Texas A&M improved to 3-3 in SEC play on Sunday afternoon, sweeping Mississippi State, 25-20, 25-15, 25-13, at Reed Arena.
Kiara McGee exploded for a team-leading 11 kills, and the duo of Kaitlyn Blake and Samantha Sanders combined to hit .737 (14-for-19) as the Aggies (5-7) outhit the visiting Bulldogs in each set. Camille Conner dished out a match-high 29 assists, and Hollann Hans pitched in seven kills.
“It sure feels good to get a win and to get a win with a convincing score and with some really nice attacking numbers,” A&M head coach Laurie Corbelli said after the match. “We’re starting to see progress, and it’s nice.”
A&M fell behind early in the first set, prompting Corbelli to call a timeout with her team trailing, 8-4. The Aggies promptly responded with a 5-0 run to take the lead and did not look back. Three other 3-0 runs in the set secured the opening victory.
Each team traded points as the second set began, but a McGee kill put the Aggies up 9-6 began a streak in which they ran off 11-of-13 points to put the set out of reach. Blake recorded five kills in the set, while Sanders chipped in four.
Blake’s production was huge for the Aggies, who have been trying to spread the ball around after relying heavily on outside hitters Hans and McGee through the first half of the season.
“The middles have been working really hard in practice just getting in connection with setters and working on staying off and being early, so not only can we pull the block but also give ourselves a chance to take swings at balls and help spread out the offense a little more,” Blake said.
“I thought we did a really great job of that today, and it’s really exciting to see that all coming together.”
McGee took over in the third set, blasting four kills and notching three digs as the senior San Antonio native played all six rotations for the Aggies.
“That girl has totally turned around her backcourt game,” Corbelli said of McGee. “I don’t know how. I don’t know why, but it’s just clicking for her. It’s translating really beautifully into the front row play as well.”
The win continues the Aggies’ dominance over the Bulldogs. A&M has won its eight last meetings with MSU, not dropping a single set in the process.
The Aggies travel to Kentucky on Wednesday, October 11, to take on the Wildcats. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be televised on the SEC Network.
