Texas A&M volleyball pulled off a dramatic comeback vs. Louisville in the Sweet 16, winning in five sets to advance to their first Elite 8 in 24 years.
Texas A&M volleyball is headed to the Elite 8 for the first time since 2001, and they did it in the most dramatic way possible, by pulling off a reverse sweep over No. 2-seeded Louisville in the Sweet 16.
In what was billed as one of the most evenly matched contests of the round, the No. 3-seeded Aggies found themselves in an 0-2 hole after dropping the first two sets 25-23 and 25-22.
But head coach Jamie Morrison, in just his third year, had his team ready to respond.
Set 3 was a turning point. The Aggies' offense finally caught fire behind an 18-kill performance, just enough to edge out the Cardinals 25-23 and stay alive. That lit the necessary spark.
Set 4 was pure dominance. Texas A&M jumped out to a 19-10 lead thanks to monster blocks from Ifenna Cos-Okpalla and Morgan Perkins, who anchored a defense that registered nine total blocks in the set.
Add 11 kills to that total, and the Aggies rolled to a 25-15 win to force a deciding fifth set.
That final set was a war.
There were nine ties and three lead changes, but the Aggies stayed aggressive at the net and got contributions from five different players. Then, with the match hanging in the balance, star outside hitter Kyndal Stowers delivered the final blow with a massive kill that sealed the 15-12 win and one of the biggest victories in program history.
With the reverse sweep complete, A&M became the final No. 3 seed to take down a No. 2 in this year's bracket. Now, they’re on to an even bigger test ... a Sunday showdown against the undefeated No. 1 overall seed Nebraska, with a Final Four berth on the line.
At 23-4, this Aggies team isn't just on a hot streak.
They’re rewriting the program's legacy in real time. Behind Morrison’s leadership and a fearless, gritty roster, A&M isn't just surviving in the tournament anymore; they're making history.
The Aggies will look to shock the volleyball world again when they face the Huskers at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday, December 14.