Missouri sweeps No. 17 Texas a&M in three sets
The No. 17 Texas A&M volleyball team fell in three sets to Missouri on Sunday afternoon at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo.
The Aggies dropped the contest with set scores of 20-25, 21-25, and 23-25. While the match remained competitive through the final frame, Missouri secured the 3-0 sweep to improve to 15-10 (8-5 SEC) for the season.
The loss brings the Aggies to a 14-11 record and a 7-6 standing in Southeastern Conference play. The Aggies attempted several late pushes in all three sets but could not overcome the Tigers’ momentum.
The momentum shifts in Columbia
Missouri established an early advantage in the opening set, racing to a 10-5 lead. The Aggies attempted to close the gap through serving stints from Margot Manning and Megan Fitch, which eventually narrowed the deficit to 13-11, but Missouri regained control to win the first set 25-20.
In the second set, the Tigers maintained their aggression. Missouri led 15-11 at the media timeout and held a 19-15 lead later in the frame. Manning sparked a comeback for Texas A&M by recording three straight serves to bring the score to 19-18, forcing a Missouri timeout. However, the Tigers responded with a late run to take the set 25-21.
Texas A&M jumped to an early 8-5 lead before Missouri leveled the score at 20-20. After the teams traded points to reach 22-22, Missouri scored two consecutive points to force an Aggie timeout. Despite defending one match point, Texas A&M saw Missouri seal the set and the match 25-23.
Statistical leaders for the Aggies
Individual performances for Texas A&M remained consistent despite the sweep. Kyndal Stowers led the offensive effort with 14 kills, marking her 16th double-digit kill game of the season. Taryn Morris contributed 12 kills and recorded a .440 hitting percentage.
Defensively, Gabi Rodriguez recorded 11 digs, which was her 21st game this season with 10 or more digs. Margot Manning provided significant utility from the service line, tallying a season-high three aces and 35 assists.
| Player | Stat Category | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Kyndal Stowers | Kills | 14 |
| Taryn Morris | Kills | 12 |
| Gabi Rodriguez | Digs | 11 |
| Margot Manning | Assists | 35 |
| Margot Manning | Aces | 3 |
| Kaia Castle | Blocks | 3 |
The Aggies will look to rebound as they return to Reed Arena next weekend. They are scheduled to close their SEC slate against LSU on Friday and Ole Miss on Sunday.
