Die Macht » Junior defensive specialist Gabby Litwin had a season-hig

In recent years, no tennis player has been more physically fit than Andy Murray. Mental fitness, however -- particularly under duress -- has been an enduring issue.For the better part of six years, Novak Djokovic has been the best player in the world, the consummate model of commitment and mental toughness.And now, after Murrays decisive 6-3, 6-4 finals victory Sunday over Djokovic at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, they have traded places.With the year-end No. 1 ranking on the line in a single match, Murray absolutely commanded the court, dictating to Djokovic the way Djokovic dictated to him in winning 24 of 34 previous matches -- and 16 of the past 19.In two of those matches, back in January in the Australian Open final and, four months later, in the final at Roland Garros, Djokovic was indomitable. But here, the roles were reversed.I just played very poorly, made a lot of unforced errors from the backhand side, Djokovic said to the media afterward. On the other hand, credit to Andy for being mentally tough and playing the right shots, making me play extra shots in every rally. He definitely deserved to win.Murrays forehand was massive, and so were both his first and second serves, but it was his composure that was so unnerving to the man across the net. Two points from the match, at 30-all, Murray fearlessly bounded up to the net and forced a long lob.It was obviously a big match, a very important win for me, Murray said later. It was just a huge match to finish the year, to try and obviously finish No. 1. Obviously, this is a major event, as well, and one Ive not done well in in the past.So its been a great week.Djokovic, the four-time defending champion, meanwhile, was a mess -- off balance and tentative.Tellingly, he missed a bunny of an overhead in the sixth game of the first set and an even easier volley in the fourth game of the second. His cross-court backhand, the best and most natural shot in his entire palette, missed early and often.Djokovic came in with an enormous edge in terms of freshness. He dropped only five games in his Friday and Saturday matches; Murray went 3 hours, 38 minutes in his Saturday semifinal win over Milos Raonic, his second three-hour-plus match of the tournament.But fatigue was never a problem for Murray, whose body language was exemplary.I guess, even though he has had very long matches, especially the one yesterday, people were thinking maybe hes going to be slightly tired, Djokovic said. But he didnt seem so. More than anything, he felt comfortable in the rallies and exactly knew what to do.Murrays first big push to the top came four years ago. He won the gold medal at home in the London Olympics, and then, after losing his first four Grand Slam finals, he finally won one, the 2012 US Open, beating Djokovic in the final. The same scenario played out at Wimbledon the following year.Ivan Lendl, who coached Murray through that best-ever stretch, gets a lot of credit for giving him the gift of confidence. Lendl, a no-nonsense, eight-time Grand Slam singles champion, implored the cautious Murray to aim for the lines -- and not to despair when he missed. Going for it, Murray came to learn, was the same thing as believing in yourself.That surge might have eventually taken him to No. 1, but back surgery after the 2013 US Open and the departure of Lendl early the next year arrested that potential championship development.In June, Lendl agreed to return to Murrays coaching box, but he has hardly been a fixture in the athletes daily routine. Back in February, Murray and his wife, Kim, became parents. Pretty much ever since, outside of that French Open final and a five-set quarterfinal loss to?Kei Nishikori?at the US Open, things have gone swimmingly for Murray.At the age of 29, he finds himself ranked No. 1 for the first time ever. Murray finished the season on a run of 24 consecutive match wins. This, after establishing a career-best of 22 straight victories earlier this year.Thats a ton of momentum going into 2017.I would like to try and stay there, obviously, Murray said of the No. 1 ranking. Its taken a huge effort the last five, six months to get there. Im aware thats going to be extremely difficult because I had a great year this year. I only managed to do it by one match. To repeat that again next year is going to be extremely difficult.But now that Ive got there, I obviously would be motivated to try and stay in that position. Sean Murphy Athletics Jersey . 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Denny Mclain Jersey . