News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
The No. 2 seed Texas A&M volleyball team fell in a four-set battle to No. 3 seed Texas in the SEC Tournament semifinals Monday evening at Enmarket Arena, 3-1 (25-18, 16-25, 27-25, 25-19).
The Maroon & White’s (23-4) 11-game undefeated run came to an end versus the Longhorns (23-2) in a hard-fought contest. The Aggies put out a well-rounded effort paced offensively by Kyndal Stowers’ 18 kills and defensively by Ifenna Cos-Okpalla’s nine blocks.
Texas opened the match as the aggressor with an 11-5 run as head coach Jamie Morrison called his first timeout of the match. The Maroon & White settled into the contest, answering the early pressure with a 4-1 streak narrowing the gap to three (12-9). The Longhorns recaptured their rhythm, closing out the opener, 25-18.
The Aggies Flipped the momentum in the second, ripping off a 5-1 run out of the gate forcing a Texas timeout. Texas A&M pushed the advantage out to seven behind an impressive flurry of defense, as the group recorded four blocks in its opening 10 points (10-3). The teams began trading blows, but the gap remained at seven as the Longhorns called their final break of the frame (21-14). The onslaught continued, as four-straight kills capped off by Logan Lednicky’s ninth of the contest sealed the set (25-16) and knotted the match, 1-1.
Nothing separated the programs in the third, as they were tied on 14 occasions with neither side leading by more than two (19-19). Texas A&M huddled up after the Longhorns grabbed a pair of points (21-19), but the Maroon & White responded right back with three straight as Texas returned the favor with a break (22-21). In a battle that went to extras, it was Texas who took the set (27-25) to lead the match, 2-1.
In similar fashion to the third, back-and-forth scoring ensued with the programs remaining in lockstep through the opening 18 points (9-9). The Longhorns forged separation as coach Morrison called timeout, 17-13. The Maroon & White continued to fight but Texas held on to take the set (25-) and match, 3-1.
