Texas A&M volleyball isn't just growing. It's ready to take over.
The Morrison Effect
Jamie Morrison took charge of the Texas A&M Aggies like a storm. His third year at the helm, and he's already got them at No. 9 in the ACVA preseason rankings. This team isn't just improving; it's making statements.
Last season? The Aggies fought tooth and nail, pushing Wisconsin to five sets in the Sweet 16. That's a far cry from their straight-sets loss back in September. You could feel it coming.
Morrison's confidence is contagious. "I was sad for them, but I don't think I was really mourning for longer than five minutes," he said post-tournament. "I was really excited about where the program is going."
Seniors Stepping Up
Having nine seniors is both a blessing and a challenge. Morgan Perkins (.405 hitting percentage) and Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (.374) bring the heat, ranking in the top 40 nationally for hitting percentage. Opposite senior Logan Lednicky? She's a beast, sitting at No. 19 in the NCAA with 4.47 kills per set.
Let's be real, this squad is loaded. Taylor Humphrey is the unsung hero, the rock of the team. Morrison praises her as the perfect example of serve receive. "If I were to put together a video of what serve receive should look like, she’s probably the picture of it," he said.
Gritty Schedule Ahead
The Aggies' schedule is no walk in the park. They've already squared off against No. 20 Baylor and are set to face off with No. 11 Minnesota. Sprinkle in matches against No. 10 SMU and No. 25 TCU, and you've got a recipe for a battle-tested team by December.
But SEC play looms, with Kentucky and Texas ready to test A&M's mettle. Last year's missteps against Mississippi State and Tennessee can't repeat.
Here's the kicker: this team isn't just about surviving the schedule. They're aiming to dominate it.
And from there… it was over. Expect the Aggies to not only match last year's performances but blow them out of the water. That'll do it.
Source: statesman.com
