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COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M volleyball team held it first official workouts of the preseason on Monday with a fitness test followed by two two-and-a-half hour practice sessions at Reed Arena.
Aggie head coach Laurie Corbelli was excited to get underway as she returns 11 letterwinners -- including nine with starting experience – and a redshirt player from last year's team that tied for fourth in the Southeastern Conference with a 13-5 league record and finished 21-9 overall and No. 22 in the final national ratings percentage index (RPI) after advancing to the first round of the NCAA tournament.
"Obviously returning so many people is going to lead us to really shoot for the stars," Corbelli said. "I think they expect that; they want that. As I see things coming a little easier for them when we are on the court, we get to up it a notch quite often. That is a really fun and good feeling as a coach to see how much progress a group has made and continue to push them to excel even more."
Corbelli also welcomed four freshmen, including highly touted high school All-American Kaitlyn Blake, a 6-2 opposite hitter who gained valuable experience by enrolling at Texas A&M in January and participating in the team's spring training and competitions. The three other freshmen have been on campus, working out and participating in open gym since the second summer school session began in early July.
"It usually is a really great first day when you have so many who are familiar with what is expected in terms of intensity and drill execution and just the overall team atmosphere," said Corbelli, who is entering her 23rd season at the helm of the Aggies and the 30th season of her head coaching career. "It was great to have them all back in the gym really fit and strong and ready to go."
Shelby Sullivan, a senior middle blocker and the team's MVP in 2014, and junior middle blocker Jazzmin Babers and sophomore setter Stephanie Aiple, the Aggies' co-best offensive players from last season, represent the foundation of the team. All three earned Honorable Mention All-America distinction from the American Volleyball Coaches Association last year, in addition to numerous other region, conference and team accolades.
Returning outside hitters include senior Angela Lowak and junior Emily Hardesty -- both returning starters -- as well as sophomore Kiara McGee, who came on strong at the conclusion of her rookie campaign and continued to improve and impress both on the court and in the weight room throughout the spring season.
Sophomore lefty opposite hitter Ashlie Reasor, who played in all 30 matches and all but two sets as a freshman, also returns to the front row, along with junior setter Kaysie Shebeneck, who has seen action at both the setter and opposite hitter positions throughout her first two seasons.
Sophomore Amy Nettles, the team leader in digs per set and the recipient of the Aggies' Best Defensive Player award last year, along with juniors Victoria Arenas and 2014 Texas A&M Most Improved Player Katelyn Labhart, solidify the backrow passing and defense. In addition, sophomore redshirt Gabby Litwin, who has been training with the team for the past year but was required to redshirt last season following her transfer from Mississippi State, will further enhance the team's backrow play.
Margaret Connett, a 6-1 outside hitter, 5-11 outside hitter/defensive specialist Paige Panter and 5-9 defensive specialist Amy Houser and Blake make up the freshman class, although Corbelli expects to add a fifth freshman in the near future once all paperwork is completed and approval is granted.
"I don't know that I've ever been more tunnel visioned," Corbelli said. "I just feel it. It has been coming up all summer in my mind that we are more than ready to shoot for the highest we have finished in a long, long time. The team is talented and they are ready."
The Aggies will host their annual Maroon and White scrimmage on Monday, August 24 at 4 p.m. at Reed Arena. More details will be announced later.
A&M, one of only 14 teams in the nation that has made at least 18 NCAA tournament appearances since Corbelli was hired in 1993, officially opens the season August 28 at Stanford. Likely to be No. 1 in the preseason poll to be released August 12, the Cardinal return five starters -- including four All-Americans -- from last year's team that went 33-2 and was No. 2 in the final AVCA Top 25 poll after reaching the semifinals of the NCAA Championship.
"Starting out with Stanford and Minnesota that opening weekend is pretty incredible," Corbelli added. "It is not a choice a lot of coaches make to have that right from the start, but I love it. It is a great gauge. It is great for our preseason progress to keep the focus in the gym, keep the determination in the gym for all of us the coaches and the players, and look forward to a great performance out on the West Coast once again. Last year we had lots of success and got a good gauge of where we were, and we hope to do the same this year.
The Aggies make their home season debut against Wichita State on Saturday, Sept. 5 at the Texas A&M Invitational at Reed Arena.
Season tickets are available for purchase at 12thManFoundation.com.
