Texas A&M volleyball, just a year removed from hoisting the NCAA Championship trophy, finds itself battling through a challenging 10-7 overall record and 3-2 in SEC play, a stark contrast that head coach Jamie Morrison has been upfront about.
The Championship Hangover is Absolutely Real
Morrison has been honest for almost a year, telling TexAgs Live even after winning the 2025 title that following up a national championship would be difficult, especially after losing nine seniors. “This can’t be the expectation every single year,” he said back then, noting that success is a byproduct of doing things right. Now, with two road losses to unranked conference foes Oklahoma and Arkansas in their last two matches, that difficulty is hitting hard.
The Aggies brought in a talented group of transfers, sure, but it’s clearly been a rebuilding season. “I think it’s exhausting, to be honest with you,” Morrison admitted. The target on their back is huge, too. “It’s not really an edge. Everyone’s going to give us their best shot. Everyone comes out on fire looking for the graphic of defeating the defending national champions.” He points out it’s just a natural part of playing in an SEC where eight teams are in the top 35 of RPI. The fourth-year Aggies coach is still saying it “until I’m blue in the face: from top to bottom, the SEC is one of the toughest conferences in the country.” He’s proud of their accomplishments given how much they’ve missed, suggesting the injuries caught up to them a bit.
Kyndal Stowers’ Record Night Not Enough As Aggies Battle Injuries
The injury bug has been a frequent, unwanted guest on this A&M squad, with multiple starters missing matches early in the season. That includes last season’s NCAA Tournament’s most outstanding player, outside hitter Kyndal Stowers. She’s one of the few returners from the championship team and has been a crucial presence after recovering from her own early-season injury that limited her in conference play.
Stowers absolutely exploded against Mississippi State on October 4, setting a new school record for points in a three-set match with a ridiculous 26.5 after logging 21 kills, five aces, and a block. That kind of performance is electric, and after the match, Stowers emphasized how vital the Aggies’ depth has been this season. “It’s amazing to be able to go in and not have to worry so much every single game,” she said, highlighting the trust she has in her teammates.
The road doesn’t get any easier for the Aggies. They face a massive test this Friday at 6 p.m. in College Station against No. 7 Florida, a squad that already boasts wins over No. 4 Kentucky and No. 9 Tennessee. Florida just suffered its first conference loss to No. 24 Vanderbilt, so they’ll be fired up too. Catch all the action on SEC Network.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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