No. 20 Texas A&M falls in upset to unranked Arkansas
COLLEGE STATION — The twentieth-ranked Texas A&M volleyball team underwent a tough and very emotional loss on Wednesday, falling to unranked Arkansas in the final set, 27-25.
The Aggies came out strong in the first set, winning 25-20 against the Razorbacks, but slowly disappointed in the following three sets with the final scores: 25-12, 25-21 and 27-25.
The first set ended with what it looked to be a strong start for A&M; the team, however, quickly fell short. A dramatic change in numbers for the Aggies proved that the Razorbacks had stepped up their game.
Aggies coach Laurie Corbelli, confused and upset at her team’s performance at Reed Arena, spoke after the match alongside junior Angela Lowak.
“The score showed us a win in the first set, but I personally didn’t think we had a very strong start," Corbelli said. "I sensed hesitation, I sensed individual play, and I didn’t think we did better executing in the block in that first set. Trying to slow down #11 [Meredith Hays] and we never slowed down #1 [Chanell Clark-Bibbs], I kind of sensed some hesitation early, it all came crashing down, and really manifested and we probably shouldn’t have won the first set because I think it worked with our minds a little bit — 'we thought we can be like this and still win.'
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Texas A&M University Head Coach Laurie Corbelli
"They came back and made a change and just rolled over us, and continue to roll us over. Bottom line, we backed off, we put them in system with weak serving. They ran a clinic on us. They ran their offense, and we were constantly trying to defend some really good attackers. It was, in most regards, one of our worst performances."
The numbers from the match proved just that. The Aggies ended the first set with eight kills and six errors compared to the Razorbacks, who ended the first set with 10 kills but four more errors than A&M.
Continuing into the following three sets, the Aggies declined in kills and fluctuated in errors.
The Aggies started strong but their facade fell apart late in the match ... a tough loss here in Aggieland for the A&M volleyball team.
The team will travel next to Columbia, South Carolina, where it will take on the 3-2 South Carolina Gamecocks on Oct. 19, in hopes of bringing back a win.
