COLLEGE STATION, Texas- Texas A&M ended its season on a winning note, defeating Missouri, 30-24, 30-20, 30-27, in front of 813 at G. Rollie White Coliseum.

In addition, Christi Hahn, A&M’s lone senior, went out victorious as she concluded a stellar four-year career. The middle blocker from Leander, Texas, tallied 14 kills with only one error – committed on the opening play of the match – in 28 attempts to finish with a .464 hitting efficiency. Hahn hit .369 for the season, ranking third in the A&M season records, and she ranks second in the A&M records with a .332 career hitting percentage.

A&M freshmen Mary Batis (15 kills, 14 digs) and Sarah Ammerman (11 kills, 15 digs) did the damage from the outside, while freshman Courtnee Rhodes dished out 44 assists. Junior libero Jen Moore led the Aggies in the back court and tied her career high with 18 digs. Freshman defensive specialist Stephanie Cadavid also reached double figures in digs with 10.

“Our first two touches were improved by a zillion percent,” A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. “Our passing was a lot crisper. It had more pace on it and (better) trajectory to our setter. Courtnee delivered the ball the way we train. She was really on tonight. She was giving the hitters the ball that they are used to hitting.”

A&M spotted the Tigers the first two points of the opening game before going on a 5-0 run. A&M never relinquished the lead and was up, 9-7, before outscoring Missouri, 12-3. Kelsey Bryant had three kills and teamed for two blocks in the run as A&M built its largest lead at 23-11. Missouri cut the led to five points at 29-24 before Hahn put down her fifth kill of the game to give A&M the 30-24 win.

A&M, which out-hit Missouri, .235 to .154 in the first game, out-hit the Tigers .354 to .146 while taking Game 2. After taking a 2-1 lead, the Aggies never trailed for the remainder of the game. Missouri tied the score six times, the last coming at 8-all before Ammerman and Hahn sparked a 5-0, combining for three kills and a block. Missouri responded with three straight points, but A&M countered with an 8-1 run to pull ahead, 21-12. A&M held a 27-20 lead before two kills by Batis sandwiched around a Tiger ball handling error gave A&M a 30-20 win and a two-game lead.

There were 20 ties and five lead changes in the final game. A&M held its largest lead at 18-15, but Missouri later took the lead at 21-20 after back-to-back attack errors by the Aggies. The Tigers never got more than two points ahead throughout the game and held a 23-21 advantage when a kill by Batis and a block by Bryant and Kelly Stanton tied the score. Batis then aced her serve to give the Aggies a 24-23 lead. The teams exchanged points and were tied for the last time at 26-all. Missouri was whistled for a ball handling error, and Batis followed with back-to-back kills to put the Aggies serving for the match. Jessica Vander Kooi put down her 10th kill for the Tigers before Batis pounded her fifth kill of the game to end the match.

“We were really earning our points,” Corbelli said. “That just built our confidence. It built on our momentum. The team put so much energy and so much trust in each other and the system and in everything that they did that every touch looked so golden. Things were just on fire, and they all felt it. It reflected in the scores.”

The Aggies out-hit Missouri, .259 to .151 in the match. Bryant, Stanton and Ammerman had five blocks apiece as A&M out-blocked the Tigers, 11 to 4.5. A&M also led in kills, (54-41), digs (69-63) and aces (5-1).

“I’m so glad that our team came to play tonight just so that this could be the last memory and not what the rest of the season has been like,” Hahn said. “(It’s) just so exciting to see the girls play like we know how to play and with the fire and the intensity and just making it fun. “

When asked about a favorite moment in her career, Hahn responded, “My favorite moment was probably tonight. Winning tonight just meant so much to mean. These girls care and they are so good. For it finally come together and for us to play as a team and to play hard and to play well and to fight and get a win over a ranked Missouri team, 3-0, that is pretty awesome. That is one of my favorites.”

With the win, the Aggies snap a four-match losing skid and end the season 12-16 overall and 5-15 in the Big 12. Despite the win, A&M will miss the NCAA tournament for the first time in 14 years.

Missouri, which is expected to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship, drops to 16-12 and 10-9 in the Big 12. The Tigers conclude the regular season Friday at Texas Tech.

The NCAA 64-team field will be announced Sunday on ESPNEWS between 2 and 2:30 p.m.

Short Box

Texas A&M def. Missouri 30-24, 30-20, 30-27

Missouri (16-12, 10-9 Big 12) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Wilson, Nicole 13-0-2; Vander Kooi, Jessica 10-0-3; Hantouli, Amanda 8-0-1; Yang, Na 6-0-0; Klein, Julianna 4-0-2; Ailes, Tatum 0-1-0; Totals 41-1-4.5. (Assists) - Wang, Lei 40. (Dig leaders) - Ailes, Tatum 18; Yang, Na 13; Vander Kooi, Jessica 12.

Texas A&M (12-16, 5-15 Big 12) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Batis, Mary 15-1-0; Hahn, Christi 14-1-4; Ammerman, Sarah 11-1-5; Stanton, Kelly 6-1-5; Bryant, Kelsey 6-1-5; Rhodes, Courtnee 2-0-1; Totals 54-5-11.0. (Assists) - Rhodes, Courtnee 44. (Dig leaders) - Moore, Jen 18; Ammerman, Sarah 15; Batis, Mary 14; Cadavid, Stephanie 10.

Site: College Station, TX (G. Rollie White Col.)

Date: Nov 22, 2006 Attend: 813 Time: 1:32

Referees: Jim Giacomazzi, Eric Sanders