Photo by Matt Sachs, TexAgs
Texas A&M Volleyball Invitational Preview
Aggies seek Invitational Championship; Top No. 7 Michigan & No. 16 Florida State
2012 Record: 25-6 (16-4 in SEC)
’12 Post Season Result: NCAA Second Round (Loss #3 Texas)
With Texas A&M volleyball head coach Laurie Corbelli coaching in her 21st season at A&M and the Aggies entering into their 2nd season of SEC play, one thing is for sure: the expectations are high as the Aggies look to take home their 1st SEC championship.
Corbelli and the Aggies host the Texas A&M Invitational beginning Thursday at Reed Arena. Here are ten things that should be noted before A&M takes a shot at two top 20 programs.
1. Texas A&M took home the SEC Western Division title in their first season in the SEC. Other than winning the SEC championship, A&M could not have done a better job of solidifying their place in the Southeastern Conference.
2. Texas A&M has been selected as the preseason pick to capture the SEC West for the 2013 season. The competition in the SEC has tremendously grown this year in both West and East Divisions. The East is led by No. 5 Florida, No. 19 Kentucky and an unranked yet undefeated Missouri. The West race is expected to be between the unbeaten LSU Tigers and the Aggies.
3. Texas A&M heads into Thursday with a 5-1 record, recording their only loss against 15th ranked Iowa State in the University of North Dakota Classic. The five wins have come against South Dakota State, North Dakota, Loyola Marymount, Lamar and UTSA.
4. Texas A&M was crowned the UTSA Classic Champions, after going 3-0 in the classic held in San Antonio. In the team’s second tournament of the season, Corbelli and the Aggies defeated UTSA in the finals after beating Loyola Marymount and Lamar in previous matches.
5. Senior Allie Sawatzky recorded her third triple-double of her career in the final match of the UTSA Classic against the Roadrunners. Sawatzky enters into her senior season already having accomplished quite a bit during her time at A&M. Sawatzky was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team and All-Big 12 honorable mention her freshman year, AVCA All-Central Region honorable mention her sophomore year and last year was named to the All-SEC second team.
6. The 2013 Texas A&M Volleyball Invitational will be home to four teams, including host A&M, with guests No. 7 Michigan, No. 16 Florida State and the Siena Saints. Texas A&M will tip off the invitational at 10:30 on Thursday morning, followed by a match against the Seminoles at 7:30 pm that same day. Texas A&M will finish invitational play against 7th ranked Michigan Friday night at 7 pm.
7. Laurie Corbelli is the winningest head coach in school history. Coach Corbelli has led the Aggies, in her 21 years at A&M, to 17 NCAA Tournament appearances, two trips to the Elite Eight, six trips to the Sweet 16 and is on her way to her 16th season with over 20 wins.
8. A&M has yet to take a match to sets this season. While this stat isn’t unusual for only having played six matches so far this season, it’s still something to be observed. When the Aggies take the court against the Seminoles Thursday at 7 pm, there is a great chance that this match could go to five sets, due to the talent of both teams and the home court advantage for A&M. All in all, it will be an exciting match to watch and it could very well come down to the wire.
9. Senior and College Station native Kelsey Kinley leads the team this season with 84 digs. With only six matches played this season, Kinley leads the Aggies with an average of 3.82 digs per set.
10. Sophomore Sierra Patrick leads the team in kills with 79 recorded kills this season. Patrick is currently averaging 3.95 kills per set, while the nation’s current kill leader, Arizona State’s Macey Gardener, is averaging 5.94.
2012 Record: 25-6 (16-4 in SEC)
’12 Post Season Result: NCAA Second Round (Loss #3 Texas)
With Texas A&M volleyball head coach Laurie Corbelli coaching in her 21st season at A&M and the Aggies entering into their 2nd season of SEC play, one thing is for sure: the expectations are high as the Aggies look to take home their 1st SEC championship.
Corbelli and the Aggies host the Texas A&M Invitational beginning Thursday at Reed Arena. Here are ten things that should be noted before A&M takes a shot at two top 20 programs.
1. Texas A&M took home the SEC Western Division title in their first season in the SEC. Other than winning the SEC championship, A&M could not have done a better job of solidifying their place in the Southeastern Conference.
2. Texas A&M has been selected as the preseason pick to capture the SEC West for the 2013 season. The competition in the SEC has tremendously grown this year in both West and East Divisions. The East is led by No. 5 Florida, No. 19 Kentucky and an unranked yet undefeated Missouri. The West race is expected to be between the unbeaten LSU Tigers and the Aggies.
3. Texas A&M heads into Thursday with a 5-1 record, recording their only loss against 15th ranked Iowa State in the University of North Dakota Classic. The five wins have come against South Dakota State, North Dakota, Loyola Marymount, Lamar and UTSA.
4. Texas A&M was crowned the UTSA Classic Champions, after going 3-0 in the classic held in San Antonio. In the team’s second tournament of the season, Corbelli and the Aggies defeated UTSA in the finals after beating Loyola Marymount and Lamar in previous matches.
5. Senior Allie Sawatzky recorded her third triple-double of her career in the final match of the UTSA Classic against the Roadrunners. Sawatzky enters into her senior season already having accomplished quite a bit during her time at A&M. Sawatzky was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team and All-Big 12 honorable mention her freshman year, AVCA All-Central Region honorable mention her sophomore year and last year was named to the All-SEC second team.
6. The 2013 Texas A&M Volleyball Invitational will be home to four teams, including host A&M, with guests No. 7 Michigan, No. 16 Florida State and the Siena Saints. Texas A&M will tip off the invitational at 10:30 on Thursday morning, followed by a match against the Seminoles at 7:30 pm that same day. Texas A&M will finish invitational play against 7th ranked Michigan Friday night at 7 pm.
7. Laurie Corbelli is the winningest head coach in school history. Coach Corbelli has led the Aggies, in her 21 years at A&M, to 17 NCAA Tournament appearances, two trips to the Elite Eight, six trips to the Sweet 16 and is on her way to her 16th season with over 20 wins.
8. A&M has yet to take a match to sets this season. While this stat isn’t unusual for only having played six matches so far this season, it’s still something to be observed. When the Aggies take the court against the Seminoles Thursday at 7 pm, there is a great chance that this match could go to five sets, due to the talent of both teams and the home court advantage for A&M. All in all, it will be an exciting match to watch and it could very well come down to the wire.
9. Senior and College Station native Kelsey Kinley leads the team this season with 84 digs. With only six matches played this season, Kinley leads the Aggies with an average of 3.82 digs per set.
10. Sophomore Sierra Patrick leads the team in kills with 79 recorded kills this season. Patrick is currently averaging 3.95 kills per set, while the nation’s current kill leader, Arizona State’s Macey Gardener, is averaging 5.94.
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