Aggies beat TCU in four-set war to advance to second straight Sweet 16

Match #29: #3 Texas A&M 3, #6 Texas Christian 1
S1: TCU, 25-23; S2: A&M, 25-22; S3: A&M, 25-23; S4: A&M, 29-27
Records: Texas A&M (25-4, 14-1), Texas Christian (21-11, 10-8)
Box Score

Revenge at its finest.

The Aggies collected their debt against the Horned Frogs on Saturday as No. 3 seed Texas A&M (25-4) beat No. 6 seed TCU (21-11) in four sets to punch their way to the Sweet 16 for the second year in a row — marking the first time to do so in program history.

“I’m fired up,” head coach Jamie Morrison said. “Our team showed a lot of grit, and we stayed together in tough moments. I’m really proud of our group for coming out and fighting until the end, no matter the circumstances.”

It has been three months since A&M fell in a five-set stumble against TCU, but on Saturday, the Aggies looked polished and ready to compete. Since that Sept. 10 loss, the Aggies have won 20 of their last 22 games, proving they have grown tremendously throughout the season.

Saturday’s win served as the last home match of the season and capped a remarkable NCAA first weekend in College Station, following Friday’s sweep against Campbell.

For A&M’s nine seniors, this victory in front of the 5,354 members of the 12th Man meant everything.

“It’s been a dream,” Ava Underwood said. “Playing for these fans is great. 12th Man showed up as they always do, and this place is becoming a volleyball powerhouse.”

It was a spirited, hard-fought battle that served as the type of match designed for the NCAA Tournament.

All four sets were decided by three sets or fewer.

“Gritty is the word I would use to describe our team,” Logan Lednicky said. “We know how to get down and dirty and grind when it matters most. Pressure was on, and we executed in front of an amazing environment.”

That grit was on full display as A&M fought off five TCU set points in the fourth set alone. Fighting out of a six-point hole in the frame, the Aggies rallied the raucous Reed rowdies and ultimately sent them into a frenzy when Ifenna Cos-Okpalla’s ace clinched the victory.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

With 21 kills vs. TCU, Logan Lednicky now has 1,617 in her career, which is 23 behind Hollann Hans for third in program history.

The legendary Lednicky led the Aggies tonight with a double-double of 21 kills and 12 digs. Right behind her was Kyndal Stowers with a double-double of 19 kills and 13 digs.

This was a massive improvement for Lednicky against the Frogs, who struggled offensively in their previous matchup.

As always, national assists per set leader Maddie Waak orchestrated the go-getting offense with 50 assists.

The Aggie defense was nearly nonexistent early on, but it finally found some rhythm to help force TCU to back-and-forth battles. The efficient middle blocker duo of Morgan Perkins and Ifenna Cos-Okpalla led the team defensively with five and four blocks, respectively.

It wasn’t always an efficient performance from the Ags, but if there’s one thing to learn from this program, it’s that they learn quickly and adapt to which aspects of the game are being exposed.

The first set was not a smooth one, and neither were the three that followed.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Texas A&M’s seniors shared a moment postgame as they leave the Reed Arena court for the final time with a victory.

An inefficient offense and defense plagued A&M as the Aggies lacked their usual energy. TCU outperformed defensively with nine blocks compared to A&M’s zero. On top of that, 10 attack errors practically handed TCU the frame as an early Christmas gift, 25-23.

Thankfully, the second stanza looked much more energized. There was still a struggle with reception and overall consistency, though, as the Frogs kept the score close, but it wasn’t enough, as the Aggies never relinquished their lead the entire set.

The ongoing battle continued in the third with a constant exchange of leads.

A Cos-Okpalla ace took them to 15-13, but the TCU defense overwhelmed the Ags as they retook the lead. Stronger swings and a strategic lineup switch got the Aggies back in focus to tie it at 22-22 before a powerful Hellmuth kill ended the set, 25-23.

The final frame started scary as TCU threatened to force a fifth set.

However, the Ags quickly adjusted their focus, sparking a trade-off of several large runs between the sides. Two TCU failed challenges sparked just what the Aggies needed as the back-and-forth battle finally fell to the Maroon & White.

Now, the Aggies prepare for their return to the Sweet 16, where they will face the No. 2 seed Louisville.

“It was our first Sweet 16 last year, and we were the underdogs,” Lednicky said. “We came into this season with improvement, and I think we belong there even more now.”

Last year, the Aggies barely lost in a five-set thriller against No. 2 seed Wisconsin.

Now, they seek retaliation.

“We can beat anybody in the country, and that’s the difference this year,” Morrison said.

His players know that, too.

“It’s also that we expect it now,” Underwood added. “We’ve grinded, put in the work and are very capable of moving past the Sweet 16. We’re the team people don’t want to play.”

Revenge has been served, and now the Aggies get another shot at vengeance with hopes that they continue their historic run.