By Brody Rupert
No. 6 in the nation — the highest ranking since 2005 — is where the Tennessee Volunteers found themselves coming into Friday’s game against Texas A&M.
A streak of seven wins was on the line as the team looked to extend its streak.
The Vols played without star player Chelsea Sutton, who suffered an injury in a win against Vanderbilt.
First set: Neither team gives an inch
Tennessee jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead in the first set, highlighted by a big kill from Kennedi Rogers.
An attack error by Rogers tied the set at 6-6. The Vols were coordinated, but the Aggies’ 2.41 blocks per set presented early trouble.
Points were traded back and forth, and neither team was able to stretch the lead beyond two points.
Rogers, who enters averaging 4.21 kills per set, was active early, finding open space for three early kills.
The Vols were first to reach 15 points following a kill by Maggie Dostic, but the Aggies trailed by just one.
Texas A&M committed three early service errors that handed free points to the Vols.
Tennessee reached 20 points first as well, holding a 20-19 edge.
Every point was answered on both sides. With Texas A&M leading 22-21, Tennessee called a timeout.
Tennessee began to slip late, but Caroline Kerr kept the Vols in range before Jalyn Stout tied the set at 24-24.
A shot by Dostic gave the Vols set point at 25-24, but a service error by Kerr tied it again.
A net violation by Stout and a Texas A&M service ace closed out Set 1 for the Aggies, 27-25.
Set 2: Tennessee builds buffer, Aggies rally
Texas A&M opened the second set with its fourth and fifth blocks of the match to take a quick 2-0 lead.
Both teams pressed on serve, resulting in six service errors for the Aggies and three for the Vols, alongside a pair of aces for each team.
Tennessee built an 11-7 lead before Texas A&M rallied to tie the set.
Stout posted five kills and three digs by midway through the second set. Tennessee stretched its lead back to 15-11 heading into the first timeout.
Rogers added to her line with 11 kills, including one that pushed the lead to four.
Tennessee maintained a two- to three-point buffer throughout the middle of the set and was first to reach 20 points.
Twenty-four ties occurred across the first two sets, the latest at 22-22. The Aggies’ 11th block of the match gave Texas A&M the advantage.
Facing set point, Dostic hit down the line to tie it at 24-24.
Tennessee earned a set point at 25-24, but the Aggies responded. Dostic delivered another clutch kill to regain the lead, but Texas A&M answered once more.
The set pushed past 30 points before Texas A&M secured the set, 33-31, putting Tennessee in a 2-0 set deficit.
Set 3: Volunteer domination
Tennessee opened the third set with a 3-0 run.
Facing a 2-0 match deficit, the Vols needed a reverse sweep to escape with a win.
They built a 10-5 lead early, aided by a block from Kerr, and expanded the advantage to 14-7. A service error by Dostic halted the run, but Tennessee was first to 15 points.
Rogers reached 17 kills by the middle of the set, continuing her strong SEC campaign.
Tennessee cruised through the remainder of the set, taking a 20-13 lead before closing out Set 3, 25-15.
Set 4: Close finish
Tennessee started fast in the fourth set, taking a 3-0 lead.
Both teams reached nine service errors in the match as points were left on the board.
Tennessee maintained a small lead, but attacking errors — 23 in the match — contributed to its set deficit.
The Aggies rallied to tie the set at 10-10 before taking their first lead of the set.
Tennessee reached 15 points first with a two-point lead, but Texas A&M answered to tie it at 19-19.
Freshman Jolene Oddo recorded a block to give Tennessee a 22-19 lead as the Vols closed in on forcing a fifth set.
Tennessee led 23-22 late, but Texas A&M closed on a run, finishing the match with a service ace to seal the victory in College Station, Texas.
UP NEXT – Tennessee will take on Missouri on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. with the broadcast on ESPN