News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
The No. 16 Texas A&M volleyball team closed its non-conference slate sweeping Rice Tuesday evening at Reed Arena, 3-0 (25-22, 25-12, 25-19).
Kyndal Stowers led the Aggies (7-5) past the Owls (6-6), as she made it back-to-back games over 15 kills, finishing with 17 on the night. She was joined in double figures by Megan Fitch with 11 and Taryn Morris with 10. Lolufe Adedeji had another impressive outing with eight kills, while setter Kirra Musgrove orchestrated the offense with a staggering 46 assists in the three-set contest.
The fixture opened with back-and-forth scoring, as the programs traded throughout the opening stint and found level at nine. The Aggies gained an advantage propelled by Lolufe Adedeji who recorded a pair of blocks and kill to take the lead, 17-15. Rice continued to battle, but a kill from Fitch sealed the first, 25-22.
Texas A&M came out firing in the second, racing out to a 9-3 lead behind the service of Musgrove and Gabi Rodriguez each recording an ace in their respective runs. Stowers kept the ball rolling with three-consecutive kills to push the advantage to nine, forcing an Owl timeout. The Aggies never let the visitors get close, as Djurdja Stanojevic struck her second kill of the frame to double A&M’s set total, 25-12.
In similar fashion to the first, the programs traded points leveling out six times before the Maroon & White created a three-point gap at the midway point, 15-12. Fitch recorded five kills in the frame to give the Aggies a five-point advantage, 20-15. A&M continued its push, securing the set, 25-19, and match, 3-0.
Next Up
The Aggies open their conference slate at home as they host South Carolina Sunday afternoon at Reed Arena with first serve for 2:30 p.m.