Texas A&M falls to Auburn at Reed Arena, 3-2, to even series
Texas A&M volleyball (5-7) pushed Auburn (5-8) to five sets (15-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-18, 12-15) on Friday night at Reed Arena, ultimately falling to the Tigers despite the Aggies’ late-game comeback and an intense scrabble for victory.
“Volleyball is a game of momentum, so once we controlled that again and felt it, the team was able to get back into it,” said Texas A&M head coach Bird Kuhn. “We had to turn it around and make changes, and I think we responded well in the third and fourth set. It comes down to executing and finishing.”
Opposite hitter Treyaunna Rush kept up the momentum on the court, slamming 16 kills, while Mallory Talbert smashed 15 kills and three blocks. Libero Macy Carrabine scooped a match-high 20 digs and setter Camille Conner put up 42 assists.
The first set found Texas A&M struggling as they put up numerous errors, allowing the Tigers to push ahead. A Talbert kill slowed Auburn’s momentum late in the set, but ultimately the Tigers took the set 15-25.
Auburn pulled ahead early in the second set, bringing the score to 3-9 before the Aggies pulled through to hit a six-point scoring streak to tie it at 20-20. Despite their comeback, Texas A&M could not hold onto the lead, allowing the Tigers to take the set, 22-25.
The third set saw the Aggies return from their deficit with a vengeance as they halted Auburn’s progress, maintaining a lead for most of the set. London Austin-Roark nailed a kill, immediately followed by an ace by Carrabine to bring the set to a close at 25-19, marking Texas A&M’s first victory in the match.
The Aggies forged ahead in the fourth set, pulling ahead from tight competition at the 13-13 mark as they fought for a solid lead. Texas A&M pulled ahead at the end of the set, ensuring their second victory of the night with a kill by Rush to end the set, 25-20.
The final set began with an Austin-Roark kill, setting the Aggies up to maintain an edge at the start of the frame. Each team scrabbled for a foothold, with Rush slamming kills to keep Texas A&M afloat. As the score reached 12-12, Auburn pulled ahead, hitting a three-point streak to win the game, 12-15.
Attendance at Reed Arena reached 2,331, and the energy in the stadium was palpable as the Aggies fought for their comeback. The volume and enthusiasm of the crowd pushed the team as they stared down the gauntlet of the two-set deficit, encouraging them to continue to battle throughout the match.
“There were moments in the game where I was doubting myself, and I could hear the 12th man. It reminded me why I play volleyball, why I’m here. That’s why I’m at A&M,” said Conner.
Texas A&M will travel to Lexington on Nov. 13th to take on Kentucky. The match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.