News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M volleyball team closed out its home slate with a win over LSU Sunday afternoon in Reed Arena on senior night, 3-1 (25-14, 25-17, 16-25, 25-17).
The Aggies (18-7, 9-6 SEC) capped off seniors Molly Brown and Ellee Stinson’s home finale with a resounding 3-1 victory over the Tigers (14-12, 6-9 SEC) to claim their third-straight win. Stuffing the stat sheet was common among multiple team members today, as Ifenna Cos-Okpalla recorded her first career double-double with a career high 13 kills and 10 blocks, Logan Lednicky and Maddie Waak also registered double-doubles, as Lednicky had 16 kills and 11 digs, while Waak logged 44 assists and 11 digs.
The teams’ traded blows to open the first frame, but the Aggies forged some separation through good defense blocking back-to-back swings to lead by four (10-6). Turning defense to offense, the Maroon & White piled on six kills along with some Tiger errors to extend their advantage to six (18-12). A&M didn’t take its foot off the gas, as it closed the set on a 7-2 run capped off with a kill by Cos-Okpalla (25-14).
Carrying all the momentum into the second, the Aggies raced out with five kills, three blocks and three LSU errors (11-7) forcing a Tiger timeout. A&M pushed its lead out to eight, as LSU called its second break (21-13). It remained all Maroon & White, as an ace from Stinson, a Tiger error and a pair of kills from Cos-Okpalla and Emily Hellmuth doubled the Aggies lead in the match (25-17), 2-0.
The programs were knotted at five to start the set, however, the Aggies captured control in the frame with a 5-0 streak spearheaded by Lednicky’s ninth and 10th kill of the match (10-5). LSU found its rhythm and clawed back to steal the third set (25-16), cutting into A&M’s lead in the match, 2-1.
Back-and-forth volleyball kickstarted the fourth frame, as they were tied on five occasions on their way to nine all. A&M strung together a 6-1 run to hold the lead at the media timeout, 15-10. The Maroon & White’s consistency and efficiency became the difference maker in the set, as they ripped off another 10-7 streak while committing only two errors to take the set (25-17) and match, 3-1.
COACH’S QUOTES
Head coach Jamie Morrison on today’s match …
“I thought we played really well. We talked before the match about the team that I believe we are and what we are capable of, which is a team that can make a run in the NCAA tournament. We have to play like we have nine of our last eleven sets of volleyball we’ve played going back to the Oklahoma match. We play really clean volleyball for long stretches, but we have to learn how to clean stuff up like in the third set today. Overall, I am really happy with the result and the way we executed, and I am really happy with the decision making and fight that we showed.”
Morrison on the senior class …
“When you take over a volleyball program, there are X’s and O’s, there is technique, and there is the culture piece and the upperclassmen you have around your program that led the charge and guide what the culture is going to be. I believe Molly has been here for three years and Ellee came in for one semester, but I think they are both going to leave a meaningful, lasting impact on this program. They show the ability to work hard, the ability to grind, the ability to come focused every day, the ability to care and the ability to connect which is extremely important to us.”
PLAYER’S QUOTES
Senior MB Molly Brown on her time at A&M …
“All three years I’ve been a part of this program it’s been a very different team. It’s brought a lot of beauty, but also tough times and I wouldn’t go back to change a thing. It’s been a really special experience.”
Senior L/DS Ellee Stinson on today’s win …
“It was sweet to see our families and the team celebrate us. Overall, we came together in some pretty clutch moments, and you could tell that we were just gelling tonight.”
STAT LEADERS
Kills – Logan Lednicky – 16
Hitting Percentage (Min. 10 kills) – Ifenna Cos-Okpalla – .600
Assists – Maddie Waak – 44
Aces – Emily Hellmuth, Ellee Stinson, Maddie Waak – 2
Digs – Ava Underwood – 17
Blocks – Ifenna Cos-Okpalla – 10
UP NEXT
The Maroon & White head to Columbia, South Carolina, Saturday to conclude their regular season slate versus the Gamecocks with first serve set for 12 p.m.