Jacob Jardel
Assistant Managing Editor
@JJardel_Writing
Aggie Volleyball took rival Midwestern State to the limit before losing a back and forth five-set match on Sept. 26 in Wichita Falls.
With a group of CU students in attendance for Rolling with the Aggies, the Black and Gold alternated sets with the Mustangs before falling in a closely contested fifth set.
The Aggies have not beaten Midwestern since the 2007 season.
The Lady Aggies fell behind early in the first set after an MSU 11-1 run. Despite signs of life, CU could not overcome Mustangs’ lead in the first. Midwestern would have a few more big runs to take the first 25-15.
The second set started with an early 8-1 Aggie run. The Black and Gold would hold the lead throughout and stymie a late MSU run to win the set 25-21 and tie the match at a set apiece.
The Mustangs pulled out to another big lead in the third after an 11-3 run. Despite an Aggie run that would bring the score as close as 23-20, the Black and Gold were unable to gain enough momentum as MSU took the set 25-20 and a 2-1 lead in the match.
Cameron would bounce back in the fourth with efficient play, committing only one attack error and overcoming a 3-0 start to win the set 25-13, tying the match after four sets.
While dominant performances marked the first four sets, the fifth set featured parity unseen throughout the match previous. MSU took an early lead before the Lady Aggies tied the match 9-9. Junior Kat Evans broke the tie with a kill and gave the Aggies a 10-9 lead.
After a Mustang error put CU ahead 11-9, MSU came back with a 6-0 run to clinch the set 15-11 and cap the win for Midwestern.
Both teams had near identical hit percentages, with the Aggies having a slight .178 to .173 advantage. However, CU lost the efficiency battles, committing 30 errors to MSU’s 23. The Lady Aggies also lost the battle at the net, totaling four blocks while the Mustangs recorded 12.
Despite the loss, senior Rebecca Green put up one of the best Aggie offensive games since 2011. She recorded 21 kills on 38 attacks, committing a lone error and notching an attack percentage of .526. Green also recorded eight digs and half the team’s blocks.
Redshirt freshman Kendra Adams also had a career night with 11 kills and three errors. She finished with an attack percentage of .276.
Evans, fellow junior Shannon DuLaney and sophomore Kayla Hebert each recorded double-doubles for the Black and Gold. Evans finished with 12 kills and 11 digs, while DuLaney went 10 and 16. Hebert led the team with 49 assists and added 23 digs.
Junior Taylor Tepfer added to the Aggie performance with 11 digs.
The loss put the Aggies at 5-6 on the season overall with a 1-5 record in the Lone Star Conference.
Aggie Volleyball returns to the court next on Oct. 7 in Ada against East Central University.