News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M volleyball team fell to No. 23 Florida Friday night in Reed Arena, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-20).
The Aggies (12-4, 3-3 SEC) dropped a hard-fought battle to Florida (12-5, 3-3 SEC). The contest with the Gators was a competitive one, as the teams were tied on 30 separate occasions in the three-set match. Offensively, Logan Lednicky and Emily Hellmuth paced the team with 13 kills each, while Ava Underwood logged her sixth-straight fixture with double-digit digs (12).
Florida opened the match as the aggressor, leading at the first break in the match (15-9). The Aggies answered following the Gator charge, cutting into their advantage and forcing a timeout (22-18). Despite a continued push from A&M, Florida stole the first frame, 25-21.
Back-and-forth volleyball ensued in the second set, as the squads were knotted on nine occasions before the Gators led by one at the media timeout, 15-14. Following the break, the Maroon & White strung together a quick 4-1 run which prompted Florida’s first called timeout of the set (18-16). The Gators mounted a comeback to lead, as head coach Jamie Morrison regrouped his squad, 23-21. Florida held its momentum and doubled its advantage in the match (25-22), 2-0.
Competitive volleyball remained the theme of the match, with A&M holding a one-point advantage at the media timeout, 15-14. Florida strung together a streak at the end of the frame to win the set (25-20) and match, 3-0.
COACH’S QUOTES
Head coach Jamie Morrison on tonight’s match …
“I thought we came out really slow in the first set. I’m happy that we made it slightly closer and responded after that. I thought little pieces of that first set popped up at the end of the second set and in the third set. We need to play cleaner to beat a team like Florida. I’m disappointed, but we get a chance to respond on Sunday.”
STAT LEADERS
Kills – Logan Lednicky, Emily Hellmuth – 13
Hitting Percentage (Min. 10 kills) – Logan Lednicky – .393
Assists – Maddie Waak – 28
Aces – Morgan Perkins – 1
Digs – Ava Underwood – 12
Blocks – Morgan Perkins – 3
UP NEXT
The Maroon & White return to Reed arena Sunday to face Arkansas with first serve set for 2 p.m.