Aggie volleyball looks to capitalize on momentum vs. Alabama, MSU
The Aggies are back in action.
In its first game since Oct. 23, Texas A&M returns to the floor Friday at 6:30 p.m. to play host to Alabama before facing Mississippi State Sunday at 2 p.m.
Head coach Jamie Morrison and his squad are coming off not just their biggest win of their season, but one of the biggest wins in program history, having ground out a hard-fought 3-2 win over No. 7 Texas in Austin.
It was the definition of a big win, and it was one that could potentially change the trajectory of the Aggies’ 2024 campaign.
A&M was still trying to find their footing within a loaded SEC at 4-3 in conference play before defeating the defending national champions.
But the victory against Texas — the first over the Longhorns in Austin since 2001 — has given the team a massive shot of momentum going into the final month of the regular season.
“With each of those wins, you get a little more buy-in,” Morrison said. “I think the buy-in is 100 percent there, I think the work ethic from our girls has been amazing up until this point.”
Now 14-4 overall (5-3 SEC), the Maroon & White are one of five teams in the league with a record above .500 against conference opponents.
With eight games remaining, the team is looking to fire on all cylinders as they continue their push for a spot in the NCAA tournament.
And this weekend may be the perfect time for the Ags to do just that.
Alabama comes into Friday’s game with a 10-9 overall record and a dismal 2-6 conference record to rank last in the SEC. The Crimson Tide began the season on a tear, winning eight of their first nine games. In the 10 games since then, however, they’ve gone 2-8, with their only wins in that span coming against Auburn and Georgia.
Home court will likely play a big advantage for the Aggies in this upcoming match. The Crimson Tide have struggled greatly on the road, where they’re 2-5.
Mississippi State hasn’t looked much sharper this season, either. The Bulldogs sit at 9-8 overall with a 3-5 SEC record, and they are currently seated at 12th in the conference.
Unlike the Tide, the Bulldogs have found themselves on a winning streak. The team has won their last two games, which came at home against Ole Miss and Arkansas.
Still, even though A&M’s upcoming opponents haven’t looked their best this year, Morrison has said many times that there is no such thing as an easy win in the conference.
“We need SEC wins, put those in our pocket,” Morrison said. “If we wanna do what it is that we think we’re capable of, we need to grab as many of those as humanly possible, regardless of who it's against.”
The Aggies have a golden opportunity this weekend, and a buzzing Reed Arena will help greatly as they look to capitalize off their newfound rest and momentum.