News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The Texas A&M volleyball team upset the No. 7 Longhorns in the second meeting of the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown Wednesday evening in Gregory Gym, 3-2 (25-27, 25-14, 23-25, 25-21, 18-16).
The Aggies (14-4, 5-3 SEC) claimed their first win versus Texas (12-4, 7-1 SEC) since 2010 in a back-and-forth five-set shootout. The Longhorns claimed sets one and three, while A&M responded immediately in frames two and four sending the match to a deciding fifth set. In the winner-take-all final frame, the teams were tied at 14 as they headed to extras. The Maroon & White defended two match points and went on to strike another pair to seal the victory (18-16), 3-2.
Texas opened the match as the aggressor (14-10) before a five-point swing behind spearheaded by Logan Lednicky on offense had A&M up one at the media timeout (15-14). The Longhorns recaptured the lead, but once again the Maroon & White flipped momentum with back-to-back aces from Maddie Waak forcing a Texas timeout as it trailed (22-21). The teams went into extras and the Longhorns responded to snatch the opener, 27-25.
Texas scored the opening two points of the second frame, however that was answered by Morgan Perkins at the service line, as she led A&M to six-straight as Texas huddled up (6-2). The Aggie onslaught continued, as they extended their lead to seven at the halfway point (15-8). Keeping their foot on the gas, the Maroon & White ran away with another 10-6 run to take the frame (25-14) and tie the match, 1-1.
Back-and-forth volleyball started the third frame, as the programs were knotted at nine. The Longhorns created a three-point lead which was once again countered, as the teams were tied once again at 15. Texas found a small advantage, and despite a late A&M push, the Longhorns took the set (25-23) and lead in the match, 2-1.
Coming out firing in the fourth set was A&M with a 6-2 run, prompting Texas’ first timeout of the set. Giving up no ground, the Aggies pushed on further at the midway point of the frame, 15-7. The Longhorns rallied late, but it was once again Lednicky with her 21st kill of the fixture who claimed the set (25-21) and sent the match to five, 2-2.
The teams traded runs in the fifth, with Texas pulling away early and A&M responding with four-straight to lead as the Longhorns called timeout (7-6). Texas answered with a 5-3 run to lead as head coach Jamie Morrison called his second break of the set (11-10). The teams found level once again at 14, sending the programs the distance. The Maroon & White survived a pair of match points, then followed with back-to-back strikes to secure the win (18-16), 3-2.
COACH’S QUOTES
Head coach Jamie Morrison on what he thought after the match …
“Pride. I’m so proud of the grind that this team showed throughout the match and especially in crucial moments. We talked about playing perfect volleyball for 30 second stretches and we did that in the moments we needed to.”
Morrison on what he told his team in the tough moments …
“My message was that we’re good enough to play in this moment. When we lost sets it was a four- or five-point stretch where we didn’t play our volleyball, and when we played our game good things happened.”
PLAYER’S QUOTES
Junior OPP Logan Lednicky on today’s win …
“This win was just unbelievable, it’s the most surreal feeling. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to play for A&M and there were just a lot of full-circle moments here tonight.”
Lednicky on the mindset going into the final set …
“Going into the fifth set we all came on the court and we said ‘if there’s a team to do it, it’s us’ and ‘why not us’. We have poured our blood, sweat and tears into this. We put so much effort into preparing for Texas and for the SEC in general, but we have really worked our butts off and proved we are the better team tonight.”
STAT LEADERS
Kills – Logan Lednicky – 23
Hitting Percentage (Min. 10 kills) – Ifenna Cos-Okpalla – .364
Assists – Maddie Waak – 37
Aces – Morgan Perkins – 4
Digs – Ava Underwood – 15
Blocks – Ifenna Cos-Okpalla – 7
UP NEXT
The Maroon & White return to action Friday, Nov. 1, as they face Alabama in Reed Arena with first serve set for 6:30 p.m.