It’s the home finale series for Aggie Volleyball. It’s always too short a season with the Volleyball girls. On the other hand, they might be ready for it to be over. After Tuesday’s Aggie Basketball double header and three more events to go on my week off, I may be ready for a break, as well.
Maggie Lightheart was the C-USA Player of the Week after her performance against Middle Tennessee (10-24-25). They had a four-set win the next week over last place LA Tech. The Aggies looked good in three sets, but had a bad set mixed in. The next day, playing in a different venue, the Aggies inexplicably lost in straight sets. This was LA Tech’s first win in conference. Claudia Rossi was the starting setter, possibly for the first time this season.
It got worse the next week. The Aggies lost in 5 sets to Jax State in their second reverse sweep of the season. It was 16 to 4 in aces against them. Maggie and Tess Fuqua played well and Rilen Garcia was the starting setter. In an interview afterward, Coach Jordan said he needed to be harder on them in practice. The team responded with a four-set loss the next day. It was, at least, close in all 4 sets. They out- blocked Jax State and the other stats were pretty even. Jax State is only a .500 team.
I enjoyed Basketball on Tuesday, but this week off has kind of sucked. It’s been boring, though I did finally finish All-Star Superman, which was great. I’ll review it after posting all of these Aggie Sporting events. Today, it was sort of a grey, overcast day without even any rain. It was only depressing.
I pulled into the Pan-Am Center parking lot and it was deserted enough that I was wondering if the game was on. It was just as empty inside. The Reese family wasn’t even there initially. I still sat down where they usually sit and thankfully they showed up shortly. Attendance overall was just 421. There was plenty of time for the day change on the game to get out there, but a Thursday night game still might not attract a good crowd.
I suppose the most interesting team news that I could confirm was that Tess had let her hair return to her natural golden brown. (She looked even more beautiful.) I asked Robin Reese what had happened to the team over the last two weeks. She had theories, but couldn’t explain it. At least it was confirmed that the Aggies will be in the conference tournament. Trey Reese was having to make travel and lodging reservations to go to Miami. He thinks the Aggies will be playing UTEP or WKU in the first round, so he’s not anticipating a long stay. Hopefully, they can make a little vacation out of it.
Trey cleared up something from the previous homestand. The Aggie Baseball team held a draft party for their “World Series,” which required them to dress up and have a date. I had thought it was a dance. For a draft party, I can see why some of the guys were having trouble finding dates.
Tonight’s opponent was #3 in the standings, Kennesaw State. The Owls were dressed in eye-hurting yellow and black uniforms. It was like they should be playing soccer in the English Premier League. Much more pleasing, Assistant Coach Chelsea Rose looked spectacular with her silver blonde hair, tight white top, and black slacks. The trainer was color-coordinated with a white blouse, a black skirt, and cowboy boots.
During player introductions, the starting Owls all ran over and shook hands with Chelsea. She seemed surprised by the congeniality. Coach Jordan wasn’t sitting on the bench at the time. Maybe they didn’t know who the Aggie coach was. To give a little equal opportunity, I have to admit the KS Coach, Keith Schunzel, is fairly handsome. Maybe that helps with recruiting.
Rilen was the Aggies’ starting setter. Aggie Soccer was again supplying the ballgirls tonight. Aggie Women’s Basketball was in attendance. I wouldn’t have noticed them across the court, but I think I saw Loes Rozing wearing a bright, pink sweatsuit that was hard to miss. Of course, Emma Christiano was there, too. She’ll be coming to Aggie games with her kids in a few years.
Set 1
Kate Sinclair got a kill to start, but KS took the next 3 points, including an ace by Kierman Stamey that hung on top of the net for a moment before falling over. Tess, Jaelynn Kohli, and Maggie all had their first kills to keep it tight. 6-4 Aggies, Zoe Ziegler got a kill down the line. Tess made a pancake save on the play. Maggie tooled a block right after. Nellie Reese, who had rotated in to serve, put in an ace for a 4-point run.
Zoe was possessed. She added two more kills. Zoe even came up to serve. I don’t recall seeing her serve. If I had, I think I’d remember our 6’6” hitter doing an awkward-looking Brazilian high-toss jump serve. Mia Fox and Jaelynn made two more kills before the break at 15-8 Aggies. Freshman Jazlyn Vasquez was conducting the rest of the Reserves like a choir cheering the starters off the court.
