Issue date: 11/23/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Sam Smith Texas A&M freshman libero Tori Mellinger bumps the ball in the Aggies' 3-0 win against Texas Tech Sunday in Reed Arena. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Sam Smith A&M senior outside hitter Sarah Ammerman hits the ball in the win. Ammerman had 13 kills in the match. [Click to enlarge]

The Texas A&M volleyball team has now won two in a row, including last Wednesday's win over Oklahoma and Sunday's victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Texas Tech (2-23, 0-17 Big 12), coming off a loss to Missouri, was looking for its first conference win as they came to College Station. They could not make that happen, as the Aggies defeated them in three sets, 25-17, 25-16, 25-17.

A&M Head Coach Laurie Corbelli said she is proud of her team and the way they have come together for the last two matches.

"Our goal this match was to establish our offense early," Corbelli said. "We really needed to get our middle more effective in the positions that they best attack. Each one of them has areas where they bring a lot of power and attack from a very high point. I thought today was a very good demonstration of these freshmen's talent. We were excited that we could carry our momentum from Oklahoma to this match and hopefully carry it into Colorado."

A&M (15-10, 9-9 Big 12) started off strong as Sarah Ammerman swung for a kill on the first play of the game, and would get two more to follow. Freshman middle blocker Lindsey Miller added four kills as the Aggies, who hit .423 in the game, took the first set 25-17.

Miller said the team was ready and knew what they had to do in order to win the game, despite the fact that Texas Tech is the least winningest team in the Big 12.

"We definitely went into it just like any other game," Miller said. "We know not to take any team too lightly at this point and prepare for all of them equally."

After opening the second set 10-3, the Aggies put in senior setter Jola Kelner, senior setter Dylan Faulkner and sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Black to switch up the lineup. The set would be dominated by the Aggies, who hit .393 compared to the Raiders' .160. Sophomore outside hitter Chelsea Ringel also saw the court as A&M won 25-16.

The Red Raiders could not get it together, as they continued to make mistakes throughout the match. The bright spot of the Raiders offense was Barbara Conceicao, who hit .588 and had 10 kills.

For the Aggies, Ammerman and Miller each finished with nine kills in the match. A&M combined for a hitting percentage of .306 in the match, as they defeated the Raiders 25-17 in the third and final set.

Coach Corbelli said she was satisfied with her team's effort in the game and said this is the team she is used to seeing.

"I'm not seeing the hesitation nearly as much as mid-season when we struggled with it," Corbelli said. "This team is still improving and it shows on our defense. We are always improving and are shooting for the numbers we used to have. We know we are capable, and we are holding that as our standard."

The Aggies have two games left, as they head to Colorado to play the Buffaloes on Wednesday and finish the regular season on Saturday at home against the Missouri Tigers. The Aggies must win both games to improve their chances of advancing to the tournament.

"I think we have been coming together as a team the last two games. Our main goal with only two games left is mostly winning," Miller said. "But we want to just stay sharp out on the court and play as good as we know we can."

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