Oct. 17, 2012

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TENNESSEE (13-5, 6-3) at TEXAS A&M (15-3, 7-2)

Oct. 19, 2012 | 7:00 p.m. ET

Reed Arena | College Station, Texas

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THE TEXAS A&M MATCH

Friday night's matchup between the Tennessee Lady Vols and the Texas A&M Aggies marks just the eighth contest - and the first meeting in almost eight years - between the two opponents. The Orange & White currently leads the series by a 5-2 margin.
With Texas A&M is in its first season as a member of the Southeastern Conference, this will also be the first league matchup between the two sides.
The Lady Vols will be making just their third trip to College Station and the first in nearly 18 years. The Big Orange is 1-1 all-time in Aggieland.

The teams played five times between 1982 and 1987, but have only met twice since, with the most recent meeting coming in the 2004 NCAA Tournament Second Round. UT won the match against the 18th-ranked Aggies in four sets at home.
Tennessee won the opening three matchups of the series, but the squads have split the past four.
Coach Rob Patrick is 1-0 against the Aggies. The win came in the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament on Dec. 4.

SCOUTING THE AGGIES

Texas A&M enters the Friday night showdown leading the SEC Western Division with a 7-2 mark in league play and a 15-3 overall record.
The Aggies are coming off a five-set win at Arkansas and a straight-set loss at Kentucky. Both league losses for A&M have come against UK.
Coming in at No. 28, Texas A&M is one of five SEC teams ranked in the top 30 in the third week of the NCAA RPI Rankings.
Texas A&M leads the conference in three statistical categories. The Aggies ranks first in assists per set (13.42) - just one spot ahead of the Lady Vols - first in kills per set (14.55) and first in opponent hitting percentage (.143). The squad also ranks second in the SEC in digs with a 16.65 scoop per frame average. The Aggies are in the top five in both hitting percentage (.251) and service aces per set (1.24).
An All-Big 12 honoree last season, senior right side hitter Alisia Kastmo leads the Aggies in total kills (211), kills per set (3.58) and points per set (4.00). Kastmo's kills per set average ranks 10th in the SEC and her points average is eighth.
Texas A&M is 6-2 at Reed Arena this season.
The Aggies reached the NCAA Second Round last season before being ousted by Kentucky in three.
Laurie Corbelli is in her 20th season with Texas A&M and has guided the Aggies to NCAA Tournament appearances in 15 of the last 19 years. Corbelli holds a record of 414-197 at A&M.