September 06, 2004
The 14th-ranked Texas A&M volleyball team returns to the court Tuesday as the Aggies play host to Texas State at 7 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum.
The Aggies moved up one spot in the USA Today/CSTV Top 25 released today after sweeping both Georgia Southern and McNeese State on Friday and falling to No. 3 UCLA, 3-0, on Saturday at the season-opening McDonald's/Texas A&M Invitational. The No. 14 ranking is A&M's highest since a No. 11 ranking in the 2001 final poll.
Texas State also is 2-1 after finishing second at the Fullerton Classic. All three of the Bobcats' matches went five games with TSU defeating Delaware and Iona before falling to host Cal State Fullerton in the title-deciding match.
All-American middle blocker Melissa Munsch (Columbus, Texas) leads the Aggie starters with a .467 hitting percentage, 3.33 digs and 2.78 blocks per game and is second on the squad with 3.67 kills and 5.56 points per game. She needs 12 digs to become the seventh player in A&M history to record both 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career.
Junior outside hitter Laura Jones (Arlington, Texas), who joined Munsch on the all-tournament team at the season-opening tournament, is averaging a team-leading 4.44 kills, 0.89 aces and 5.67 points per game for the Aggies.
Junior setter Kari Kelley (Houston, Texas), who is first cousin to Texas State starting setter Krystal Kolkhorst, is averaging 11.89 assists per game while directing A&M's offense to a .287 to .102 advantage in hitting percentage.
Senior middle blocker Kacee Rogers leads the Bobcats with 3.20 kills per game and a .489 hitting percentage. Kolkhorst is averaging 11.07 assists per game.
As a team, Texas State is hitting .150 and averaging 13.2 kills, 16.8 digs and 2.13 blocks per game. Opponents are averaging 13.47 kills, 15.93 digs and 1.93.
The Aggies are 19-3 all time against the Bobcats, including 9-0 under coach Laurie Corbelli. A&M has won the last 10 meetings and is 9-1 all time against Texas State in matches played in College Station.
The teams last met in San Marcos on Sept. 3, 2002, with A&M sweeping the match, 30-22, 30-24, 30-26. Texas State's last victory over A&M was in 1991 in San Marcos, and its only win at G. Rollie was in 1986.
The Aggies participate in the Golden Bear Invitational starting Thursday against No. 13 UC Santa Barbara. A&M faces host and eighth-ranked California on Saturday. Both matches begin at 9 p.m. (CDT). The tournament is A&M's final tune-up for Big 12 Conference play, which begins Sept. 15 at Iowa State.