Sept. 11, 2010

Results

DENVER, Colo. - The Gonzaga University women's volleyball team was neck-and-neck with Texas A&M University in each set but couldn't close the deal as the Aggies earned the 25-22, 25-23, 27-25 victory over the Bulldogs Saturday on the second day of the Pioneer Classic hosted by the University of Denver. The Zags, who have lost six straight, fell to 2-8 on the season with the Aggies, members of the Big 12 Conference, improving to 6-4 overall and finished the tournament a perfect 3-0.

"I thought we did an admirable job of establishing a level of play in that kept us in each set right up till the end," head coach Dave Gantt said after the match. "In set one we were tied 22-22 and gave up a three point run. In set two it was tied at 23 and we gave up a two-point run. Then in set three it was tied at 24, we went ahead 25-24, and then gave up a 3-point run to lose 27-25. So we proved a willingness to take it the distance and certainly that is what we have to do in every set. Now we need to learn to finish."

Gonzaga seemed to stun Texas A&M with its aggressive and strong play in set one, despite its two early losses in the tournament. The Bulldogs and Aggies stayed close with nine ties and three lead changes but with the set knotted at 22-22 after a Caitlin Cozad kill, A&M turned its play up. A kill by Chelsea Ringel broke the tie and a service ace by Alisia Kastmo put the Aggies one point away from victory. TAMU All-America candidate Kelsey Black gave them the win with a kill.

Like Gonzaga had done in its earlier match with the University of Denver, it rallied late in the second set to take the slight edge and momentary momentum. Texas A&M had turned a 18-15 deficit into a 22-19 advantage with a 7-1 run that included six kills and a block on a Bulldog attack attempt but the Zags turned the tables with four-straight kills of their own, including a finish by senior Schylur Edelman after senior Allyson Powell popped the ball up with her chest, to capture the 23-22 lead.

Black took control though, pounding home two of her six kills in the set back-to-back to push the one-point lead back to Texas A&M. A&M won the match on an attack error by GU sophomore Kylie Edinger, whose attempt went wide.

Once again it looked like Gonzaga was going to take the third set as it starved off set and match point at 24-22 after Black miss-hit an Aggie serve. That small mistake was enough for the Bulldogs to get some confidence and block two-straight A&M kill attempts. First Edelman and Edinger combined to stop Alisia Kastmo to knot the score at 24-24 and then Edelman and Denise Van de Mortel stuffed Black's attempt to put GU one point away from victory. Unfortunately, Chelsea Eingel stopped Gonzaga with a kill to tie the set, the 13th of the set, at 25-25. The final moments were in the Bulldogs hands as they had two attack attempts that could have given them the victory, but Edelman and Edinger both hit their balls out instead to give Texas A&M the two-point victory and sweep.

Edelman and sophomore Kaprina Goodwin combined for 18 of Gonzaga's 32 kills. Senior Caitlin Cozad and Edinger added seven kills apiece.

The Aggies were led by Black with 13 kills and Lindsey Miller with 11. As a team, A&M finished with 47 kills on 119 attempts for a .193 hitting percentage.

Bulldog freshman Kristina Lavrisha took over the libero spot and finished with a match and career tying-high 19 digs. Cozad added seven for GU who finished with 43.

As in two of the three matches this weekend, Gonzaga won the blocking war, this time 11-9. Edelman and Cozad each had five block assists with redshirt freshman Meredith Crenshaw adding four block assists.

Gonzaga closes out the Pioneer Classic Sunday with a match against Jacksonville State University, beginning at 10 a.m. PDT.