August 08, 2003
The Texas A&M volleyball team is picked to finish tied for fourth place in the Big 12 Conference, and Aggie outside hitters Laura Jones and Melissa Munsch have been selected to the six-member All-Big 12 Preseason Team, according to a vote of the conference head coaches.
"I believe there are going to be four or five teams that will vie for the league title, so this is a great start for us," A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. "Although we don't put a lot of emphasis on the poll, which is basically a reflection of what the coaches in the league think we are capable of, it will motivate us. The team disagrees with the prediction and is determined to go beyond, so that is very positive in my eyes."
Jones, a 6-2 sophomore from Arlington, Texas, was an All-Big 12 selection last year and also garnered Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors after leading the Aggies with 3.77 kills and 4.41 points per game. In addition, Jones was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association's 2002 All-Central Region Team and was the Central Region Freshman of the Year.
Muncsh, a 6-1 junior from Columbus, Texas, was named to the All-Big 12 team following her sophomore campaign. She led the Aggies in digs and aces and was second to Jones in kills and points per game.
"Laura and Melissa are two of the best players in the Big 12 as well as the nation from the standpoint of their knowledge of the game and their ability to terminate," Corbelli said. "They are very complete players who are incredibly important to our program, and our game plan is designed around them for each rotation."
Five-time defending league champion Nebraska has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 title, garnering six of a possible 10 votes. The polling was based on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system with a first-place vote receiving 10 points. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Texas is picked to place second in the league standings with 87 points, followed closely by Kansas State with 86 points.
The Aggies, who return five starters from the 2002 team that went 12-8 in conference action and placed fifth in the standings last year, and Missouri are tied for fourth with 72 points, followed by Kansas with 50 points. Colorado (46), Baylor (35), Texas Tech (29), Oklahoma (19) and Iowa State (11) are predicted to finish sixth through 11th, respectively.
Nebraska outside hitter Anna Schrad and Kansas State middle blocker Lauren Goehring were voted the preseason Co-Players of the Year. Texas outside hitter Darium Acevedo, a Pac-10 Conference honorable mention at the University of Oregon last season, was selected preseason Newcomer of the Year, and Colorado setter Ashley Nu'u was selected Freshman of the Year.
Schrad and Goehring also join Munsch and Jones on the Big 12 preseason team, along with outside hitter Jen Saleaumua of Nebraska and Texas outside hitter Mira Topic.
After participating in conditioning drills this morning, the Aggies begin workouts starting at 2:30 at G. Rollie White Coliseum. The team will hold two practices on Saturday with 3-hour sessions starting at 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Practices are open to the public.
A&M's season opener is set for August 29 against Marquette at the Duke Invitational in Durham, N.C. The Aggies make their home debut Sept. 12-13 at the McDonald's/Texas A&M Invitational. Defending national champion Southern California, as well as Centenary and Southwest Missouri State. See the Texas A&M website at AggieAthletics.com for the complete schedule and times.
The following is the complete 2003 Big 12 preseason poll and preseason team:
2003 Big 12 Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll 1. Nebraska 93 2. Texas 87 3. Kansas State 86 4. Texas A&M 72 Missouri 72 6. Kansas 50 7. Colorado 46 8. Baylor 35 9. Texas Tech 29 10. Oklahoma 19 10. Iowa State 11
Big 12 Conference Preseason Team Jen Saleaumua, Nebraska OH 5-11 So. National City, Calif. (Bonita Vista) Mira Topic, Texas OH 6-3 Jr. Kastela Kambelovac, Croatia (Vladimir Nazor) Lauren Goehring, Kansas State MB 6-0 Sr. Fort Worth, Texas (Fossil Ridge) Melissa Munsch, Texas A&M OH/MB 6-1 Jr. Columbus, Texas (Columbus) Laura Jones, Texas A&M OH 6-2 So. Arlington, Texas (Martin) Anna Schrad, Nebraska OH 6-2 Sr. Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln Pius X) Big 12 Conference Preseason Players of the Year Lauren Goehring, Kansas State MB 6-0 Sr. Fort Worth, Texas (Fossil Ridge) Anna Schrad, Nebraska OH 6-2 Sr. Lincoln, Neb. (Lincoln Pius X) Big 12 Conference Preseason Newcomer of the Year Darium Acevedo, Texas OH 5-11 So. Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico (Univ. of Oregon) Big 12 Conference Preseason Freshman of the Year Ashley Nu'u, Colorado S 5-10 Fr. Aurora, Colo. (Smoky Hill)