Volleyball Score: Texas A&M 3, UAlbany 1 (26-24, 15-25, 13-25, 16-25) | Ohio 3, UAlbany 1 (25-20, 23-25, 19-25, 18-25)
Location: Columbus, Ohio – St. John's Arena
Records: UAlbany (0-3), Texas A&M (3-0), Ohio (1-2)
Short Story: Despite taking the first set in both contests today, UAlbany fell in a pair of matches to Texas A&M and Ohio in four to finish the Ohio State Invitational.
Key Stats:
UAlbany: Tatiana Tiangco combined for a team-high 18 kills in the two matches, while newcomer freshman Grace Cozad continues to impress compiling 11 kills and 18 digs on the day.
Texas A&M: Makena Patterson hit .364 with 25 kills and 11 digs. As a team, the Aggies hit .279 and held the Great Danes to just .021.
Ohio: Tia Jimerson finished the match with game highs in kills (16) and blocks (5).
Key Situation:
UAlbany: The Great Danes scored six straight points to close out set one against Ohio. A service ace from Anna Chalupa sandwiched by a pair of kills from Danielle Tedesco and Akuabata Okenwa surged a 5-1 run for the Great Danes, giving them a late 21-19 lead against Texas A&M. Cozad later sealed the victory with a service ace.
Texas A&M: An 8-1 run, which included four straight kills by the Aggies, guided the home team to a 25-16 win in game four. The squad hit .375 in the set and held the Great Danes to .056.
Ohio: The Bobcats jumped out to a 9-2 lead early in the final set. Ohio kept UAlbany at a distance, never letting the score get within three points. Jimerson finished the set with four kills.
Recap: The UAlbany volleyball team rallied to take the first set in each game today, but fell to Texas A&M and Ohio in four to finish the Ohio State Invitational on Saturday.
Down 15-7 to start the match, UAlbany fought back and got within 20-19 following a solo block. Despite the Aggies bringing the Great Danes to match point, 24-21, the team was unable to close out the set as UAlbany got back-to-back kills to tie the score before capping the set with an ace. Texas A&M used an 8-1 run to take a 10-4 lead, and this time the Aggies continued to add to the margin while outhitting Albany, .314 to -.057. UAlbany got within 21-12 but could get no closer as the teams traded points for the remainder of the set, which ended with a back-row kill by Hans. A&M outhit the Great Danes, .407 to -.065, and led the entire third set. In the final set there were five lead changes and nine ties, but the Aggies notched a kill to knot the score for the final time, 15-15. It was a start of a 7-0 run for the Aggies who went on to win game four, 25-16.
UAlbany is back in action on Friday, August 31, when they face Southeastern Louisiana (11 a.m.) in game one of the Black Knight Invitational. The Great Danes play two on Friday, taking on host Army West Point in a 7 p.m. nightcap.