Aggie fans can keep up to date on the A&M volleyball team on Facebook or on Twitter by following @AggieVolleyball.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M volleyball team held it first official workouts of the preseason on Monday with a fitness test followed by two two-and-a-half hour practice sessions at Reed Arena.
Aggie head coach Laurie Corbelli was excited to get underway as she returns 11 letterwinners -- including nine with starting experience – and a redshirt player from last year's team that tied for fourth in the Southeastern Conference with a 13-5 league record and finished 21-9 overall and No. 22 in the final national ratings percentage index (RPI) after advancing to the first round of the NCAA tournament.
"Obviously returning so many people is going to lead us to really shoot for the stars," Corbelli said. "I think they expect that; they want that. As I see things coming a little easier for them when we are on the court, we get to up it a notch quite often. That is a really fun and good feeling as a coach to see how much progress a group has made and continue to push them to excel even more."
Corbelli also welcomed four freshmen, including highly touted high school All-American Kaitlyn Blake, a 6-2 opposite hitter who gained valuable experience by enrolling at Texas A&M in January and participating in the team's spring training and competitions. The three other freshmen have been on campus, working out and participating in open gym since the second summer school session began in early July.
"It usually is a really great first day when you have so many who are familiar with what is expected in terms of intensity and drill execution and just the overall team atmosphere," said Corbelli, who is entering her 23rd season at the helm of the Aggies and the 30th season of her head coaching career. "It was great to have them all back in the gym really fit and strong and ready to go."
Shelby Sullivan, a senior middle blocker and the team's MVP in 2014, and junior middle blocker Jazzmin Babers and sophomore setter Stephanie Aiple, the Aggies' co-best offensive players from last season, represent the foundation of the team. All three earned Honorable Mention All-America distinction from the American Volleyball Coaches Association last year, in addition to numerous other region, conference and team accolades.
Returning outside hitters include senior Angela Lowak and junior Emily Hardesty -- both returning starters -- as well as sophomore Kiara McGee, who came on strong at the conclusion of her rookie campaign and continued to improve and impress both on the court and in the weight room throughout the spring season.
Sophomore lefty opposite hitter Ashlie Reasor, who played in all 30 matches and all but two sets as a freshman, also returns to the front row, along with junior setter Kaysie Shebeneck, who has seen action at both the setter and opposite hitter positions throughout her first two seasons.
Sophomore Amy Nettles, the team leader in digs per set and the recipient of the Aggies' Best Defensive Player award last year, along with juniors Victoria Arenas and 2014 Texas A&M Most Improved Player Katelyn Labhart, solidify the backrow passing and defense. In addition, sophomore redshirt Gabby Litwin, who has been training with the team for the past year but was required to redshirt last season following her transfer from Mississippi State, will further enhance the team's backrow play.
Margaret Connett, a 6-1 outside hitter, 5-11 outside hitter/defensive specialist Paige Panter and 5-9 defensive specialist Amy Houser and Blake make up the freshman class, although Corbelli expects to add a fifth freshman in the near future once all paperwork is completed and approval is granted.
"I don't know that I've ever been more tunnel visioned," Corbelli said. "I just feel it. It has been coming up all summer in my mind that we are more than ready to shoot for the highest we have finished in a long, long time. The team is talented and they are ready."
The Aggies will host their annual Maroon and White scrimmage on Monday, August 24 at 4 p.m. at Reed Arena. More details will be announced later.
A&M, one of only 14 teams in the nation that has made at least 18 NCAA tournament appearances since Corbelli was hired in 1993, officially opens the season August 28 at Stanford. Likely to be No. 1 in the preseason poll to be released August 12, the Cardinal return five starters -- including four All-Americans -- from last year's team that went 33-2 and was No. 2 in the final AVCA Top 25 poll after reaching the semifinals of the NCAA Championship.
"Starting out with Stanford and Minnesota that opening weekend is pretty incredible," Corbelli added. "It is not a choice a lot of coaches make to have that right from the start, but I love it. It is a great gauge. It is great for our preseason progress to keep the focus in the gym, keep the determination in the gym for all of us the coaches and the players, and look forward to a great performance out on the West Coast once again. Last year we had lots of success and got a good gauge of where we were, and we hope to do the same this year.
The Aggies make their home season debut against Wichita State on Saturday, Sept. 5 at the Texas A&M Invitational at Reed Arena.
Season tickets are available for purchase at 12thManFoundation.com.
Aggie fans can keep up to date on the A&M volleyball team on Facebook or on Twitter by following @AggieVolleyball.