Around Aggieland (9/17)

During Friday's edition of TexAgs Radio, the fishbowl's own Richard Zane joined to share updates from the latest in Aggie Athletics as a busy weekend is on tap in College Station with football, soccer, volleyball and equestrian all in action.

Note: There is no audio or video of today’s Around Aggieland.

Football (2-0)
On Monday, it was announced that Jayden Peevy earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance vs. Colorado last week.

• Peevy finished with seven total tackles (5 solo tackles), 2 TFLs and an interception in the Aggies’ 10-7 win.

After the close call at Mile High, the Aggies dropped in the AP Poll while staying steady in the Coaches Poll.

• AP: No. 7 (Last week - No. 5)
• Coaches: No. 5 (Last week - No. 5)

The Aggies are back in College Station this weekend for their final non-conference game before SEC play begins next week.

• Texas A&M hosts New Mexico at Kyle Field.
• Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT on the SEC Network.
• The Aggies are 29.5-point favorites.

Soccer (4-2-1)
It’s matchday as Texas A&M opens SEC play on Friday against the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington.

• Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. CT and will be streamed on SEC Network+.

On Sunday, the Aggies return to Ellis Field to face No. 9 Pepperdine.

• The match begins at 1:30 p.m. CT and will stream on the SEC Network+.
• It is the annual ‘Turn It Gold’ match as the Aggies join the fight against childhood cancer. A&M will wear special Maroon & Gold kits that will be auctioned off after the match, with all proceeds going to the Turn It Gold fund.

Volleyball (7-2)
Bird Kuhn and the Aggies won their sixth consecutive match on Tuesday as they swept the Texas State Bobcats in San Marcos.

• Texas A&M 3, Texas State 0
• 25-21, 25-22, 27-25
• Morgan Christon led the way with 14 kills (.313), and Camille Conner had 35 assists.

On Friday, the Aggies will host the top-ranked Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena.

• First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. CT and will be streamed on SEC Network+

Women’s Golf
Playing in the Sam Golden Invitational, Texas A&M finished fourth in the 54-hole tournament, shooting a program-record 20-under 844.

• It was Gerrod Chadwell’s first tournament leading the Aggies as the Maroon & White finished behind Oklahoma State (-36), Texas Tech (-23) and TCU (-21)

Individually, Blanca Fernández García-Poggio won the Sam Golden Invitational, winning the first championship of her collegiate career.

• Fernández García-Poggio shot a 54-hole program-record 14-under 202 en route to the victory.

The Aggies will be back in action later this month as they play in the Schooner Fall Classic in Norman, Oklahoma.

• The tournament begins Sunday, September 26, and runs through Monday, September 27.

Men’s Golf
No. 16 Texas A&M finished sixth in an absolutely loaded field at the Maridoe Collegiate Invitational at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrolton, Texas, this week.

• The Aggies shot 17-over. No. 7 Oklahoma won the tournament at 3-under.

Individually, Sam Bennett finished inside the top-five at Maridoe, tying for third place.

• Bennett finished with a 6-under 210.
• The Madisonville, Texas, native bogeyed 17 and finished one-stroke off the lead. Arizona State’s Cameron Sisk ultimately beat Texas Tech’s Baard Skogen in a playoff.
• It is the ninth top-five finish of Bennett’s career.

The Aggies will be back in action with the SEC Match Play Championship in Shoal Creek, Alabama.

• The tournament begins on Sunday, October 10, and runs through Tuesday, October 12.

Baseball
On Wednesday, the Southeastern Conference released the 2022 conference baseball schedule as Jim Schlossnagle & Co. now know who they’ll face in league play this spring.

The Aggies received yet another verbal commitment this week as LHP Evan Aschenbeck gave his pledge to Texas A&M via Twitter.

• Aschenbeck spent 2021 at Blinn College, where he tallied 51 strikeouts in 40 innings of work last season.

Basketball
Buzz Williams has hired Wabissa Bede as a program aide for the men’s basketball program.

• Bede was a four-year letter winner at Virginia Tech.
• According to a press release, Bede will assist with all aspects of the program, recruiting organization, student-athlete development, advanced analytics and camps.

On Thursday, the Southeastern Conference announced its representatives for the 2021-22 SEC Basketball Leadership Council.

• Henry Coleman III will represent men’s hoops, while Qadashah Hoppie will represent the women’s team.

Track & Field
Former Texas A&M phenom and current Nike athlete Athing Mu has been named a finalist for the 91st AAU James E. Sullivan Award.

• The James E. Sullivan award honors the top outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. The award has been handed out annually since 1930.

Equestrian
The Aggies will hold a Maroon & White Scrimmage on Friday afternoon at the Hildebrand Equine Complex.

• The meet begins at 3:00 p.m. CT and will not be televised.
• Texas A&M finished 2020-21 ranked No. 6 in the nation.
• The Ags will officially open the season on Sept. 25 in Brookings, SD, with a meet against South Dakota State.

In the preseason NCEA Poll, the Aggies are ranked No. 5.

• A look at the top-five:
  • 1. Auburn
  • 2. Georgia
  • 3. SMU
  • 4. Oklahoma State
  • 5. Texas A&M

Swimming & Diving
Former Texas A&M diver Jessica Macaulay has gotten off to a good start in the Red Bull Cluff diving World Series.

• Through three of the five events, Macaulay sits in second.
  • June: 300.55 in Saint-Raphael, France
  • August: 324.95 in Mostar, Bosnia
  • Sept. 12: 343.8 in Downpatrick head, Ireland
• Upcoming events:
  • Sept. 22 in Puglia, Italy
  • Sept. 26 in Polignano a Mare, Italy