COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M volleyball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Southeastern Conference according to the 2015 SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, released today by the league office. In addition, Aggie senior middle blocker Shelby Sullivan has been voted to the nine-member Preseason Volleyball All-SEC Team for the second consecutive year.
Florida, the 2014 SEC champion after posting a perfect 18-0 record in conference play, is picked to defend its title, having received the maximum 12 first-place votes for 144 points in the coaches' preseason team poll. Points were compiled on a 12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, and coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Alabama received one first-place vote and is projected to finish second, having received 127 points. Kentucky garnered 120 points to finish third.
The Aggies, who tied Alabama for fourth place in last season's final SEC standings with a 13-5 conference mark, received 113 points in the preseason poll. Fifth-place Arkansas received 88 points and is closely followed by sixth-place LSU (85 points) and seventh-place Missouri (84). Ole Miss is picked to finish eighth with 76 points and Auburn (59) is ninth. Georgia (47), South Carolina (30), Mississippi State (21) and Tennessee (20) round out the poll.
Sullivan, an All-SEC Team selection at the conclusion of each of the last two season, is coming off a junior campaign in which she also was tabbed AVCA Honorable Mention All-America, AVCA All-South Region Team, SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Texas A&M MVP.
From Richardson, Texas, Sullivan was second on the 2014 A&M squad and seventh in the SEC with a .374 hitting percentage in all matches, the fifth highest season hitting percentage in A&M history. She also was eighth in the SEC in blocks (1.01), 10th in points (3.57) and 13th in kills (2.84) per set for the full season. In SEC matches only, Sullivan ranked sixth in the league in hitting percentage (.398) and was eighth in blocks (0.97), 11th in points (3.50) and 17th in kills (2.80) per set.
Sullivan, who posted double-figure kills in a team-leading 19 matches overall in 2014, broke the A&M record for kills (20) in an SEC three-set match in the Aggies' conference season opener against Auburn on Sept. 28. She also hit .826 against Auburn, setting an A&M SEC record and Reed Arena record and ranking second in A&M all-time history for hitting percentage when making 20 or more attack attempts. In addition, her 25 points against the Tigers broke the A&M and Reed Arena records for most points in a three-set match. Furthermore, the 6-2 middle set an A&M SEC single-match record and tied the Reed Arena record for solo blocks with three in the sweep against Auburn.
Sullivan enters her senior season as A&M's career record holder for kills (421), block solos (20) and points scored (530.5) in SEC matches only, as well as most SEC matches and sets played and most consecutive SEC matches played. She also enters her final season with a .379 career hitting percentage in all matches, putting her on pace to break the all-time record of .342 set by former two-time All-American middle blocker and Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame member Sherri Brinkman (1983-85).
Florida led all schools with three players selected to the Preseason All-SEC team: Rhamat Alhassan, Mackenzie Dagostino and Alex Holston. Others named to the preseason team are Alabama's Krystal Rivers, Chanell Clark-Bibbs from Arkansas, and Morgan Bergren of Kentucky, as well as Nakeyta Clair and Carly Kan of Ole Miss and Missouri, respectively. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Texas A&M head coach Laurie Corbelli, who enters her 23rd season at the helm of the Aggies, returns 11 letterwinners -- including nine with starting experience – and a redshirt player from last year's team that 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. The Aggies also currently list four freshmen on the roster and expect to add a fifth before the season opener at No. 2 Stanford on August 28.
The Aggies, who will host a Maroon and White scrimmage on Monday, Aug. 24 at 4 p.m. at Reed Arena, make their official home debut Saturday, Sept. 5 against Wichita State at the Texas A&M Invitational at Reed and open SEC play Sunday, Sept. 27 as the they play host to Arkansas at 1 p.m. at Reed.
Season tickets and individual match tickets for A&M home matches are available for purchase at 12thManFoundation.com.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook and on Twitter by following @AggieVolleyball.
2015 SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
Place School Points
1. Florida (12) 144
2. Alabama (1) 127
3. Kentucky 120
4. Texas A&M 113
5. Arkansas 88
6. LSU 85
7. Missouri 84
8. Ole Miss 76
9. Auburn 59
10. Georgia 47
11 South Carolina 30
12. Mississippi State 21
13. Tennessee 20
2015 Preseason All-SEC Team Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown
Krystal Rivers, Alabama OPP 5-10 R-Jr. Birmingham, Ala.
Chanell Clark-Bibbs, Arkansas MB 6-1 Jr. Houston, Texas
Rhamat Alhassan, Florida MB 6-4 So. Glenarden, Md.
Mackenzie Dagostino, Florida S 5-10 Sr. Tampa, Fla.
Alex Holston, Florida RS 6-1 Jr. Olney, Md.
Morgan Bergren, Kentucky S 6-1 Jr. Muncie, Ind.
Nakeyta Clair, Ole Miss MB 6-1 Sr. Country Club Hills, Ill.
