June 16, 2004
Two challenging pre-conference tournaments, a home contest against perennial national power UCLA, as well as the constantly competitive Big 12 Conference slate highlight the 2004 Texas A&M volleyball schedule, announced today by Aggie coach Laurie Corbelli.
A&M is scheduled to play a total of 27 matches -- 15 matches at home and 12 matches on the road -- during the regular season. Fourteen of the matches will be against teams that advanced to the 2003 NCAA tournament, including the battle against Elite Eight-participant and three-time national champion UCLA at the McDonald's/Texas A&M Invitational on Sept. 4, in addition to five contests against Sweet 16 teams Nebraska, Kansas State and California.
The Aggies, who were ranked eighth in the nation for home attendance with a school-record 1,801 average last year, are scheduled to play 15 matches at G. Rollie White Coliseum, beginning with the season-opening seven-team McDonald's/Texas A&M Invitational, Sept. 2-4. The Aggies face Bethune-Cookman, McNeese State and NCAA tournament-participant Georgia Southern during the three-day, 14-match tournament and conclude the event with the feature match against the Bruins at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
"With only three weeks of preseason, it is important to play a lot of matches, especially at home," Corbelli said. "This tournament is a great start because it represents a mixture of opponents, and it will allow us to get a good look at our depth and also to work on our speed and power and to work against big blocks.
"Not only will be play a lot of volleyball, but we cap off the tournament with a match against UCLA, which is coached by one of the winningest, most respected and well-liked coaches in the nation. Andy Banachowski is a mentor to all of us in the volleyball coaching profession, and for him and his quality program to come and experience G. Rollie will be so much fun."
A&M continues its home stand by hosting Texas State Tuesday, Sept. 7, and then embarks on its first road trip and final non-conference series as the Aggies head to Berkeley, Calif., to face UC Santa Barbara and California, Sept. 9 and 11, at the Golden Bear Invitational. The Bears, who tied UCLA for third place in the top power-rated Pac 10 Conference last year, were ranked No. 12 in the final 2003 poll, and UCSB was listed No. 22.
"The Cal tournament is going to be a great challenge," Corbelli said. "We will be seeing some of the top opponents in the nation that weekend, which will be good for us."
The Aggies begin their quest for their first Big 12 Conference title when they take on Iowa State in Ames on Sept. 15. A&M opens the home portion of its conference slate Sept. 17 against the surging Kansas Jayhawks, who tied the Aggies for third place in the 2003 league standings with a 13-7 mark.
A&M culminates the regular season with crucial home matches against reigning Big 12 champion Kansas State and six-time league champion Nebraska, Nov. 24 and 27, respectively.
"From top to bottom, our league is arguably top two in the nation," Corbelli said. "Our teams are going to be battling every single night, and I predict seven to eight of the teams will be battling for the top two to three spots in the conference standings. There's not a better way to prepare for a great run in the NCAA tournament."
NCAA first- and second-round matches will be played Dec. 2-5 at campus sites. Second-round winners advance to one of four predetermined regional sites - Louisville, Ky., Minneapolis, Minn., Seattle, Wash., and Green Bay, Wis. - Dec. 9-12, with the four regional winners heading to Long Beach, Calif. Semifinal matches are slated for Dec. 16, and the national championship match will be played Dec. 18.
Corbelli returns four starters, including second-team All-American Melissa Munsch, from last year's team that advanced to the NCAA regional semifinals before being eliminated by eventual national champion Southern California. A&M finished the season with a 23-10 record and ranked No. 16 in the final coaches poll.
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