Maroon tops White in Tuesday night scrimmage at Reed Arena
The Jamie Morrison era is here, Aggieland.
The three-time Olympic medal-winning head coach has brought life back to a dying program, and the future looks promising for the ladies in Maroon & White.
On Tuesday night, the Aggies took the floor for the first time in front of a crowd this season, showcasing the 2023 team in the Maroon & White Scrimmage at Reed Arena.
As for the scrimmage itself, Team Maroon bested Team White, 3-1, with Maroon taking the first three sets before White salvaged the final stanza.
However, Tuesday’s story extends far beyond the box score.
With eight returners and four new faces, the Aggies seem to have already bonded as the team chemistry makes it look like these girls have played together for years.
Returning players — such as sophomores Ava Underwood and Logan Lednicky, senior Lauren Hogan and graduate student Caroline Meuth — displayed their impressive leadership skills almost immediately, leaving little room for error or quietness on the court.
“Lauren Hogan is our team captain,” Morrison said. “I’ve been a part of some high-level teams, and I think she is one of the best I’ve ever had. I think the players, in terms of the improvement during the summer, I think they attributed that to her quite a bit.”
Freshman setter Margot Manning impressed from behind the service line, leading Team Maroon on a 6-point run to start the match.
Manning quickly found comfortability on the court, creating holes in the opposing block and maneuvering around the court to create plays for her teammates.
Similar to last season, Underwood was everywhere at once. Her ball-handling skills are second to none, and her knowledge of the game shows in every play that she makes.
Underwood led the defense on both sides while also being the loudest on the court at all times.
Other standouts included Lednicky and Meuth, a duo that dominated headlines last season, and once again, that pair will be crucial to A&M's success in 2023.
Lednicky — who is coming off of an injury from last year — found her groove quickly on Tuesday. She struggled slightly at the beginning of the scrimmage, but after her first few swings, Lednicky transitioned into the same player that fans marveled at a year ago.
“I’m really optimistic about what’s going on and moving forward,” Morrison said of Lednicky. “I think the cool thing is that she was out, but we had to find ways for her to get better at something. She was able to get better at three or four different things while she couldn't practice full out. Just because you’re hurt doesn’t mean you can’t improve.”
Meuth was strong and consistently dominant throughout her entire performance. Similar to last season, her power behind the service line sets her, and the pure dominance of her swing at the net makes her arguably the best outside hitter option for this team.
Along with these impressive skills, Meuth’s communication did not lack throughout the four sets.
Between sets two and three, Morrison addressed the Reed Arena crowd and shared some of what the Aggives have worked on over the last several months — things such as ball control, serving and aggressive offense.
All of it showed in A&M’s play on Tuesday night, and that approach seems to be here to stay.
“One of the reasons why I took this job was because of the community, because of the tradition of the 12th Man,” Morrison said. “I think we can fill up these stands. My goal is to create an exciting environment.”
Next for Texas A&M is an exhibition match with No. 15 Baylor on Saturday, Aug. 19, at Reed Arena.
