Aug. 9, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M volleyball team will go through its first official practice of the preseason Monday at 10 a.m. at the practice gym at Reed Arena.
"It's always a lot of fun to get started," head coach Laurie Corbelli said. "The adrenaline is flowing and everyone is really excited. This year might be even more special because the sense of urgency and the determination is so visible in the way the girls talk and walk and carry themselves. There is just an incredible amount of determination, and that makes it even more exciting to get started."
Corbelli, who is entering her 17th season at the helm of the Aggies, returns nine letterwinners -- including six seniors -- from last year's team that went 16-14 and tied NCAA regional finalist Iowa State for fourth in the Big 12 with an 11-9 record. In addition, Corbelli welcomes five talented freshmen, several of who will be vying for the two starting middle blocker positions.
"It is exciting to me just having so many returners as well as a super talented freshman class," Corbelli said. "Everyone was here during the summer and there was a lot of participation both in the weight room and playing on their own, and I know they are ready to show what they can do."
Corbelli returns four starters, including senior outside hitters Sarah Ammerman (Parker, Colo.) and Mary Batis (San Antonio), both All-Big 12 honorable mention selections who have proved that they are each capable of taking over a match. The pair has provided the team's offensive firepower as starters on the left side for each of the last three years, and they also are key players in the back row with their serving, passing and defense, as well as their attacking.
Senior Jennifer Banse (San Antonio), who was the team's starter on the right side last season after serving as a backup on the left for her first two seasons, also returns for her final season. One of the most complete right-side players to ever come through the program, Banse not only balances the offense as a powerful threat on the right, but she also is a major key to jumpstarting the offense as a primary passer with pin-point accuracy.
Corbelli also returns two experienced senior setters who are each capable of quarterbacking the team. Kristen Schevikhoven (Centennial, Colo.) has been the primary starter for the past two years, although Jola Kelner (Bielsko-Biala, Poland) has consistently demonstrated that she can take over the reins at a moments notice and continue to run an aggressive, efficient and unpredictable spread-out offense.
Sophomore Kelsey Black (Amarillo, Texas) ended last season as the team's libero and honed her skills as a member of the U.S. Junior National Team this past summer. Like Black, sophomore Chelsea Ringel (Arlington, Texas) also saw action at libero last season and serves as a backup to the outside hitters.
Senior Dylan Faulkner, who transferred from Wake Forest prior to her junior year, offers valuable versatility, providing depth at any position in the back row, as well as at setter.
Sophomore Caitlin Adams (Kansas City, Mo.), Kelsey Bryant, Darla Donaldson and Jillian Phillips.
Abby Howden (Austin, Texas), who has competed at a high level at perennial power Austin Westlake High School and her Austin Juniors club team, which won the Junior Olympics open division in 2008, also is expected to compete for playing time in the middle and on the right side.
Tori Mellinger (Dallas, Texas) concludes a 14-member roster balanced with youth and experience. Corbelli considers the PrepVolleyball.com High School All-American to be one of the most complete, fundamentally sound players coming out of the high school ranks in the state of Texas in 2009. Mellinger will provide depth to a strong corps of outside hitters and could make immediate contributions with her excellent ball handling skills in the back row.
"It is going to be real important that the freshmen establish themselves early as participants," Corbelli said. "We need them to be a big part of the season. At the same time, the returners are very ready to lead this younger group and serve as great role models and leaders so that it can perpetuate in the program into the future as the freshmen become upperclassmen. It's real important that these freshmen feel the confidence and that they learn the leadership skills, especially from this group of seniors."
The Aggies, who received votes in Volleyball Magazine's preseason Top 20 Poll released earlier this month, open the regular season and make their Reed Arena debut August 28 as they host Iona in the opener of the Texas A&M Invitational.
Tickets are available at 12thManFoundation.com or by calling 888-99-AGGIE.