Dec. 23, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M volleyball team, which advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen and ended the season on a 6-1 run, is ranked No. 21 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 final poll, the AVCA released Tuesday.
It marks the first time the Aggies have been ranked in the season-ending poll since receiving a No. 20 final ranking in 2004.
A&M was ranked in the Top 25 for four weeks during the 2009 regular season, reaching as high as No. 21 on Oct. 19 before dropping out on Nov. 9.
The Aggies finished the season 20-11, including wins against No. 19 Arizona and No. 18-ranked and SEC champion LSU in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies reached the NCAA regional semifinals for the first time since 2003 and were eliminated by Big 12 foe and eventual NCAA runner-up Texas.
Three-time defending national champion Penn State is ranked No. 1 in the final poll. Texas, Hawaii, Minnesota and Big 12-member Nebraska round out the top five. Other Big 12 teams ranked in the top 25 are No. 6 Iowa State and No. 20 Baylor.
In the final NCAA statistical rankings, the Aggies led the nation in both assists (14.27) and kills (15.08) per set and were 26th with 17.04 digs per set. Individually, senior setter Kristen Schevikhoven ranked 21st in the nation with 11.26 assists per set, and senior outside hitter and third-team AVCA All-American Sarah Ammerman ranked 25th in the country with 4.31 kills per set and 35th in the nation with 4.7 points per set.