Carly Kan, Missouri OH 5-9 Jr. Honolulu, Hawaii
Shelby Sullivan, Texas A&M MB 6-2 Sr. Richardson, Texas
Florida, the 2014 SEC champion after posting a perfect 18-0 record in conference play, is picked to defend its title, having received the maximum 12 first-place votes for 144 points in the coaches' preseason team poll. Points were compiled on a 12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis, and coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Alabama received one first-place vote and is projected to finish second, having received 127 points. Kentucky garnered 120 points to finish third.
The Aggies, who tied Alabama for fourth place in last season's final SEC standings with a 13-5 conference mark, received 113 points in the preseason poll. Fifth-place Arkansas received 88 points and is closely followed by sixth-place LSU (85 points) and seventh-place Missouri (84). Ole Miss is picked to finish eighth with 76 points and Auburn (59) is ninth. Georgia (47), South Carolina (30), Mississippi State (21) and Tennessee (20) round out the poll.
Sullivan, an All-SEC Team selection at the conclusion of each of the last two season, is coming off a junior campaign in which she also was tabbed AVCA Honorable Mention All-America, AVCA All-South Region Team, SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Texas A&M MVP.
From Richardson, Texas, Sullivan was second on the 2014 A&M squad and seventh in the SEC with a .374 hitting percentage in all matches, the fifth highest season hitting percentage in A&M history. She also was eighth in the SEC in blocks (1.01), 10th in points (3.57) and 13th in kills (2.84) per set for the full season. In SEC matches only, Sullivan ranked sixth in the league in hitting percentage (.398) and was eighth in blocks (0.97), 11th in points (3.50) and 17th in kills (2.80) per set.
Sullivan, who posted double-figure kills in a team-leading 19 matches overall in 2014, broke the A&M record for kills (20) in an SEC three-set match in the Aggies' conference season opener against Auburn on Sept. 28. She also hit .826 against Auburn, setting an A&M SEC record and Reed Arena record and ranking second in A&M all-time history for hitting percentage when making 20 or more attack attempts. In addition, her 25 points against the Tigers broke the A&M and Reed Arena records for most points in a three-set match. Furthermore, the 6-2 middle set an A&M SEC single-match record and tied the Reed Arena record for solo blocks with three in the sweep against Auburn.
Sullivan enters her senior season as A&M's career record holder for kills (421), block solos (20) and points scored (530.5) in SEC matches only, as well as most SEC matches and sets played and most consecutive SEC matches played. She also enters her final season with a .379 career hitting percentage in all matches, putting her on pace to break the all-time record of .342 set by former two-time All-American middle blocker and Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame member Sherri Brinkman (1983-85).
Florida led all schools with three players selected to the Preseason All-SEC team: Rhamat Alhassan, Mackenzie Dagostino and Alex Holston. Others named to the preseason team are Alabama's Krystal Rivers, Chanell Clark-Bibbs from Arkansas, and Morgan Bergren of Kentucky, as well as Nakeyta Clair and Carly Kan of Ole Miss and Missouri, respectively. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Texas A&M head coach Laurie Corbelli, who enters her 23rd season at the helm of the Aggies, returns 11 letterwinners -- including nine with starting experience – and a redshirt player from last year's team that 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. The Aggies also currently list four freshmen on the roster and expect to add a fifth before the season opener at No. 2 Stanford on August 28.
The Aggies, who will host a Maroon and White scrimmage on Monday, Aug. 24 at 4 p.m. at Reed Arena, make their official home debut Saturday, Sept. 5 against Wichita State at the Texas A&M Invitational at Reed and open SEC play Sunday, Sept. 27 as the they play host to Arkansas at 1 p.m. at Reed.
Season tickets and individual match tickets for A&M home matches are available for purchase at 12thManFoundation.com.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M volleyball team on Facebook and on Twitter by following @AggieVolleyball.
2015 SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
Place School Points
1. Florida (12) 144
2. Alabama (1) 127
3. Kentucky 120
4. Texas A&M 113
5. Arkansas 88
6. LSU 85
7. Missouri 84
8. Ole Miss 76
9. Auburn 59
10. Georgia 47
11 South Carolina 30
12. Mississippi State 21
13. Tennessee 20
2015 Preseason All-SEC Team Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown
Krystal Rivers, Alabama OPP 5-10 R-Jr. Birmingham, Ala.
Chanell Clark-Bibbs, Arkansas MB 6-1 Jr. Houston, Texas
Rhamat Alhassan, Florida MB 6-4 So. Glenarden, Md.
Mackenzie Dagostino, Florida S 5-10 Sr. Tampa, Fla.
Alex Holston, Florida RS 6-1 Jr. Olney, Md.
Morgan Bergren, Kentucky S 6-1 Jr. Muncie, Ind.
Nakeyta Clair, Ole Miss MB 6-1 Sr. Country Club Hills, Ill.
Carly Kan, Missouri OH 5-9 Jr. Honolulu, Hawaii
Shelby Sullivan, Texas A&M MB 6-2 Sr. Richardson, Texas