Volleyball Adds Match Against Italian National Team
Aug 12, 2009 | Volleyball
Aug. 12, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M volleyball team has added a match against the Italian National Team to its 2009 schedule. The exhibition match is slated for Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Reed Arena.
"This match is a great opportunity for us to play against top-level competition with an international flair," A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. "Their team consists of the best players in Italy, so it will be a great match-up for us and an exciting display of high level volleyball."
Italy will have an obvious height advantage, as five of the players on the 12-member roster are listed 6-3 or taller, including 6-8 opposite hitter Valentina Diouf.
"They are a very tall team and they resemble many of the top-level Big 12 teams," Corbelli said, "so this is a great opportunity to play an extra match that will give us a chance to work our lineup, work some of our new plays and go at a really large international style of block - big and physical. "
A&M's Reed Arena is one of only four stops the Italians will make during their U.S. tour. They play at New Mexico State on Sept. 6 prior to playing at A&M on Sept. 8. Italy concludes its trip with matches at Texas and Wichita State.
"They are only playing select teams in the United States, and we are privileged to be one of those teams," Corbelli said. "We got a chance to play members of this team last summer on our trip to Europe, and we feel fortunate that we get to battle with them again, because both of those matches were 3-hour long battles and ended in a split.
"This match will be exciting and entertaining for the fans, and we are hoping for a great crowd to show the Italians the support that Aggie volleyball has in the community."
A&M opens the regular season and makes its Reed Arena debut August 28 against Iona in the opener of the Texas A&M Invitational.
Volleyball season tickets are on sale and can be purchase at AggieAthletics.com or by calling 888-99-AGGIE.
