Friday night at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium won’t be the only time the Texas Longhorns face bitter rival Texas A&M in a high stakes matchup. Texas Volleyball takes on the Aggies in the SEC Volleyball Tournament semifinal. The winner will face Kentucky in the finals.
The Aggies beat UT earlier in the year and are a higher seed in the conference tournament, so the Longhorns will be looking for a measure of revenge. Both squads had relatively easy quarterfinals matchups. A&M swept Vanderbilt, while Texas demolished Ole Miss.
UT was never really tested in the easy three-set win over the Rebels. Texas dominated on the scoreboard and the stats board. UT outscored Ole Miss 75-36 overall. The Longhorns also dominated the kills category, 41-28 and had a very high 0.475 hit percentage. Superstar Torrey Stafford lead all players with 16 kills. Cari Spears chipped in 11. No player on Ole Miss had more than Gabi Placide’s 8.
SET IV: In progress
SET III: Texas 27, Texas A&M 25
The Longhorns fought off two set points to take the third set. A big kill by freshman Abby Vander Wal sealed the deal in a set that neither team led by more than two points.
Tied 25-25
Back and forth as both teams try to take a 2-1 set advantage into Set IV.
Aggies takes lead
With star Kyndal Stowers serving the Aggies have surged to a 22-21 lead. UT has now taken a time out.
Texas Ace
An ace by Ava Underwood has given Texas a slim 21-19 lead in the third set. The Aggies immediately took a time out.
Tied late in set
The set is tied 18-18. It is the 12th tie of the set.
Back to back Aces for Aggies
Two aces in a row by server Kyndal Stowers has given the Aggies a slight 13-11 lead in the third set.
Pivotal set tight early
The third set is key to advance. So far the teams are back and forth. 8-8
SET II: Texas 16, Texas A&M 24
Aggies looked more confident in the second set. A&M’s defense was stout and shut down the Longhorns offense late.
A&M holding off Texas
It looked like Texas might make a big comeback in the second set. But A&M has steadied the ship and are close to tying the match at 1-1.
Stafford slams down two
Superstar Torrey Stafford has hammered down two straight kills to chip away that the A&M second set lead. Aggies lead 14-9.
Longhorns lose challenge
Aggies coach Jamie Morrison challenged that there were four hits during a rally eventually won by the Longhorns. Sure enough the ball grazed the head of Ayden Ames. Aggies lead 13-6.
A&M building huge lead
The Aggies have continued their hot play in the second set. The A&M offense has woken up and is battering the Horns front line so far to build an 11-4 lead.
Aggies hot early in second set
A&M isn’t going anywhere. After losing Set I, the Aggies have won five points in a row and let 5-1.
SET I: Texas 25, Texas A&M 18
Texas was by far the better team in the first set. Led by freshman Abby Vander Wal, the Longhorns looked more coordinated and athletic than the Aggies.
Longhorns close in on Set I win
Another huge kill by Vander Wal has Texas four points from taking the first set.
Freshman Hammer
Huge Kill by freshman phenom Abby Vander Wal puts Texas up 19-13.
Aggies gaining some momentum
A&M has settled down a bit and have 3 of the last 4 points in set one. Texas leads 15-10.
UT Blocking Well
A perceived weakness for the Longhorns this season has been blocking. But the Lady Longhorns already have four blocks in the set, now up 11-5.
Texas surges to early lead
UT has jumped out to a quick 8-4 lead after a Kill by Cari Spears.
Close set early
The game has started tight. So far, Texas has delivered more kills and lead 4-2 early.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: LIVE COVERAGE: Texas Volleyball faces rival Texas A&M in SEC semifinal
Reporting by Trey Luerssen, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
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