'Why not' mentality has carried the Aggies to Sunday's title match
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“Why not us?”
That question has been Texas A&M volleyball’s mentality throughout the NCAA Tournament.
After sweeping Pittsburgh on Thursday, Logan Lednicky echoed the phrase once again.
“I know that it’s probably like beating a dead horse,” said Lednicky. “But y’all keep hearing, ‘Why not us?’ Like, literally, why not us?
“I think we are considered the underdog in a lot of these moments because we haven’t been here before, but we know we have all the right pieces, so why not us?”
That why-not mentality has pushed the Aggies to their best season in program history.
Now, they’re a win away from being national champions.
When the Aggies take the court inside Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center at 2:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, the question will echo through their minds.
If they play anything as they did against Pitt, they may continue to make history, winning the program’s first-ever national championship.
In the first all-SEC national final, the Maroon & White will face a familiar opponent in Kentucky, led by head coach Craig Skinner.
The Wildcats are led by SEC Player of the Year and National Player of the Year finalist Eva Hudson and counterpart Brooklyn DeLeye. Those two are considered one of the best outside hitter duos in the nation.
Setter Kassie O’Brien was named the National Freshman of the Year earlier this week. She is seventh in the nation in assists per set, averaging 11.02.
Earlier in the postseason, Kentucky won the SEC Tournament by defeating Texas, 3-2.
Big Blue has won 27 consecutive matches, but that shouldn’t be an issue for the gritty and confident Aggies, who have continuously broken winning streaks throughout their tournament run.
Kyndal Stowers delivers in big moments, as the All-American had 16 kills against Pitt, 25 against Nebraska and 17 against Louisville.
Lednicky, a name that will go down in A&M history, continues to lead and has recorded double-digit kills in 22 consecutive matches.
First-team All-American Ifenna Cos-Okpalla is a force to be reckoned with, sitting at third nationally in blocks per set at 1.70. Her ability to shut down her opponents’ offense with a calm and confident demeanor brings momentum in big moments.
Setter Maddie Waak is the conductor of the Aggies’ balanced and efficient offense. The All-American broke the postseason record for assists in a three-set match against Pitt with 48.
Led by AVCA Coach of the Year Jamie Morrison, A&M is built for big moments.
Their nine seniors have already left their marks on the program, and on Sunday, they will have one more chance to seal their legacy and win the program’s first-ever national championship.
The “Why not us?” mentality has carried them to where they have known they could be all season.
They reverse-swept Louisville, so why not them?
They took down the previously undefeated No. 1 seed Nebraska, so why not them?
They swept Pitt in the Final Four, so why not them?
Earlier this year, they lost to Kentucky in Reed Arena, 3-1.
Now, they have a shot at revenge.
So why not? Why not revenge?
Why not a national title?