News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Texas A&M volleyball team secured its third-best start to a campaign in program history after downing UNI for its eighth-straight win Thursday evening at the McLeod Center, 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 30-28, 25-13).
The Maroon & White (8-0) remained perfect in the 2024 season, following a back-and-forth four-set battle with UNI (5-5) to secure their best start since the 2011 season. A&M was the definition of balanced, as it had four players hit double-digit kills, while blocking 16 swings in the victory.
The Aggies opened the match as the aggressors, racing out to an early three-point advantage, 5-2. A&M extended its lead behind Tatum Thomas at the service line with a 4-0 run, 10-6. The Panthers found some rhythm of their own, closing the gap at the media timeout, 15-14. The Maroon & White forged some momentum, forcing the Panthers to burn two timeouts in quick succession as the Aggies led by three (22-19). UNI mounted a late comeback; however, Logan Lednicky left no doubt with her fifth kill of the set, 25-22.
The hosts kickstarted the second on the front foot, prompting a timeout from head coach Jamie Morrison (5-2). A&M flipped the script with a 9-5 run of its own, forcing a break called by UNI (11-10). The Panthers responded with a streak to win the set (25-21) and tie the match, 1-1.
UNI held its momentum into the third, pushing out to a seven-point advantage (11-4). A&M battled back with an 18-11 streak to knot the match at 22. The Panthers then countered with two-straight scores which left them on set point, however the Aggies leveled the frame once again sending the teams to extras (24-24). UNI held the advantage through points 25-28, as the Maroon & White survived another four set points, bringing their total to six in the frame. Lednicky then took control with two-straight kills to steal the third (30-28) and recapture the lead in the match, 2-1.
The Aggies came out firing in the fourth, setting the tone with an early 6-2 streak. Keeping their foot on the gas, the Maroon & White pushed the lead out further at the midway point in the frame, 15-9. A&M didn’t let up, and a kill from Ital Lopuyo was the final blow to secure A&M’s eighth-straight victory (25-13), 3-1.
COACH’S QUOTES
Head coach Jamie Morrison on tonight’s match …
“This was a good team we played tonight in a fun and hostile environment. The aim coming into the match was to try pick our opponents apart, we knew they were going to be good, and we would have to grind, and I thought we did a good job of that early. I’m really happy with how we were able to find a way to turn the match in that third set and it changed the vibe of the whole place for the fourth.”
PLAYER’S QUOTES
Junior OH Emily Hellmuth on the teams’ balance in the match …
“Our team is so balanced which makes life so much easier for each individual on the court. I know if I come in and I’m not getting set it’s ok because we have so many weapons. It also opens us all up and lets us play free out there.”
STAT LEADERS
Kills – Logan Lednicky – 20
Hitting Percentage (Min. 10 kills) – Logan Lednicky – .395
Assists – Maddie Waak – 47
Aces – Ava Underwood – 1
Digs – Ellee Stinson – 15
Blocks – Ifenna Cos-Okpalla – 9
UP NEXT
The Maroon & White stay on the road, as they head to Wisconsin to face the No. 7 Badgers Saturday followed by a neutral match with Troy the following day. First serves for the fixtures are set for 7 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.