Photo by Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Texas A&M Volleyball
Texas A&M sweeps #16 Florida State at TAMU Invitational
COLLEGE STATION, TX — Senior setter Allie Sawatzky and the Texas A&M volleyball team took the court Thursday night against the Florida State Seminoles, hoping to accomplish something they had not done since November of 2011: beat a top 20-ranked opponent.
Well the wait is finally over. A&M Head Coach Laurie Corbelli led her team to sweep its #16 opponent, improving its record this season to 7-1. The sweep against the Seminoles was led by the entire team, with highlighted performances including redshirt freshman Jazzmin Babers, senior and College Station native Kelsey Kinley and Sawatzky.
The first set of the night only collected a total of six lead changes, as A&M seemed to be one step ahead of FSU throughout the entire set. But only a small step, considering both teams found themselves tied up a total of 14 times in just that set. Babers recorded five kills, while Sawatzky tallied 13 assists, keeping the Seminoles at bay long enough to put away the first set.
As the Aggies secured the first set, 27-25, the 12th Man came alive, giving the Aggies just the edge they needed to continue their pace. Even with FSU’s greatest attempts, nothing seemed to slow down the Aggies — the entire team continued to make plays all over the court.
Along with Kinley, senior outside hitter Heather Reynolds provided Texas A&M the hustle it needed to survive each lead change, with the second set experiencing three more than the first. Every point A&M needed in order to maintain the lead or take it back, the play somehow always found its way, beginning with either Kinley or Reynolds. Whether it was a simple pass to Sawatzky or a diving dig, both seniors represented the glue of the backcourt, keeping each play alive throughout rallies.
The second set ended in the same fashion as the first, 27-25, with the Aggies taking a commanding 2-0 lead. As Corbelli and the Aggies headed to the locker room for intermission, the Aggies led in almost every category of the evening except for one: total team blocks. This came to no surprise as FSU’s right side hitter, Elise Walch, and middle blocker Sarah Burrington — both of whom stand at 6-5.
Regardless, A&M found ways to move around the two. A&M’s Sawatzky seemed to be assisting everyone on the court, including main sub rotators, Kaysie Shebeneck and Sierra Patrick. Sawatzky and the Aggies completed the sweep against FSU in a quick fashion, toppling the Noles 25-22.
Babers and Sophomore OH Angela Lowak together notched 24 kills and Sawatzky ended the night three digs away from completing her fourth career triple double, while Kinley and Reynolds recorded a combined total of 24 digs.
All in all, Texas A&M, despite the average age of the team, played an outstanding game against a top ranked opponent. They were poised, they were confident, and they never once became rattled by any intensity shown by Florida State.
As the Aggies' record improves to 2-0 at the Texas A&M Invitational, Corbelli looks to lead A&M to a perfect invitational, ending Friday night with #7 Michigan at Reed Arena.
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