separation in key moments, particularly in the third set, when they turned a 15-14 lead into a decisive 25-19 finish.
A&M will need to tighten its defense and focus on stopping momentum swings from opponents. Strong serving runs like those by junior MB Morgan Perkins can put opponents on their heels and should be a key weapon going forward.
Serving has been another critical element of the Aggies’ game, and it can serve as a weapon in SEC play. Junior libero Tatum Thomas’ serving, especially under pressure, will be key as the Aggies face more elite teams. Against Wisconsin, Thomas delivered crucial serves in the second set, helping A&M close the gap and push the frame into extra points.
Thomas’ ability to serve consistently and apply pressure against top teams like Wisconsin shows that A&M can use strong serving to disrupt the flow of even the most elite opponents. In SEC play, keeping opponents off-balance with aggressive serving will be essential to gain momentum, especially in critical moments.
As the Aggies prepare to face No. 8 Texas in their SEC opener, they can draw several insights from the Longhorns’ recent 3-1 win over Hawaii.
Senior outside hitter Jenna Wenaas led Texas with 15 kills while hitting an impressive .448, and junior OH Devin Kahahawai added 12 kills at a .476 clip. A&M’s defense, particularly its blockers, must key in on these two players to limit their effectiveness and prevent them from finding open space on the court.
Just as the Longhorns went on a 7-0 run against Hawaii to regain control in the second set, A&M must be ready to counter such momentum swings. Keeping composure during these runs and finding ways to stop Texas’ serving streaks will be essential.
One of A&M’s strengths in its match against Wisconsin was forcing the Badgers out of system with strong serves. It must continue this approach against Texas, with players like Thomas and Perkins stepping up to apply pressure and disrupt the Longhorns’ offense.
The Aggies will head into SEC play on Friday, Sept. 27, hosting Texas at Reed Arena at 6:30 p.m.
