Texas A&M has spent all season developing a defensive fortress at the net.
They’ll test it this Friday at 6 p.m. CT when the No. 6 Aggies face the quick-tempo Auburn Tigers on the road.
The Maroon & White (19-3, 11-1 SEC) are riding a seven-game win streak, fresh off a thrilling Halloween upset of No. 2 Texas and a four-set victory over No. 16 Tennessee.
Both wins demonstrated the team’s flexibility and well-thought-out strategies of head coach Jamie Morrison.
“I’m proud of my team,” Morrison said. “We went out and played two really good volleyball teams. We showed resilience and came in with the right attitude.”
A&M’s versatility was showcased by Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, who leads the conference in blocks per set. The Flower Mound native was recently honored as SEC Player and Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season after recording 22 blocks and 21 kills at a .571 hitting percentage last weekend. Her performance elevated her to fourth in program history for career blocks, reminding the nation of her dominance.
On the other side, Auburn (16-7, 7-5 SEC) offers a consistent defense that A&M must manage. The Tigers lead the SEC and rank seventh nationally in blocks per set. This efficient defense is led by middle blocker Kate Mansfield, who ranks second in the league behind Cos-Okpalla.
Auburn, coached by Brent Crouch, a former Aggie club volleyball player himself, runs a tight, swift offense that A&M will have to watch closely.
“The thing that stood out is their fast offense,” Morrison said. “That's the number one thing we'll have to adjust to.”
But the Aggies have plenty of weapons to counter Auburn.
Maddie Waak continues to lead the nation in assists per set and orchestrates a well-calculated attack. Her approach will be needed to overcome the Tigers’ defense.
All-American Logan Lednicky seeks her 13th straight match with double-digit kills. Her powerful swing and leadership on the court are not something to be meddled with.
Meanwhile, Kyndal Stowers continues an incredible comeback season that has regularly highlighted her athleticism.
“Kyndal has blown me away in a volleyball sense and a human-being sense,” Morrison said. “From a learning standpoint, she’s a sponge. You can teach her something, and she soaks it up, understands it and can apply it in 18 different ways. She is an ultra-competitor who is going to go out and prove she is one of the best players on the floor.”
Each conference match has presented its own unique challenges that the Ags have overcome.
Each time, they come out stronger and ready to fight.
After the colossal top-20 wins, the Aggies are confident they have what it takes to take on Auburn and the rest of the country.
“We proved that it doesn’t matter who is on the other side of the net,” Morrison said. “We’re capable of beating anybody in the country. We’re capable of turning around and adjusting to opponents quickly. It gets us ready for both the SEC and NCAA tournaments.”
