Coming off their loss to No. 2 Texas in Austin, the 9-3 Texas A&M volleyball team looks to bounce back with a win when they face Kansas this Saturday at Reed Arena.
A&M Head Coach Laurie Corbelli said that the team could improve in many areas, but what was more key to the Aggies' success for the rest of the season and more specifically in Big 12 play was their ability to have a short memory and focus on the next game.
"I think one of the outstanding things that the leaders have done has been helping the team get over a loss," Corbelli said. "You have to move on and get over it. We hate losing and we are not very good losers. It sits with you for a while unless you force it to leave and focus on the right things."
Team captain senior outside hitter Sarah Ammerman has taken the leadership role by the horns to help her team rebound from losses.
"After our loss to Missouri, our captain Sarah sent an email out to the team that was really encouraging," said senior outside hitter Mary Batis. "It said that one loss doesn't determine who we are and that there are so many more factors that determine a great team."
Corbelli said her team needs work blocking and timing for their upcoming bout with Kansas.
"The pass that comes off the opponents serve when you pass to your setter, depending on where that goes is directly influenced by timing," Corbelli said. "With volleyball being such a fast and dynamic sport, you have to be really sharp with your timing especially when you run such a fast offense like we do."
After playing Texas in their home court, the Aggies are refocusing on Kansas' strengths.
"Coming off the Texas match, which is a really high adrenaline match, we have to get our block really strong against this KU attack," Corbelli said. "They have all but one returning player and they are an underdog in the league so sometimes it's a really great position to be in because they don't really have anything to lose and everything to gain."
Ammerman has had personal experience with one of Kansas players and is excited to face her.
"Kansas is always a very scrappy team," Ammerman said. "I played with one of their outside hitters in club and it's always fun to play against her because she is one of their main attackers."
The Aggies have an impressive win on their resume when they beat then No. 10 Nebraska earlier in the year. Batis feels like that is exactly what the Aggies need in order to accomplish their goal of making it to the NCAA tournament.
"A win over number 6 was big thing for us because for the past three years not beating a ranked opponent has been what has kept us out of the tournament," Batis said.
Kansas is 9-4 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12. Though Corbelli said she considers them to be the underdog, Batis said that is a position they would rather be in.
"We have a great team chemistry and we love what we do," Batis said. "We love getting out onto the court, being the underdog and coming out on top."
The Aggies are on the right path to their goal but staying humble is what they feel like will get them further as a team.
"In Big 12 we feel pretty good all the way around, but we don't feel great," Batis said. You can never feel great about the way you play otherwise you are going to be stagnant."
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