Slide reaches five as Aggies fall to Mississippi State in four sets, 3-1
Texas A&M volleyball dropped its fifth match in a row, losing 3-1 to the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon at Reed Arena.
The Aggies started the match with high energy but were not able to maintain it throughout the four-set battle. The team tallied an impressive 71 digs, 65 kills and hit at a .258 clip throughout the match but struggled with self-inflicted errors.
Junior middle blocker Madison Bowser led the offense with a .611 hitting percentage to notch 11 kills and zero errors on the day. Freshman Logan Lednicky and Notre Dame transfer Caroline Meuth both hit in double digits with 18 and 19 kills, respectively.
The first set was a team effort win, with all aspects of the game coming into play as the score went beyond regulation. The scrappy defense from the Bulldogs did not stop the Aggies from putting the ball down in a demanding manner. The team rallied behind an ace from Meuth and a handful of kills from Lednicky and Bowser to take the opener, 29-27.
“Our passers gave Elena (Karakasi) a great pass. Elena set me up, and I’m just a competitor. It’s what I do,” Bowser said. “I compete. I compete for my team, and I compete for my family.”
The second set was just as competitive as the first, with the score going into extra points for the third time this weekend. The Aggies trailed closely for the majority of the second but tied the game at 18-18 and pulled in front with three kills from Meuth. Unfortunately, the Aggies lost the short-lived momentum and dropped the second set, 30-28.
By the start of the third set, A&M was noticeably tired as the Bulldogs jumped in front with an early lead. Despite a handful of kills from Lednicky and Meuth, the Aggies could not produce the amount of scoring needed to come from behind and take the set. The Bulldogs downed the Aggies with a score of 25-18 in the third.
The fourth set was another close but unattainable matchup with the Bulldogs. The Aggies rallied around Meuth and Lednicky as the duo continued to establish their dominance on the court. After an Aggie timeout, Bowser came in and bounced one off the 10-foot line, giving the Aggies some momentum. As the score neared the finish, the Aggies lost that momentum but kept it close. The Bulldogs took the fourth and final set, 25-23.
“I think we came out, and we executed at a higher level today,” A&M head coach Bird Kuhn said. “Obviously, we know Mississippi State is a great opponent, and they showed it.”
The Aggies face Arkansas in Fayetteville on Oct. 10 before returning home to take on Kentucky, Oct. 22-23.