No. 9 Texas A&M survives five-set scare from Central Arkansas, 3-2

Match #3: No. 9 Texas A&M 3, Central Arkansas 2
S1: A&M, 25-13; S2: UCA, 25-21; S3: UCA, 25-22; S4: A&M, 25-16; S5: A&M, 15-7
Records: Texas A&M (3-0, 0-0), Central Arkansas (0-1, 0-0)
Box Score

The following is a release from Texas A&M Athletics:

HOUSTON – The No. 9 Texas A&M volleyball team battled back to down Central Arkansas on the final day of the Rice Invitational Saturday afternoon at the Tudor Fieldhouse, 3-2 (25-13, 21-25, 22-25, 25-16, 15-7).

The Aggies (3-0) showed resilience to protect their undefeated start to the 2025 campaign, as they fought back from their first deficit in a match this season to defeat the Sugar Bears (0-1). The group’s offense jumped out on the box score, as four members of the squad recorded double-digit kills, paced by Kyndal Stowers’ 14.

Central Arkansas opened the match as the aggressor claiming the first two points of the match, but it didn’t take long for the Aggies to answer as they pulled away on an 11-4 run forcing the Sugar Bears to burn their first timeout, 11-6. The onslaught continued, as the Maroon & White added another two to its advantage as Central Arkansas called its final break (18-10). The Aggies momentum pursued, as they closed the set (25-13) to lead in the match, 1-0.

The start of the second frame saw a back-and-forth battle as the teams were knotted at six. The Sugar Bears however took charge, prompting head coach Jamie Morrison to call his first timeout of the match, 14-9. Texas A&M responded following the break with an 8-4 streak of its own (18-17), but it wasn’t enough as Central Arkansas took the set (25-21) and tied the match, 1-1.

The Maroon & White responded early in the third, securing the first-five points of the frame, but once again, the Sugar Bears answered the call and captured the lead at the midway point in the set (15-14). Central Arkansas continued to build on its advantage and won the frame (25-22) and took the lead in the match, 2-1.

Texas A&M came out firing in the fourth, pulling away to a 9-4 advantage as the Sugar Bears huddled up. The Sugar Bears pushed back, but a constant barrage of kills kept the Aggies ahead as they logged 17 in the frame to ensure the set (25-16) and knotted the match at two sets all.

Carrying their momentum into the decider, the Maroon & White ripped off the first-four points behind three kills and an ace forcing Central Arkansas to burn a timeout. The four-point lead held as the team’s swapped ends at the midway point, 8-4. Texas A&M never let it get close, as they won the set (15-7) and match, 3-2.

STAT LEADERS
Kills – Kyndal Stowers – 14
Hitting Percentage (Min. 10 kills) – Kyndal Stowers – .379
Assists – Maddie Waak – 56
Aces – Maddie Waak – 3
Digs – Ava Underwood – Ava Underwood – 19
Blocks – Ifenna Cos-Okpalla – 4

UP NEXT
The Maroon & White stay on the road, as they head to Utah to face the Utes (Sept. 4) and Utah State (Sept. 5).