Aug. 12, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M junior outside hitter Kelsey Black (Amarillo, Texas) has been named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, the conference office announced today.
A utility-type player during her first two seasons, Black is currently competing for one of the Aggies' two starting outside hitter positions left vacant following the graduation of four-year starters Sarah Ammerman and Mary Batis.
Black began her A&M career as the team's libero in 2008. This past season the 5-11 versatile athlete saw action as outside hitter, defensive specialist, libero and middle blocker. She played in 29 of 31 matches and made five starts.
Black led the team in blocks in four matches in 2009, but she had the most impressive performance of her career in the first round of the NCAA tournament. In her first-ever start at the outside hitter position, Black responded with a career-high 17 kills against No. 19 Arizona and helped lead the Aggies to an impressive 3-1 victory against the favored Wildcats. She also had 14 digs to post the first double-double of her career.
Black finished the season averaging 1.35 kills per set while hitting .221. She also averaged 2.94 digs per set.
Black was a member of the U.S. Women's National A2 Red Team earlier this summer and captured the bronze medal at the USA Volleyball Open National Championships in Phoenix.
The Aggies, picked to finish seventh in the conference in 2010 according to a preseason vote of the league's head coaches, return seven players - including two starters plus the libero - from last year's team that tied for fourth in the Big 12 with an 11-9 record and went 20-11 overall and ranked No. 21 in the final AVCA coaches poll after advancing to the NCAA Regional semifinals.
Nebraska is the preseason favorite to win the Big 12, receiving nine of a possible 10 first-place votes and tallying 98 points overall. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
Texas, the defending national runner-up, is picked second with 91 points, including two first-place votes. Iowa State, Oklahoma and Missouri round out the top five, while Baylor, Texas A&M and Kansas follow, respectively. Filling the final three spots are Kansas State, Texas Tech and Colorado.
The Aggies begin the season Aug. 27 at Reed Arena as they host the two-day Texas A&M Invitational. A&M opens Big 12 play at home against rival Texas in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown, Thursday, Sept. 16.
Tickets can to home matches can be purchased at 12thManFoundation.com or by calling 888-99-AGGIE.
2010 BIG 12 PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL POLL & AWARDS
(Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team or players.)
PRESEASON POLL
Rank Team (First-place Votes) Points
1. Nebraska (9) 98
2. Texas (2) 91
3. Iowa State 84
4. Oklahoma 65
5. Missouri 63
6. Baylor 52
7. Texas A&M 48
8. Kansas 38
9. Kansas State 37
10. Texas Tech 15
11. Colorado 14
PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 AWARDS
Preseason Player of the Year: Juliann Faucette, Texas (OH, Sr., 6-2, San Diego, Calif./Westview)
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Justine Young, Texas Tech (MB/OH, Jr., 6-1, Sacramento, Calif./Des Moines Area CC)
Preseason Freshman of the Year: Molly Kreklow, Missouri (S, 6-0, Delano, Minn. /Delano)
PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 TEAM
Name, School, Pos., Cl., Ht., Hometown/Previous School
Torri Campbell, Baylor, MB, So. , 6-2, Amarillo, Texas/Amarillo
Ashlie Christenson, Baylor, OH/RS, Sr., 6-0, Cleburne, Texas/Cleburne
Victoria Henson, Iowa State, OH, Sr., 5-11, Leavenworth, Kan./Leavenworth
Rachel Hockaday, Iowa State, OH, Jr., 6-0, Decatur, Ill./Maroa-Forsyth
^Ashley Mass, Iowa State, DS/L, Sr., 5-8, Muskego, Wis./Muskego
Karina Garlington, Kansas, OH, Sr., 6-0, Denver, Colo./Grandview
Paola Ampudia, Missouri, OH/RS, Sr., 6-1, Cali, Colombia/Miami Dade College
Sydney Anderson, Nebraska, S, Sr., 6-0, Salt Lake City, Utah/Utah
Kayla Banwarth, Nebraska, L, Sr., 5-11, Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert Catholic
Brooke Delano, Nebraska, MB, Jr., 6-4, Bellevue, Neb./Bellevue West
Hannah Werth, Nebraska, OH, So. , 6-1, Springfield, Ill./Glenwood
Brianne Barker, Oklahoma, S, Jr., 5-9, Amarillo, Texas/Amarillo
^Francie Ekwerekwu, Oklahoma, MB, Sr., 5-11, Arlington, Texas/Arlington
Rachael Adams, Texas, MB, Jr., 6-2, Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame
^Juliann Faucette, Texas, OH, Sr., 6-2, San Diego, Calif./Westview
Kelsey Black, Texas A&M, OH, Jr., 5-11, Amarillo, Texas/Amarillo
Amanda Dowdy, Texas Tech, MB/OH, Jr., 6-3, Lexington, Texas/Lexington
^ - Unanimous Selection; Ties occurred in voting to result in a 17-member preseason team.