The Tigers and Aggies would be tied 14 times throughout the course of Game 1 and for the last time at 26 apiece. Sophomore Mary Lauren Smith would then absolutely take over the game recording three of her six Game 1 kills and a block assist to lead Mizzou to a 30-28 Game 1 win. The Game 1 win marked the first time an MU squad has taken a game from Texas A&M in College Station in six all-time meetings between the two schools in Texas. Junior Lisa Morris also pitched in with six kills in the game while the Tigers recorded 12 block assists in the game. Senior Naaron Branson also became a member of the 1,000-dig club at Mizzou in the game. Branson's fifth of 19 digs she would record on the night gave her 1,000 digs for her career.
The No. 17 Aggies would show why they are the No. 17 Aggies in Game 2. After the Tigers ran out to a 10-7 lead, the Aggies would go on a 23-11 run to end the game, 30-21. The Aggies would record a .320 hitting percentage and held the Tigers to a .167 percentage. Seniors Erin Lechler and Brandi Mount recorded six kills each in Game 2 to lead the Aggies.
Mizzou would once again run out to a lead in Game 3, taking a 17-11 advantage. Texas A&M would battle back in a big way though, and tie the game at 22. The two squads would be tied seven more times during the rest of the game and both squads would hold off game point and were tied at 31-31. However, two tough serves and a kill by A&M's A.D. Achileflu would secure the game for the Aggies, 33-31.
With momentum in hand, the Aggies would jump out to a 10-5 lead in Game 4. Mizzou would climb as close as 10-7 with two straight kills by sophomore Ashlee Johns, but A&M would use a 17-9 run to extend its lead to 27-16 and did not look back taking the game, 30-20 and the match, 3-1. Head Coach Susan Kreklow said that the Tigers came out and played well in Game 1 but did not carry that momentum through the rest of the match.
"I was pleased to see our kids come out and play well in front of a large, rowdy crowd in Game 1," Kreklow said. "We had our chances in this match and let them slip away. You can't do that against a quality team like Texas A&M and expect to compete for a win."
Morris lead the way once again for Mizzou putting down 18 kills while picking up 16 digs and recording four service aces. Branson slated 14 terminations on the night and now needs just four kills to become only the second player in Tiger history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. Junior middle blocker Christi Myers also continued her solid play putting down 12 kills, picking up 11 digs and stuffing five of the Tigers 24 block assists in the match.
The Tigers now return home for back-to-back matches. Mizzou will take on Southern Illinois University on Monday night and will then face No. 2 Nebraska in the friendly confines of the Hearnes Center. MU has faced both schools this season defeating SIU in the championship match of the Best Inns Invitational on Sept. 9 and dropping a 3-0 match at Nebraska in Lincoln on Oct. 3. For ticket information on either one of these matches, call 1800-CAT PAWS or 884-PAWS in Columbia.