Sept. 10, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M volleyball team concludes its non-conference schedule at the Texas State CenturyTel Premier Friday and Saturday at Strahan Coliseum in San Marcos, Texas.
The Aggies (4-1) open the tournament against Hofstra (1-6) Friday at 10 a.m. A&M also faces Texas Southern (4-3) Friday at 5 p.m.
A&M concludes the tournament Saturday as the Aggies take on the host Bobcats (1-6) at 2 p.m.
Live stats of all matches, as well as video of Texas State matches only, will be available at txstatebobcats.com.
Complete Tournament Schedule:
Friday, Sept. 11
10 a.m. Texas A&M vs. Hofstra
12 p.m. Texas State vs. Texas Southern
5 p.m. Texas A&M vs. Texas Southern
7 p.m. Texas State vs. Hofstra
Saturday, Sept. 12
12 p.m. Hofstra vs. Texas Southern
2 p.m. Texas A&M vs. Texas State
Tournament Website: www.txstatebobcats.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/090809aad.html
A&M is 4-1 after going 1-1 in its trip to the West Coast last weekend. The Aggies had opened the season 3-0 by winning their own Texas A&M Invitational but then suffered their first loss in their first road match of the season, falling to Saint Mary's, 3-1, in Moraga, Calif., last Saturday. A&M quickly returned to the win column on Sunday with a sweep against San Francisco, where Aggie head coach and USF alumna Laurie Corbelli began her coaching career 24 years ago.
The Aggies, who open Big 12 Conference play at Texas Tech on Sept. 19, lead the league with 16.53 kills and 15.65 assists per set. Senior setter Kristen Schevikhoven is the conference individual leader with 13.36 assists per set, while primary targets Sarah Ammerman (4.33 kps, 4.93 pps) and Jennifer Banse (3.87 kps, 4.23 pps) are listed second and fifth, respectively, amongst the Big 12 kill leaders for kills per set and second and sixth, respectively, in points per set.
In addition, freshmen Alisia Kastmo and Lindsey Miller have been steady performers in the middle and are listed in the top 10 for hitting percentage. Kastmo is hitting at a .392 clip to rank third, and Miller is hitting .350, placing 10th.
As a team, A&M is outhitting its opponents, .292 to .200, averaging 16.53 kills while allowing 11.18 kills per set. The Aggies also are leading opponents in digs, 16.06 to 12.24 per set, but opponents are outblocking A&M, 2.32 to 1.74.
A LOOK AT THE OPPOSITION
Hofstra
• The Hofstra Pride is coming off a 3-2 victory against Stony Brook on Tuesday. It was Hofstra's first win of the season after dropping the first six.
• Senior outside hitter Monica Knight leads the Pride with 4.12 kills per set.
• As a team, Hofstra is hitting .116 and averaging 11.48 kills, 10.76 assists, 1.52 aces, 16.2 digs and 1.56 blocks per set. Opponents are hitting .215 and averaging 12.68 kills, 11.84 assists, 1.44 aces, 17.12 digs and 1.74 blocks per set.
• Hofstra was picked to finish fifth in the Colonial Athletic Association, according to a preseason poll of the league coaches. Delaware was picked to win the CAA.
• Kristina Hernandez is in her second season as head coach at Hofstra. In her first season, Hernandez directed the Pride to an 18-14 record and the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association Championship.
Texas Southern • The Tigers have won their last four matches after dropping the first three to start the season.
• Most recently, TSU defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 3-1, on Saturday in Arkansas.
• Last year, TSU went 5-17 and placed third in the Southwestern Athletic Association West Division with a 3-5 mark.
• Dr. Swalah Fisher is 134-321 in her 16th season as head coach of the Tigers.
Texas State • The Bobcats are 1-6 and riding a three-match losing skid. Their only victory was a 3-0 sweep against Texas Tech on Sept. 2
• Most recently, Texas State went 0-3 at the Marquette University Invitational, falling in five sets to both Marquette and Austin Peay and then suffering a sweep against Butler in the final match of the tournament.
• Senior Jessica Weynand leads the Bobcats with 3.68 kills per set.
