A&M volleyball team loses to Iowa State

  • By DAVID HARRIS

  • Posted: Sunday, October 23, 2011 7:00 a.m.
  • Text size: A A A


The magic was bound to run out.


After winning three consecutive five-set matches -- including two in which Texas A&M trailed 2-0 -- the Aggies' propensity for starting slow caught up to them in a 25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23 loss to No. 15 Iowa State on Saturday at Reed Arena.


Though the Aggies (16-5, 5-3) dropped the first two sets, A&M head coach Laurie Corbelli said she was more pleased with the start than she has been recently.


"Honestly, I feel like we didn't start great, but it was a lot better than we have been," she said. "It was a different kind of 2-0. It came more in our execution and unforced errors."


In the first set, the Aggies had five service errors, which contributed to their undoing.


The Cyclones (16-3, 7-1) were ferocious on the defensive end throughout, compiling 75 digs to go along with nine blocks. Libero Kristen Hahn flew around the court to keep balls alive, and ISU's relentlessness had the Aggie offense out of sync for the first two sets. A&M hit .179 and .045 in the first two sets to ISU's .300 and .114.


Corbelli wasn't surprised by the Cyclones' defensive prowess.


"They are pretty damn good," she said. "They're very scrappy. They're very relentless on defense. It's hard to put a ball down on them."


ISU outside hitter Carly Jenson, the team's leading hitter, had a match-high 17 kills.


"She's just a very smart attacker, a very well-coached outside hitter," Corbelli said. "She and her setter have a good understanding of the changes that need to be made when things aren't working for her. She's definitely one of their leaders."


Tenisha Matlock and late-sub Victoria Hurtt proved big for the Cyclones at the net. They combined for 11 assisted blocks and constantly altered the Aggies' attack, making it easy for ISU's back row.


Overall, Corbelli said the ISU she saw on film is the team that showed up at Reed Arena.


"It was exactly as we expected," she said. "It's a very efficient, low-error, fast-paced team, both offensively and defensively. That's why they're top-10, top-15 in the country."


The Aggies will look to regroup when they host Kansas at 2 p.m. Oct. 30 at Reed Arena.

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