August 06, 2006
The 2006 Texas A&M volleyball team reports Monday evening for a team dinner, followed by physical testing, team meetings and pictures on Tuesday, as well as a two-day retreat for team building exercises and meetings. The first practice is slated for Friday at 9 a.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum.
Aggie head coach Laurie Corbelli welcomes back seven letterswinners ?- including three starters -- from last year?â„¢s team that took A&M to its 14th consecutive NCAA Championship appearance. In addition, Corbelli brings in a heralded class of eight freshmen that is ranked an all-time best fourth in the nation by Volleyball Magazine.
Christi Hahn (Leander, Texas), a preseason All-Big 12 selection as a middle blocker and the Aggies?â„¢ only senior, is expected to anchor the youth-laden squad that also includes sophomores Lindsey Yon (San Antonio/Reagan), a left-side hitter, and right-side hitter Kelsey Bryant (Austin, Texas/Westlake), who were regulars in the starting lineup by the end of the 2005 season.
Corbelli also will be looking for the other four returning letterwinners, as well as the eight freshmen to compete for the vacancies left by last year?â„¢s senior starters, All-American outside hitter Laura Jones, setter Kari Kelley, middle blocker Kendra Felder and libero Holly Clay.
The other returners are Jen Moore (Allen, Texas), a junior defensive specialist who appeared in 28 of 30 matches last season, junior middle blocker Kelly Stanton (Friendswood, Texas), who started 15 matches in 2005, and junior Meghan Kainz (Austin, Texas/Westlake), the leading candidate to replace Kelley, the starting setter the last two seasons. In addition, sophomore Jillian Phillips (Marble Falls, Texas) is expected to contend for a starting spot at both the middle blocker and right-side attacker positions.
Freshmen outside hitters Sarah Ammerman (Parker, Colo./Chaparral), Jenny Banse (San Antonio/Churchill) and Mary Batis (San Antonio/Clark), who each earned high school All-American honors, all have starting potential and are expected to be impact players in their inaugural seasons. In addition, all-state selection Zanny Castillo (Cedar Park, Texas) is expected to provide welcomed depth to the outside in her first season.
Freshmen Courtnee Rhodes of Houston (Cy Falls), and Jola Kelner of Poland will push Kainz for significant playing time at the setting position, and Cara Quayle (Greenwood Village, Colo./Cherry Creek) will compete for a middle blocking position. In addition, defensive specialist/libero Stephanie Cadavid (San Antonio/Clark), who teamed with Batis to win both state and national titles in 2003, is expected to help Moore shore up the back row defense.
The Aggies open the season Aug. 25 against Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo. A&M makes it home debut on Sept. 8 with matches against Loyola and McNeese State. The Big 12 Conference opener is Sept. 13 against Oklahoma in College Station.
Notes: A&M will practice from 9 a.m. to noon and 2-6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 11-12. The team will have Sunday off and return to the same two-a-day schedule on Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 14-15.
Practices are held at G. Rollie White Coliseum and are open to the public. For updated practice times and to schedule interviews, contact Texas A&M assistant sports information director Debbie Darrah at 979-845-3218.