• As a team, Texas State is hitting .138 and averaging 11.88 kills, 11.2 assists, 1.16 aces, 14.92 digs and 0.92 blocks per set. Opponents are hitting .228 and averaging 12.8 kills, 11.72 assists, 1.04 aces, 15.36 digs and 2.58 blocks per set.
• Karen Chisum is 676-440-3 in her 30th season as head coach at Texas State.
SERIES RECORDS
• A&M is 2-1 all-time against Hofstra. The teams last met on Dec. 4, 1997, in the first round of the NCAA tournament. A&M won the match, 3-0 (15-5, 15-5, 15-4) at G. Rollie White in College Station. Hofstra's lone win against the Aggies was Oct. 28, 1989. The Pride knocked off the Aggies, 15-9, 15-6, 12-15, 15-13, at G. Rollie. The teams first met in 1985 in College Station. A&M won the inaugural match, 15-5, 15-9, 15-8.
• A&M is 1-0 against Texas Southern. A&M defeated the Tigers, 15-3, 15-3, 15-3, in the teams' only meeting on Oct. 16, 1985, in College Station.
• A&M is 22-3 against Texas State since 1976, including 8-1 in matches played in San Marcos. A&M has won the last 13 meetings overall, including last year when A&M defeated the Bobcats in College Station, 25-14, 25-13, 25-23. A&M's Mary Batis led all players with 13 kills while hitting .321.
• Texas State's most recent victory against A&M was Sept. 28, 1991, in San Marcos.
AGGIE QUICK HITS
• Senior outside hitter Mary Batis needs 13 kills to give her 1,197 career kills and move her into ninth in the A&M career records. She will pass former first-team All-American middle blocker Amber Woolsey (1995-99).
• Senior outside hitter Sarah Ammerman needs 12 kills to give her 1,137 and move her into 11th place in the career records. Amy Cumings (1987-90) is currently in 11th place.
• Senior setter Kristen Schevikhoven needs 30 assists to give her 2,310 for her career, moving her into eighth place in the A&M records. Genny Wood (1990-93) is currently in eighth place. Schevikhoven leads the Big 12 with 13.36 assists per set.
• Freshman middle blocker Lindsey Miller is the only A&M player to have appeared in every set this season. The 6-2 Cinco Ranch product has started every match and is second among the starters with a .350 hitting percentage, ranking 10th in the Big 12.
• Freshman middle blocker Alisia Kastmo leads the Aggies and is third in the Big 12 with a .392 hitting efficiency. Kastmo, who earned Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors in the first week of the season, had nine kills and zero errors for a .692 hitting percentage in the exhibition match against the Italian National A2 Team on Tuesday. (Exhibition stats are not calculated into season statistics.)
• Kastmo moved into the starting lineup in the fourth match of the season after sophomore Stephanie Minnerly went down with a torn ACL in her knee early in the first set against Northern Iowa on August 29.
• A&M continues to receive votes in the first AVCA coaches poll and is listed 31st. The Aggies are slated to play eight matches against teams ranked in the preseason Top 25: two matches each against No. 2 Texas, No. 5 Nebraska, No. 11 Iowa State and No. 21 Kansas State. In addition, A&M will play four matches against teams that received votes, two matches each against Big 12 opponents Baylor and Oklahoma.
• The Aggies, who went 11-9 to tie eventual NCAA-regional finalist Iowa State for fourth place in the Big 12 last year, have been picked to finish fourth in the league this season, according to a preseason poll of the conference coaches. Defending Big 12 co-champions Texas and Nebraska are picked to finish first and second, respectively, with Iowa State following at third place. A&M is followed by Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and Texas Tech.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The Aggies open Big 12 Conference play at Texas Tech on Saturday, Sept. 19. Match time is 2 p.m. at United Spirit Arena in Lubbock. The Aggies return to Reed Arena Wednesday, Sept. 23 to play host to defending Big 12 co-champion and fifth-ranked Nebraska. Match time is 6 p.m., and it will be televised live on ESPNU. It will be Fish Camp Night, and anyone wearing a Fish Camp t-shirt will be admitted free.