COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M middle blocker Shelby Sullivan was nearly unstoppable as she posted a career-high 20 kills with only one error in the 22nd-ranked Aggies’ 25-11, 25-19, 25-15 Southeastern Conference season-opening victory against Auburn today at Reed Arena.
Sullivan’s 20 kills set an A&M record for kills in a three-set SEC match, and the junior’s career-high .826 hitting percentage also was an A&M record in an SEC match when making 10 or more attack attempts. In addition, Sullivan pitched in on defense, tying her personal best with a team-high seven blocks, as she also set a personal high in points with 25.0.
As a team, the Aggies hit above .400 in each set and finished the match with a .440 hitting efficiency, setting the school record for hitting percentage in an SEC match. Sophomore middle blocker Jazzmin Babers pitched in a career-high .625 hitting percentage, posting 11 kills with only one error in 16 attempts.
A&M, playing its first of nine slated matches to be televised on SEC Network, improved to 9-3 overall. Auburn falls to 8-7 overall and 0-2 in SEC play.
Auburn spotted the Aggies a 5-0 lead to begin the match, and A&M later went on a 7-0 run to build a commanding 18-4 lead in the opening set. Up 21-9, Sullivan got a kill on a slide attack and then punished the Tigers for back-to-back overpasses to put A&M at set point, 24-9. The Aggies then served into the net and allowed Auburn an ace before the Tigers hit wide to end the set.
Sullivan was 7-for-7 in attacks in the opening set, while the entire Auburn squad was held to only four kills while hitting -.091. In the second set alone, Sullivan was 11-of-12 in kills — one shy of Auburn’s kill output in the frame — and her combined 18 kills in the first two sets was two more than the Tigers could muster to that point.
Auburn built a 12-9 lead in the second stanza before A&M went on a 9-1 run, with Sullivan ending play on seven of the Aggies’ points during the surge which gave A&M its largest lead, 18-13. A&M, which outhit the Tigers, .444 to .276, would lead the remainder of the set, although Auburn managed to claw back within 21-19. Babers then posted a kill, sending Sullivan back to the front row after the rotation. Sullivan took over once again, posting a kill, teaming with sophomore outside hitter Emily Hardesty for a block and then getting the set-clinching kill as the Aggies closed out the set on a 4-0 run and took a 2-0 lead in the match.
There were nine ties and five lead changes before A&M began pulling away in the third set. The score was tied for the final time at 14-14 when Sullivan got a kill to give the Aggies a lead they would not lose. Her kill was the start of a 6-0 run, with Babers, freshman setter Stephanie Aiple and junior outside hitter Angela Lowak getting into the action.
Breanna Barksdale ended the run with a kill, but the Tigers were held scoreless for the reminder of the match. Aiple later had an ace to put A&M at match point, and Babers and Lowak combined for a block to seal the victory.
Aiple finished with 35 assists. A&M sophomore libero Victoria Arenas took match-high honors in digs with nine.
The Aggies make their SEC road trip later this week, taking on Tennessee on Friday at 6 p.m. (CT) in Knoxville, Tenn., and then facing No. 14 Kentucky, Sunday at 5 p.m. (CT) in Lexington, Ky. The match against the Wildcats will be televised by SEC Network.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook and on Twitter by following @AggieVolleyball.
Texas A&M Post-Match Quotes:
Texas A&M Head Coach Laurie Corbelli:
On the effort by junior middle blocker Shelby Sullivan…
“I’ve said it before: I wish I could take more credit for Sully. She’s pretty special. She’s just that good. She sees the court beautifully. She has amazing hand-eye contact with the ball. I really was pretty dumbfounded today when I watched her make some of the plays she made. We studied her blocking assignments in practice yesterday. She’s just right on. To me, that’s what an All-American is. She just plays the games so beautifully and so accurately. It’s day in and day out. I’m just a really fortunate coach to have a player of that quality in our program. Then again, there are all the others. Everybody came to play today. Everybody came with really good focus and a positive mindset.”
On the team not getting rattled…
“I thought one significant thing was when Auburn started coming at us. We did not get rattled when we made mistakes, or when they would get points. We have a history of starting to get concerned and worried. Today they were able to really shrug it off and keep playing. We needed to see that we could do that.”
On preparation for today’s match…
“It’s been since Monday that we’ve been in competition. We’ve had some time to prepare. We’ve had some time to really work on the things that were concerning to the coaches. We had a coaches’ mini retreat this weekend where we put it all out on the table. We hashed out all sorts of things from offense to defense to preparation to training. You name it. It really helped the team, because we made some changes I think were needed within our staff. It made us more efficient in the gym. It made each of our coaches more confident along with our kids, especially our position kids that we coach. I think it was just a culmination of all of that.”
