Tyler Hosea | The Battalion
By Tyler Alley
Sports Editor
Baylor forced five sets against the Aggies Wednesday in College Station but could not come away victorious, losing by a final score of 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 25-19, 15-25, 5-15).
“It was a hard-fought match, and we had the chance to put it away after going up 2-1,” head coach Jim Barnes said. “But, unfortunately we let them back in it. We have to be a team that is able to put another team away. Bri (Tolbert) started strong, and she and Kate really connected well. I am really proud of Kayci (Evans) in one of her first matches to start, I thought she did a tremendous job.”
Senior middle blocker Briana Tolbert led the Bears’ attack with 12 kills and a .321 hitting percentage, followed by junior right-side hitter Alyssa Dibbern with 10 kills and a .258 hitting percentage.
Texas A&M grabbed the first set, jumping out to a 17-10 lead and never looking back. Baylor fought back to a 24-20 score but could not finish the rally.
The second set went back and forth as the teams were tied 20-20 at one point before Baylor took the lead and won the set.
Baylor began the third set with a 5-1 run and kept the Aggies back from ever taking the lead due to nine service errors by Texas A&M.
The Aggies tied the game up with a dominating fourth set. Starting with a 7-0 run, they would take a 15-5 lead and finish with a 25-15 score.
In the tiebreaking set, the Aggies once again opened the set strong with an 8-1 start, before closing the game 15-5.
Texas A&M outhit Baylor .262 to .136 and had 72 kills to Baylor’s 45. Senior Kelsey Black had a game-high 17 kills for Texas A&M, followed by junior Alicia Katsmo who had 13 kills and an .391 hitting percentage.
Junior setter Kate Harris led the Bears’ defense with 22 digs. Senior libero Allison King had 16 digs on the night.
Baylor hit below .150 in its three losing sets and better than .235 in two winning sets.
Volleyball is the second Baylor team to play Texas A&M since the drama of conference realignment began a few months back. Soccer lost in College Station Sept. 16.
