Match #23: No. 9 Texas A&M 3, Auburn 0
S1: A&M, 25-17; S2: A&M, 25-22; S3: A&M, 25-21
Records: Texas A&M (20-3, 12-1), Auburn (16-8, 7-6)
Box Score
Texas A&M never let the Tigers claw back.
The No. 6 Aggies rolled past Auburn, sweeping the Tigers in a victory all about balance on Friday night in Auburn.
A&M secured its eighth consecutive win as it reached the 20-win marker, becoming 20-3, 12-1 SEC.
“The thing I am most proud of right now is our ability to execute a game plan,” head coach Jamie Morrison said. “We’re really executing on the things that we hold true to ourselves in terms of culture and the way that we work.”
Logan Lednicky had herself a day as she was just announced as an AVCA Player of the Year semifinalist. On top of that, the All-American just pushed her way to fifth in program history for career kills.
Auburn entered the match known for its strong blocking game and quick-tempo offense.
But the Aggies weren’t going to let them have it easy.
The Maroon & White led a balanced offensive system that suffocated the Tigers. When the Ags would find their rhythm, they looked unstoppable. They finished the night with a .392 hitting percentage.
Orchestrating the movement was Maddie Waak, who finished with 44 assists. The national leader in assists per set also contributed three kills off three swings for another consistent performance.
“I thought Maddie did a really good job distributing across the board,” Morrison said. “She kept the system balanced and attacked where holes were.”
Guiding the balanced attack were three Aggies who recorded over 10 kills. Emily Hellmuth led the way with her 15 kills off a .483 hitting percentage. Behind her were Lednicky with 11 and Kyndal Stowers with 10.
“I thought our attackers were making the right decisions at the right times,” Morrison said. “They were hitting the right spots on the court, according to our discussion on the scouting report.”
Ifenna Cos-Okpalla anchored the defense as she led the team in blocks with four. She also helped the steady offense by supplying eight kills with a .615 hitting percentage.
Set 1 began with the Tigers demonstrating their speedy offense, but the Ags had anticipated this all week. Tied 3-3, the Aggies exploded for a swift run to an 11-5 lead. The Tigers struggled with attack errors as they desperately tried to create momentum.
Auburn somewhat succeeded after a couple of Aggie service errors, closing the gap, 20-15. However, A&M has proven to lock in when they are needed to, which is exactly what they did. The defense stood strong, and Cos-Okpalla closed out the set with a kill, 25-17.
The second stanza started neck-and-neck, keeping it consistently tied up to 5-5. The Aggies were able to break away for a 5-0 run, forcing an Auburn timeout. The Tigers came out with a bursting attack, but it didn’t last long. A&M found its groove again and maintained a stable four-to-five-point lead.
The Tigers fought back to cut the lead to 23-21. The Aggies lost a challenge that was clearly an incorrect call by the referees, as they claimed the ball was out on Lednicky. This fueled the senior, causing her to close out the set with two powerful kills, 25-22.
Momentum stayed with the Aggies going into the first set as Cos-Okpalla sparked a quick 5-1 lead. Auburn refused to back down, answering with a 5-0 run to tie it 8-8.
The Tigers found their flow, taking their first lead since the beginning of the match, 15-14. Morgan Perkins and Hellmuth helped the Ags escape the scuffle, retaking the lead and holding it. Three kills in a row from Hellmuth put the sweep in the books.
“It was interesting tonight because Auburn switched its strategy mid-match,” Morrison said. I thought we adjusted well to it. It’s been a strength all season.”
Friday’s victory served as another piece of evidence for a high seed in next month's SEC Tournament. The Aggies stand as one of the nation’s most balanced programs. They are disciplined and can adapt to any circumstance, propelling them to a unit that strikes fear throughout the SEC.
The Aggies get a brief break before they travel to Gainesville to take on the Gators on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT.