Maggie, Zoe, and Tess made kills to get the Aggies to the Turn and beyond. 22-14 Aggies, KS made two impressive off-court saves to get a ball back over, but lost the point on an out-swing. The Aggies took Set 1, 25-15, on a kill by Jae. Zoe set her. Zoe seemed more surprised than anyone with that.
Set 2: Aggies 1, Owls 0
The next set started off well. Jae had a kill and Kate made a block for a 5-1 Aggie lead. KS came back. 5-4 Aggies, Owl setter, Kaeley Walz, went full Matrix bending backward to dodge a swing that went out. Kate ended the KS run with a kill down the middle. Jae kept the Aggies in the lead briefly with a kill, but KS pulled ahead. 7-10 KS, Zoe attempted a crosscourt standing swing next to the up ref on a busted play. As Trey said, “That would have been great, if it had worked.”
Maggie and Mia had kills, but the Aggies were still behind. 10-13 KS, a touch call or a 4-touches call on the Owls was challenged. After a long delay, it was reversed and the point was replayed with KS taking it. Maggie had a kill, but it was 11-15 KS going into the break.
Jae had a kill after the timeout. 13-16 KS, Zoe hammered a block at the net. It would have gotten her ejected, but I can’t believe she didn’t waggle a finger at the other team and say, “No! No! No!” Maggie got a touch kill. Mia had a crosscourt kill off a backset by Nellie. Still, it was 15-20 KS at the Turn and the Aggies took a timeout. Zoe had hit one out before the break and wanted a challenge, but the Coach waved it off.
Tess got the kill out of the timeout. Kaylee Peterson went in to serve for Zoe. Tess got a tip kill. Kate, who’d missed on the previous point, had a kill at 18-22 KS. Jae had the last Aggie kill, before the Owls took Set 2, 19-25.
Set 3: Aggies 1, Owls 1
When Nellie came back to our side of the court, she held up 9 fingers to her parents. Trey explained that Nellie was close to passing Robin for career assists. Later, Trey would have his phone out recording when she did it.
However, Claudia came out to start setting for this set. I’m not sure I get the Coach’s setting strategy (and I’m going to get more confused later). Bella Castro was also in for Makayla Martinez at libero. 3-2 Aggies, Jae got a touch kill. She seemed to convince the up official into making the call. Nellie rotated in and made a tremendous diving dig at 4-3 Aggies, which KS put into the net.
Zoe kept the Aggies in the lead at 5-4 with a kill, but misfired on a serve right after. She came out and the Coach had her sit next him for a talk. Maggie then missed a dig. Jacqueline Corcoran was sent in for her, and Maggie went to the hot seat with the Coach. 6-7 KS, Mia smashed a facial at the net. “How did that taste?” Trey asked.
Suddenly, the stands quaked. The north end bleachers are retractable, so they’re not bolted to concrete. A very large man in heavy boots stomped down the stairway. He was also wearing a large amount of cologne. I was afraid to look to see any other details.
8-9 KS, Claudia set Kate for a kill down the middle, but the Owls took the next two points. Maggie wanted a challenge for a touch on the last one, but the Coach called a timeout instead. KS did challenge an out-serve on the next point and it was an easy reversal.
After a bad block on the next point, Coach Jordan finally started getting animated and lectured the Reserves. Jac again came in for Maggie. This time the Coach just waved Maggie to the Reserves without a lecture. She hung her head going back. He kept her out for the rest of the set, even when it looked like she’d asked to come back in.
The move did pay off immediately with Jac getting a kill at 10-14 KS. Mia got the next Aggie kill, even with the ball pinballing off the net twice. Since Nellie was in, Trey asked Robin if that counted as an assist. (It did.) Walz made a slick setter dump with an Ole’ move at 11-17 for an Owl point. Bianca Perez then cycled in for Nellie. I did not have that on my Bingo card. I guess Bianca’s finally healed enough to play the position. I told Robin to get warmed up. If this didn’t work, the Coach would probably put her in.