On the mentality entering the second and third set…
“All the worries and the concerns and distractions; I think that’s really what we were able to overcome today. I credit our leaders on the court to Sullivan to [Stephanie] Aiple to [Angela] Lowak. They’re all very consistent with their mindset. I think the others are really catching on to that.”
On scouting Auburn…
“This group is really new. The Auburn group is primarily freshman and sophomores. They are just brand new at this. They’ve had a pretty darn good run for the last few weeks. They’ve gone 3-0 with several teams, showing they can maintain a certain level of play. I have a lot of respect for their coaching staff. They are really, really good at what they do. That team is going to upset some teams. They have some nice attackers. They have the right idea. I think they’re just not experienced enough, but those coaches will get them there. I have no doubt about that.”
On Shelby Sullivan’s execution…
“She and [Stephanie] Aiple really connect well. We can’t even run that if our passing and ball handling and defense aren’t there. Those areas are the ones we’re really concerned with, because we lost so many players from last year. It tells me those guys are doing their job well. Setting is one of the toughest skills, I think, in all sports. I’m glad I was never a setter. I’m amazed by what our setters can do. To locate Sully that often and that successfully, I credit touch one and touch two as much as I do touch three. I bet Sully would say the same thing.”
On the focus of practice after non-conference play…
“This week has been a really stressful week for me. I’ve seen practices I ended up calling a time out and really challenging them. I also saw a couple of drills that were absolutely amazing. I do think I’m seeing us start to perform. I think our defense is getting better. We really need quality digs in order to be a better team. I think our quality is getting better there. Our passing today was the best passing we’ve had in a long time. Our hitting percentage of .440 is a result of that.”
Texas A&M junior middle blocker Shelby Sullivan
On the team’s mentality coming into today’s match…
“I knew our team was feeling good. I was confident going into the game because we had a ton of energy. Right when we got here for breakfast, for our pregame meal and for our serve and pass session, I knew we were all ready to go. I was confident about that.”
On ever performing at the level displayed today…
“I don’t think our defense has ever been so engaged at this level. Our serve-receive was great. [Stephanie Aiple] did a great job distributing the ball and seeing the block on the other side. It was a great team effort overall.”
On if she knew that she was 7-for-7 in the first set…
“I didn’t know. [Victoria Arenas] was in the back behind me saying, ‘Keep swinging’ and ‘Keep getting up. I’m right behind you.’ Knowing she was there gave me more confidence to keep going even if it’s a little off at the block or down the line, cross-court or a tip in the middle.”
On the chemistry between her and setter Stephanie Aiple…
“It’s constant communication. She keeps telling me to give her feedback. I’m letting her know she’s doing a great job and just keep it up. Also, the back row is also giving her great communication about when she can attack the ball. She’s so efficient anytime she goes up to put the ball over.”
On scouting Auburn after last year’s match…
“Yeah, I remember that match last year at Auburn. [Jazzmin Babers] and I talked about them, saying how good their block was and their great range in their defense. We knew that it would be a challenge going into this game today, but we scouted them so well, and we knew the spots that were open on every shot. We were on it, so I think that gave us the confidence going in.”
On opening performance of SEC play…
“We woke up today and it was great feeling. In our locker room, in our gym, at serve-receive; we knew it was a big game to start the SEC off. We wanted to make a statement, especially being at home in front of the 12th Man and all the campers for Camper’s Night. It was a great time.
Freshman setter Stephanie Aiple:
On giving the ball to Sullivan…
“I know to keep going to her. When’s she on, which is always, I just keep giving her the ball. No one can stop her. She’s awesome. Our passing was awesome also tonight, which helps getting the ball to Sully. And I just keep giving to her, and she keeps getting kills.”
On A&M’s passing…:
“When passing is on, I can do anything. I can attack, I can set the outside, I can set Sully. It opens up so many options for our offense, which is good because we get one-on-one, and we’re attacking the other teams. We are really successful when we are passing.”
As a freshman playing her first SEC match…
“I wasn’t nervous at all. I honestly really don’t get nervous, whoever we’re playing. It’s just volleyball. I’ve played it for so long to where I know how to play under pressure. I know how to play when it’s a first SEC match. I always come up with the mindset it’s just volleyball. Just do what you do, and everything else will fall into place.”
On when the other team makes a comeback…
“We just stay calm. We have it in the back of our minds that no matter what happens, we are getting the next point were moving on. If we make a mistake, we forget about it and we move on from that. We’re a really good mental team. We never really get down on ourselves or have any doubt. Whenever we make errors or the other team gets a good kill or block, we just move on from that and it doesn’t affect how we play.”
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics