Lednicky's 14 kills power No. 6 Ags to ninth straight in sweep at Florida
Match #24: No. 6 Texas A&M 3, Florida 0
S1: A&M, 25-17; S2: A&M, 25-18; S3: A&M, 25-23
Records: Texas A&M (21-3, 13-1), Florida (13-10, 8-6)
Box Score
A conference clash, birthday bash.
A night of celebration in Gainesville gave Texas A&M head coach Jamie Morrison and senior Morgan Perkins the best birthday gifts possible.
The No. 6 Aggies (21-3, 12-1) cruised past the Gators (13-10, 8-6) in a statement sweep on Wednesday as they come closer to the tail end of conference play. The win marked the first sweep over Florida in A&M’s program history.
A&M took control of the match early and held on, extending its win streak to nine straight. The victory strengthened the Maroon & White’s position in the SEC as they now sit comfortably at 21-3 and 13-1 in conference play.
The Aggies brought the same systematic offense seen in last Friday’s matchup against Auburn. Led by the reigning SEC Setter of the Week, Maddie Waak, the ball was distributed effectively, resulting in a smooth attack that seemed natural. Waak finished the game with 32 assists and additionally contributed two kills and two aces.
As a result of Waak’s consistent orchestration, A&M finished with a .348 hitting percentage. The Aggies’ serving was also on point as the team finished with seven total aces.
Still, the offense wasn’t always completely consistent. The second frame saw a dip in efficiency as the Gators tried to find their rhythm. However, if there’s one thing the Aggies know, it’s how to finish what they start.
All-American Logan Lednicky piloted the weapons of the efficient offense tonight, finishing with 14 kills at a .423 hitting percentage. Behind her was Kyndal Stowers with eight, and Ifenna Cos-Okpalla with eight at a .500 clip.
The dominant Cos-Okpalla also led the charge defensively, finishing with seven blocks on the night. Right beside her was Stowers, who added four blocks and also contributed two aces.
A&M’s commanding defense kept the Gators caged and forced them to a .188 hitting percentage. Florida also struggled with errors at key moments, giving the Ags the overall advantage.
As soon as the first set began, the Aggies' presence was felt.
The offense ignited early, causing Florida to call its first timeout at 6-1. Waak dispersed the ball evenly across the floor, adding to the Aggies’ comfortable lead. Smart kills from Lednicky and a Tatum Thomas ace helped cushion the lead at 15-7.
After a Gator timeout at 18-8, Florida began to play with more grit. The Aggies reached set point, but a 4-0 Gator run made it 24-17. However, Lednicky was quick to stop anything from being created as her powerful swing ended the set, 25-17.
The second stanza started tighter as Florida attempted to build off late first-set efforts. The Gators maintained a consistent 2-3 deficit before a 3-0 run from the Aggies caused Florida to call a timeout at 13-9. It was still a battle all the way up to 19-17, when a 5-0 Aggie run helped escape the Gators at 24-17. A stunning Cos-Okpalla kill ended the set 25-18.
The third frame showed the Gators still had some bite left. It started with a strategic Cos-Okpalla kill and a Waak ace, but Florida was not ready to give up. The Gators’ 3-0 run tied it at 13-13, forcing a timeout.
From there on, it was a neck-and-neck battle in the swamp. Two Florida Aces helped fuel the Gators as they refused to let the Aggies create a spark. Back-to-back kills from Florida’s Jordyn Byrd gave the Gators the 19-17 lead. This was the start of a 5-0 run to create a nerve-wracking 22-17 lead.
Morrison began to make strategic moves. Cos-Okpalla was subbed back in, and Taryn Morris replaced Waak to create a defensive powerhouse at the net. This resulted in a 7-0 run by the Aggies, making it 24-23. However, there was no better person to end this match than Lednicky, whose laser kill secured the sweep, 25-23.
Now riding high on cloud nine with the win, A&M continues to build its resume as the postseason comes closer. With expanding momentum, the Aggies look to close out the season with their 10th consecutive win to solidify their magnificent conference run.
The Maroon & White finish their regular season play on Sunday at noon CT when they face the Georgia Bulldogs in front of the 12th Man at Reed Arena.