Owl Ava Holtz then served up two aces at Makayla. Bella was put in for her. 12-19 KS, Bianca bump set Tess for a kill. Tess then smacked two more very hard kills. Jac made a solo block. Zoe, with the Reserves, flew around doing the Airplane in celebration for her. However, the Owls closed it out, 17-25.
Set 4: Owls 2, Aggies 1
Cooper Reese, sitting with his Baseball teammates, was on the videoboard briefly. Trey wasn’t able to get his phone out quick enough to catch his son there. An adorable little kid was caught on Dance Cam. Bianca was the starting setter and Maggie was back in. Perhaps the Coach had written off the previous set and wanted to rest her.
2-2 Maggie fired a kill right at us. If the Reese family wasn’t here, I would not be sitting in these seats. 4-3 Aggies, Tess with a kill and she was fired up. Zoe then served out. I think this Zoe serving experiment should end. Jae tooled the Owl blockers to tie it at 6. Tess got the Aggies into the lead, 7-6, with a beautiful 12-6 curveball over the net for an ace.
The Owls took the lead. At 7-9 KS, Ava Garner dunked one hard for the Owls. Maggie then smashed a facial on Walz at the net, who went right down to her knees. Maggie immediately reached under the net to see if she was okay. (Maggie has a tender heart, too.) There was a delay, but Kaeley waved off all attention and there wasn’t any blood (somehow). (Don’t hit her in the face! Kaeley is pretty!) Maggie tied it at 9 with a block and Jae gave the Aggies a 10-9 lead with another block. Timeout KS.
The Aggies kept the lead. Maggie had a kill and Bianca served up an ace. 13-12 Aggies, Mia made a tip kill that left three Owls in a heap on the court trying to get it. Maggie and Tess added kills, but the Owls came back and retook the lead, 15-16. Timeout Aggies. They were missing digs. The Coach then challenged the next point, but it was upheld for a 15-17 KS lead.
Boom! Another hard kill for Tess at 17-18. Bianca seemed happily stunned by how well Tess had converted on her set. Nellie rotated back in and gave Kate a low set for another kill. 20-19 Aggies and timeout KS. Maggie tied it at 21 with a kill. Jae gave them the lead on next point. The teams traded service errors to tie it at 23. Timeout Aggies. Rilen was suddenly put back in for Bianca, who’d made the last service error.
Maggie tooled a block to get the Aggies to set point at 24-23. Rilen then missed a set to tie it at 24. I don’t think the Coach could have gotten mad at her; it was his decision to make the change. Tess had a crosscourt kill to again get the Aggies to set point, 25-24, but KS tied it up again.
The Owls took a 25-26 lead, but the Coach challenged a touch and it was reversed for another Aggie set point and another kill for Tess. Jac came in to serve. KS took that point and the next with an ace off of Jac. Finally, Tess was blocked and KS took the set, 26-28, and the match, 1-3.
I was really believing there for a moment and then it was suddenly over. The girls looked a little stunned, as well. The Coach had two quick talks with them huddled up before releasing the team to their families and friends. I hope he was apologizing, because he made about as many bad decisions as good ones on who was playing. I’m worried that the Aggie setters have all become headcases from being jerked in and out of the lineup constantly after any mistake.
The Aggies out-hit the Owls .295 to .288. They were nearly even on kills and blocks. The Owls were up 6 to 2 in aces and 7 to 12 in service errors, but it didn’t feel like this was lost on the service line. Usually, I can point to an easy stat difference for the cause of a win or loss, but not this time.
Manu Johnsen was kind of awesome for the Owls with 25 kills. Maggie Butkovich had 11 kills. Setter Kaeley Walz had 44 assists. For the Aggies, Maggie Lightheart, Tess Fuqua, and Jaelynn Kohli all had 12 kills. Mia Fox had 7 kills. (I noticed on the stat sheet, Mia has surprisingly played the most sets on the team this season.) Zoe Ziegler started hot and finished with 5 kills and 3 blocks. Nellie Reese had 22 assists to lead the four setters used. Bianca Perez had 9 assists in only 2 sets of work. They were distributing the ball pretty evenly to the hitters.
I’ll be back tomorrow for Senior Day. Remember ladies, you can’t lose on Senior Day. If nothing else, this will be the final home game for the team. I invited a few people to it, so we’ll hopefully have a good crowd and not be disappointed.
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