August 12, 2000
The Texas A&M volleyball team participates in its first practice of the 2000 season Sunday, August 13 at 3-6 p.m. in G. Rollie White Coliseum. The team begins two-a-day practices Monday with three-hour sessions starting at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Practices are open to the public.
Eighth-year head coach Laurie Corbelli returns only two starters and six other letterwinners from the record- setting 1999 squad that advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time and ranked an all-time high No. 9 in the final coaches poll with a 28-6 record.
"We are a big question mark in the minds of a lot people, especially after losing so many starters from last year's successful team," Corbelli said. "But it is not a question to me how good we will be because we have players who have been in training for several years and backing up those more experienced players. They haven't been seen much, but the coaching staff saw them challenge that Elite Eight team every day in practice. Now it is their turn."
All-American candidate Jenna Moscovic (Jr., 5-11, Stockton, Calif.) highlights the list of returners. A two-year starting setter, Moscovic was a member of the 1999 All-Big 12 and All-District 5 teams as a sophomore and was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and a member of Volleyball Magazine's Freshman All-American team in 1998.
Outside hitter Michelle Cole (Temecula, Calif.) also is a two-year returning starter. The 6-0 junior started every match as a sophomore and is the team's top returning kill and dig leader after averaging 2.10 kills and 3.30 digs per game last season.
Corbelli will be looking for several players to step up and fill the vacancy left by last year's four starting seniors: first-team All-American middle blocker Amber Woolsey, all-Big 12 right-side hitter Summer Strickland, two- year starting middle blocker Lauri Leahy and left-side hitter and dig leader Celia Howes.
Senior Heather Marshall along with redshirt freshman Tara Pulaski will compete to fill the major void at the middle blocker position.
Corbelli also expects highly touted incoming freshman middle blocker Carol Price (6-2, Fenton, Mich.), as well as highly regarded freshman Beth Skypala, a 6-0 outside hitter from Amarillo, Texas, to push for significant playing time.
"These two freshmen are very physical looking and strong," Corbelli said. "They are not afraid to try to win a position and they won't hold back. Both of them are great competitors, and they are very ready to contribute."
Skypala, along, with junior Erin Gibson, sophomores A.D. Achilefu and Brandi Mount and freshman redshirt Rebecca Wynalda will be competing for the vacancy left by last year's senior starting outside hitter Celia Howes. Beth Weynand, a defensive specialist, also could see playing time on the left side.
Sophomore Julia Rex and senior Christy Clark, also a defensive specialist, will be competing for Strickland's spot.
Senior setter Claire Harvey, who has been described as the best back-up setter in the nation, will continue to push Moscovic and also could see significant playing time.
The Aggies kick off the season Sept. 1 at the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic. They open against Hawaii, the team A&M upset in the Sweet Sixteen to advance to the NCAA Region finals. The Wahine begin the season ranked fifth in Volleyball Magazines' preseason Top 20 poll. The Aggies, unranked in the preseason poll, also will face No. 1 UCLA, as well as Iowa.
"I've always said that I like starting the season against great competition," Corbelli said. "It gives us a clear picture of exactly what we need to work on. It is an opportunity to not waste time and get right down to it. Plus it is an opportunity to register the upset, and we have been known to do that. Just playing those teams and getting experience will be a benefit. It is a win-win situation if we keep sight of what we need to get out of it."
The Aggies open at home Sept. 6 against Houston. Following a tournament at Texas, Sept. 8-9, A&M begins Big 12 play Sept. 13 at Missouri.