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court. COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M led from start to finish as the Aggies cruised to a 25-6, 25-15, 25-18 victory over South Carolina tonight at Reed Arena.It was the fifth consecutive victory for the Aggies, who improve to 11-6 overall and 5-1 in Southeastern Conference matches. South Carolina suffered its fourth consecutive loss and falls to 13-5 overall and 1-5 in conference play.Texas A&M shredded the South Carolina defense in the opening set, with junior setter Stephanie Aiple directing the Aggie offense to a blistering .652 hitting efficiency. Junior outside hitter Kiara McGee set the tone from the get-go, getting a straight-down kill to start the match and then putting down a South Carolina overpass on the ensuing play. The Aggies held a 4-2 lead when the Gamecocks served long and freshman outside hitter Hollann Hans followed with three consecutive kills during an 8-0 A&M run. Texas A&M continued to pull away, twice reeling off runs of five points while never allowing the Gamecocks to score consecutive points. South Carolina, which hit .000 in the set, had an attack error that put the Aggies at set point, and Texas A&M senior middle blocker Jazzmin Babers ended the frame with a solo block.The Gamecocks six points in the stanza tied the A&M record for fewest points allowed in a non-fifth set, first accomplished in a 25-22, 25-6, 25-18 sweep against South Carolina in the final match of the 2013 regular season and tied earlier this season in a 3-1 victory at LSU.The Aggies held a 3-2 lead in the second set before a McGee kill marked the start of a 9-0 run, giving A&M its largest lead of the stanza, 12-2. South Carolina got within five points at 18-13 following a 3-0 run-equaling its longest scoring streak of the match-but could get no closer. The Aggies held a 20-14 cushion before a Gamecock service error, a kill by Babers, an ace by Texas A&M senior defensive specialist Victoria Arenas and a kill by McGee put the Aggies at set point. The Gamecocks, who were still hitting .000 for the match, got a block on the next play before Babers got a kill to close out the set and put the Aggies up, 2-0, in the match.Texas A&M sophomore middle blocker Kaitlyn Blake, the reigning SEC Player of the Week, and junior opposite hitter Ashlie Reasor had back-to-back kills to begin the third set, and the Aggies never lett up.ddddddddddddEven libero Amy Nettles got a kill in the set, digging a ball that went over the net and fell in for a kill to put the Aggies up, 20-14. Reasor won a joust to put A&M ahead, 21-14, before the teams began to exchange point for point. Senior setter Kaysie Shebeneck, who replaced Aiple with the Aggies up, 19-12, got the match-ending kill.McGee and Hans tied for match-high honors in kills with 11 apiece while hitting .348 and .333, respectively. Aiple had 30 assists as A&M hit a season-high .404 while holding the Gamecocks to a .088 hitting efficiency.Junior defensive specialist Gabby Litwin had a season-high 10 digs, tying Nettles for match-high honors, and sophomore defensive specialist Amy Houser led all players and tied her career high with two aces. Babers and Blake tied for match-high honors with three blocks, giving Babers 490 total blocks for her career and moving her into a tie for third place in the A&M all-time records with former two-time All-American Sherri Brinkman (1983-85).The victory gave Texas A&M head coach Laurie Corbelli her 599th win in her 31-year head coaching career, as well as her 499th victory in her 24th season as head coach of the Aggies.The Aggies will aim to give her a milestone victory and win their sixth consecutive match when they return to Reed Arena on Sunday at 4 p.m. for a highly anticipated match against No. 9 Florida. Texas A&M posted an epic victory against the Gators last year in College Station, coming back from a 0-2 set deficit to win the match 3-2 on Senior Day. It was Floridas first-ever loss in the all-time series against the Aggies, who went on to win their first conference championship.It is the Aggies annual Dig Pink match, and anyone wearing pink to the match can purchase a ticket at the entrance for only $3 and also receive a free pink lemonade. In addition, the first 300 fans will be given a free Dig Pink shirt.Every Sunday is Funday at Reed Arena. Up to four kids are admitted free with the purchase of one regular-priced adult ticket for that days match. Also take advantage of the free Kids Court at the volleyball practice gym prior to first serve. Activities include arts and crafts, games, volleyball and more. ' ' '