News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
The No. 6 Texas A&M volleyball team extended its winning streak to eight following a dominant sweep over the Tigers Friday evening at Neville Arena, 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-21).
The Aggies (20-3, 12-1 SEC) claimed their 20th win of the year and 12th sweep following an efficient offensive showing versus Auburn (16-8, 7-6 SEC). The group hit .392 percent as a unit, as three members of the Maroon & White eclipsed double-digit kills paced by Emily Hellmuth’s 15th at a season-best efficiency of .483.
Texas A&M took control of the match out of the gate, racing out to a six-point advantage as Auburn called its first timeout (11-5). The Maroon & White’s defense helped hold that rhythm, as they forced a flurry of errors while adding a trio of blocks to push the gap to nine, 19-10. The hosts battled back with a 4-0 streak, as head coach Jamie Morrison gathered his group. Texas A&M answered the call, flipping the momentum with a 6-3 run to close the opener (25-17).
The second set started with both teams trading points throughout the first 10 points (5-5), but the Aggies were the ones to forge separation scoring five straight forcing a Tiger timeout. Auburn chipped into the Maroon & White’s lead (18-15), but Texas A&M responded once again striking two straight as the hosts huddled up. Again, the Tigers narrowed the deficit (21-18), but leaving nothing to chance Logan Lednicky struck two kills to seal the second frame (25-22) and double the lead in the match, 2-0.
In similar fashion to the first, the Aggies were shot out of a cannon in the third prompting an early Auburn timeout (8-3). The hosts flipped the script, knotting the teams at eight as coach Morrison regrouped his squad. The programs remained in lock step at the midway point, 15-15. The contest remained close late, with Texas A&M holding a one-point advantage (21-20), but a 4-1 run capped off by Hellmuth’s match-high 15th kill sealed the set (25-21) and match, 3-0.