Rounding into form.
When the heat is high, Jamie Morrison’s teams respond rather than retreat.
A 2-0 week has the Aggies sitting just outside the top 15 in the latest AVCA Poll at No. 17.
Before the weekend, the Aggies sat at No. 39 in RPI, and their NCAA Tournament hosting chances looked slim. All five of their best attackers had missed at least one game, and two inexplicable losses to Oklahoma and Arkansas followed.
A season that had threatened to slip away suddenly presented a chance for a turning point.
Instead of letting the circumstances define the 2026 season, A&M capitalized on a big-time opportunity with a 2-0 weekend on the road.
It began with a four-set win over Bianna Muoneke and the Georgia Bulldogs. The SEC’s leading point scorer posted 26 kills and 28.5 points, but it was not enough to outlast A&M’s tremendous outside duo of Kyndal Stowers and Natalie Ring. The two combined for 27 kills and a .271 hitting percentage in the Aggies’ win before heading to Lexington.
While Kirra Musgrove struggled a bit in the first set vs. the Bulldogs, Morrison made the decision to hand the reins to setter Margot Manning. She looked good running the offense on Friday, so Morrison rode the hot hand and started Manning in a big-time match against No. 4 Kentucky.
In a rematch of the 2025 national championship, the Maroon & White rolled. Manning’s 36-assist day had the Aggie offense humming as the outside duo went back to work. A&M’s middles Eliza Sharp and Kaia Castle also shined in highly efficient offensive and defensive outings.
The Aggies have had the roster to compete with the nation’s best since the get-go, but it was just a matter of time to find the best combination.
Unafraid to make personnel changes, the national championship-winning head coach had the Aggies playing their best volleyball in a big-time moment.
With the heat of SEC play approaching, Morrison’s willingness to adjust could be what separates the Aggies from the pack.
With tests against No. 6 Tennessee, No. 14 Texas and No. 23 Vanderbilt on deck, the Aggies’ work is far from over, but this weekend offered a glimpse of what they can become.
