Aggie volleyball drops three consecutive sets, falls to Alabama, 3-1
Following a big win at South Carolina, Texas A&M volleyball returned to Reed Arena on Wednesday evening and was defeated by Alabama, 3-1.
The Aggies started with promising energy but struggled to maintain it throughout the four-set match. Standout freshman Logan Lednicky had an impressive showing with 24 kills, 18 digs and two blocks. Caroline Meuth ended with 13 kills, 13 digs and three blocks.
The first set was a defensive win. The Aggies were able to hold down the back row, with Ava Underwood and Lauren Hogan picking up everything that Alabama was sending over the net. The offense started out slow, but Elena Karakasi was able to find connections with Lednicky and Meuth through the middle of the set.
A&M controlled the match but stalled at the set point, with Alabama going on a five-point run to bring the score to 24-22. But Meuth ended the set with a kill, winning 25-22.
“We were playing us, and when we’re in system, we always talk about our first contact,” A&M head coach Bird Kuhn said. “When we’re controlling things and working in transition, that’s our game.”
The Aggies did not bring the same energy into the second set as they did in the first. Alabama kept A&M in the running with numerous errors but was able to control the match with momentum.
The Crimson Tide tallied three aces in a row against Lexi Guinn. After a back-to-back block and kill from Lednicky and several errors on Alabama’s side, the Aggies went up 20-19 but could not close out the match losing 26-24.
In the third set, Nisa Buzlutepe took over for Karakasi, and Cici Hecht came in to bring a new matchup for the Aggies. Although these two substitutions brought some energy to the Aggies' side of the net, the team still was not able to secure the win, falling 25-23.
The fourth set was nothing different from what the Aggies showed for most of the night. The momentum started and ended on Alabama’s side of the net. Lednicky carried the team throughout the set, earning five of her 24 kills and bringing some energy back to the team. Although the Aggies fought hard, Alabama controlled the end of the match, winning 25-20.
“Something that we talk about a lot is playing for the person next to you,” Underwood said. “Everything you do should be for your teammates and just pouring into the team.”
Texas A&M will face Auburn on the road in a two-game matchup this weekend, starting on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT.