Aggie Record: 2-2
Opponent: Cal Poly (1-0)
Date: August 29
Time: 7:00
Location: Reed Arena - College Station, Texas
Streaming: SEC Network +
Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/mobile/?id=671261
Invitational Home Page: https://12thman.com/sports/volleyball/2026-tamu-invitational
Game Preview
Howdy my fellow Aggie Volleyball National Championship fans! Who's that coming down the track… it's the 2026 Aggie Volleyball team rolling after 2 great wins over quality squads. Aside from an extreme set 3 against Grand Canyon, the Aggies have looked dominant this weekend shaking off what transpired last weekend. This time we're at home, we're rocking with the 12th Man, we got a shiny pretty banner in the corner of Reed, and we're rolling. Our next test is tonight against a sweet sixteen Cal Poly team who returns a lot from that same team and are big favorites to get back to the second weekend once again in 2026.
What a matchup tonight will be. Cal Poly were in much closer sets, but they still swept Grand Canyon behind their elite arms and tough service pressure. They have an elite hitting duo of Kendall Beshear and Emma Fredrick. They brought in a transfer setter from Washington Alexis Haury who put on a clinic against Grand Canyon yesterday, she is excellent. She had a crazy 46 assists in 3 sets, simply unreal. Which means they passed well on serve receive and were able to stay in system. It also means her connection with her hitters is very strong. So we must must capitalize on our swings and serve very hard. They played without their all conference middle blocker Chloe Leluge, who is excellent offensively and defensively. That will be a big blow if she's out tonight as well.
Cal Poly also had 8 aces yesterday in 3 sets as well as 12 service errors. Part of that is due to GCU's bad serve receive, but they will also serve aggressively, even more so against us. Beshear is one of the best servers in the nation and can change a game behind ther service line. We need to side out quickly with her serving. Alexis Haury added 3 aces to go with her impressive night setting.
As for us, the play looks a lot better not playing top ten teams like we saw last weekend, but the schedule doesn't get easier from here on out. Cal Poly is a sweet sixteen caliber team, then we play Purdue, Indiana, Stanford, and Wisconsin, three of those being in the top ten. We need to take what we've learned about ourselves the past two games and come out with more confidence and playing more efficiently. Last night we saw Natalie Ring at her best and a lot more efficient, along with Megan Fitch. Ring is an excellent hitter, but had a low percentage the first 3 matches. We need to have great sets and capitalize on our swings. Our serve receive will be tested and we'll need great digs and passing to neutralize Cal Poly's strength. In turn we'll need great serving as well. Rodriguez has shown excellent ability to serve, Margot Manning is looking sharper and sharper and we know how lethal she can be behind the service line.
Our block needs to be getting stronger and better throughout the season. Which normally happens under Jamie Morrison. Eliza Sharp has been playing excellent and she's gaining much more confidence. Kaia Castle at 6'4 can provide an excellent block as well, but we need her to close out quicker. We're going to need our block to step up big time these next few matches. Even if we're not putting opponents attempts down, we need to slow their offense with block touches to keep us in system.
The crowd last night was electric. The 12th Man proved once again what it can do at full strength. I hope we can get out there and provide a huge crowd tonight and really impact the game. Tonight will be a tough and great match and we'll need the 12th man out in full force. We're back at 2-2 and the 2026 season is back on track. Let's turn this weekend into a 3-0 effort and keep this momentum rolling. That banner up there brings a standard to Aggie Volleyball. Let's show out and keep picking up wins. Cal Poly, you're next…
Opponent: Cal Poly (1-0)
Date: August 29
Time: 7:00
Location: Reed Arena - College Station, Texas
Streaming: SEC Network +
Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/mobile/?id=671261
Invitational Home Page: https://12thman.com/sports/volleyball/2026-tamu-invitational
Game Preview
Howdy my fellow Aggie Volleyball National Championship fans! Who's that coming down the track… it's the 2026 Aggie Volleyball team rolling after 2 great wins over quality squads. Aside from an extreme set 3 against Grand Canyon, the Aggies have looked dominant this weekend shaking off what transpired last weekend. This time we're at home, we're rocking with the 12th Man, we got a shiny pretty banner in the corner of Reed, and we're rolling. Our next test is tonight against a sweet sixteen Cal Poly team who returns a lot from that same team and are big favorites to get back to the second weekend once again in 2026.
What a matchup tonight will be. Cal Poly were in much closer sets, but they still swept Grand Canyon behind their elite arms and tough service pressure. They have an elite hitting duo of Kendall Beshear and Emma Fredrick. They brought in a transfer setter from Washington Alexis Haury who put on a clinic against Grand Canyon yesterday, she is excellent. She had a crazy 46 assists in 3 sets, simply unreal. Which means they passed well on serve receive and were able to stay in system. It also means her connection with her hitters is very strong. So we must must capitalize on our swings and serve very hard. They played without their all conference middle blocker Chloe Leluge, who is excellent offensively and defensively. That will be a big blow if she's out tonight as well.
Cal Poly also had 8 aces yesterday in 3 sets as well as 12 service errors. Part of that is due to GCU's bad serve receive, but they will also serve aggressively, even more so against us. Beshear is one of the best servers in the nation and can change a game behind ther service line. We need to side out quickly with her serving. Alexis Haury added 3 aces to go with her impressive night setting.
As for us, the play looks a lot better not playing top ten teams like we saw last weekend, but the schedule doesn't get easier from here on out. Cal Poly is a sweet sixteen caliber team, then we play Purdue, Indiana, Stanford, and Wisconsin, three of those being in the top ten. We need to take what we've learned about ourselves the past two games and come out with more confidence and playing more efficiently. Last night we saw Natalie Ring at her best and a lot more efficient, along with Megan Fitch. Ring is an excellent hitter, but had a low percentage the first 3 matches. We need to have great sets and capitalize on our swings. Our serve receive will be tested and we'll need great digs and passing to neutralize Cal Poly's strength. In turn we'll need great serving as well. Rodriguez has shown excellent ability to serve, Margot Manning is looking sharper and sharper and we know how lethal she can be behind the service line.
Our block needs to be getting stronger and better throughout the season. Which normally happens under Jamie Morrison. Eliza Sharp has been playing excellent and she's gaining much more confidence. Kaia Castle at 6'4 can provide an excellent block as well, but we need her to close out quicker. We're going to need our block to step up big time these next few matches. Even if we're not putting opponents attempts down, we need to slow their offense with block touches to keep us in system.
The crowd last night was electric. The 12th Man proved once again what it can do at full strength. I hope we can get out there and provide a huge crowd tonight and really impact the game. Tonight will be a tough and great match and we'll need the 12th man out in full force. We're back at 2-2 and the 2026 season is back on track. Let's turn this weekend into a 3-0 effort and keep this momentum rolling. That banner up there brings a standard to Aggie Volleyball. Let's show out and keep picking up wins. Cal Poly, you're next…
