News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
AUBURN – The Texas A&M volleyball team upset No. 24 Auburn for its second-straight conference win Sunday afternoon in Neville Arena, 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 25-21, 25-19).
The Aggies (11-2, 2-1 SEC) claimed their first ranked win of the season as they downed Auburn (13-2, 3-1 SEC) on the road behind a dominant performance from Logan Lednicky. The Junior recorded her second double-double of the year with a season-high 23 kills and 18 digs which matched her career high.
Back-and-forth volleyball opened the match, as the teams were knotted at 10. Auburn struck with a quick 3-1 flurry, however the Aggies countered scoring four-straight to lead at the media timeout, 15-13. A&M held its momentum out of the break and a kill from Emily Hellmuth and an ace from Tatum Thomas forced the Tigers to use their first timeout (17-13). Auburn rallied late, but the Maroon & White held to take the first frame behind Lednicky’s seven kills, 25-20.
The Tigers responded in the second, pushing out to five-point advantage as head coach Jamie Morrison called his first break of the set, 12-7. Needing to answer, the Aggies did just that with a 10-5 streak to knot the teams at 17. Auburn recaptured the lead and closed out the second (25-18), tying the match, 1-1.
Both teams traded blows in the third and were all square at 11. A&M struck with back-to-back points as Auburn called timeout, 13-11. The Maroon & White held their advantage as Lednicky struck her 21st kill of the match (19-17). The Aggies kept their foot on the gas and regained the lead in the match (25-21), 2-1.
Starting strong in the fourth, A&M forged a four-point advantage, forcing the Tigers first timeout (14-10). The Maroon & White held their lead as Auburn called its second break of the set, 21-17. The Aggies didn’t give an inch, as they secured their first ranked win of the season (25-19), 3-1.
COACH’S QUOTES
Head coach Jamie Morrison on today’s match …
“I thought it was a great all-around win. We put pressure on them from beginning to end. We let off a little bit in pieces of the second, but it wasn’t just one swing one block, it was just consistently good volleyball that won the match.”
Morrison on Logan Lednicky’s day …
“She’s been working on being an all-around volleyball player and you saw that on defense today. She’s one of the best players in the country and continues to prove it night in night out.”
STAT LEADERS
Kills – Logan Lednicky – 23
Hitting Percentage (Min. 10 kills) – Morgan Perkins – .391
Assists – Maddie Waak – 50
Aces – Tatum Thomas, Ellee Stinson, Logan Lednicky – 1
Digs – Logan Lednicky – 18
Blocks – Ifenna Cos-Okpalla – 7
UP NEXT
The Maroon & White stay on the road as they head to Ole Miss Wednesday, Oct. 9 with first serve set for 6:30 p.m.
FOLLOW THE AGGIES
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter by following @AggieVolleyball.