COLLEGE STATION, Texas –In its first local appearance of the season, Texas A&M Volleyball will take on Shandong from China on Monday in a match that will be contested at the A&M Consolidated High School Tiger Gym. First serve is slated for 6:30 p.m., and admission to the match is free.
"We are excited to compete against a great Chinese team that has literally been sweeping teams across Texas in their exhibitions," said Laurie Corbelli, who is in her 24th season as Texas A&M's head coach. "We are home for three days and typically would take Monday off, but the opportunity to have this experience for our players was too tempting.
"This match is a wonderful opportunity for our fans to come out and watch some fast, powerful international volleyball and support the Aggies in our first appearance in College Station this season. We are honored that this Chinese team wanted to play against us, and volleyball fans will enjoy the friendly competition and exciting fast-paced volleyball similar to the matches that they saw during the recent Rio Olympics where China won the gold medal. Thanks to Coach Jennifer Kazmierski and the A&M Consolidated Athletic Department for allowing us to play in their gymnasium in this recent addition to our schedule."
The match marks Texas A&M's first local appearance of the 2016 season, as the Aggies don't make their Reed Arena home debut until Friday, Sept. 16 when they play host to second-ranked Wisconsin. The match against the Chinese team could not be played on the Aggies' home court, because Reed Arena is reserved for a career fair on the only date compatible for both teams.
Texas A&M, currently ranked 14th in the AVCA Top-25 Coaches Preseason Poll and the preseason favorite to win the Southeastern Conference championship, returns five starters and the libero, as well as 14 letterwinners overall from last year's celebrated team that won the SEC. The Aggies also welcome eight freshmen, including 2016 A&M Consolidated graduate Haley Slocum.
The Aggies are 3-3 on the season, with all three losses coming against teams ranked in the top 20. Most recently, the Aggies went 1-2 at the Puerto Rico Clasico, narrowly falling to No. 16 Florida State, 3-2, falling to No. 6 Minnesota, 3-0, and capping the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Virginia Tech.
Texas A&M leads the SEC with 14.48 kills per set. Individually, sophomore middle blocker Kaitlyn Blake leads the league with a .456 hitting efficiency as well as 1.57 blocks per set. Junior setter and reigning SEC Player of the Year Stephanie Aiple ranks second in the conference with 11.22 assists per set, and junior outside hitter Kiara McGee is fourth in the league with 3.78 kills per set.
Shandong swept UTSA on August 30 and also did not drop a set against Southwestern. The Chinese team takes on UNLV in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Sept. 7.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the team on Facebook and on Twitter and Instagram by following @AggieVolleyball.
"We are excited to compete against a great Chinese team that has literally been sweeping teams across Texas in their exhibitions," said Laurie Corbelli, who is in her 24th season as Texas A&M's head coach. "We are home for three days and typically would take Monday off, but the opportunity to have this experience for our players was too tempting.
"This match is a wonderful opportunity for our fans to come out and watch some fast, powerful international volleyball and support the Aggies in our first appearance in College Station this season. We are honored that this Chinese team wanted to play against us, and volleyball fans will enjoy the friendly competition and exciting fast-paced volleyball similar to the matches that they saw during the recent Rio Olympics where China won the gold medal. Thanks to Coach Jennifer Kazmierski and the A&M Consolidated Athletic Department for allowing us to play in their gymnasium in this recent addition to our schedule."
The match marks Texas A&M's first local appearance of the 2016 season, as the Aggies don't make their Reed Arena home debut until Friday, Sept. 16 when they play host to second-ranked Wisconsin. The match against the Chinese team could not be played on the Aggies' home court, because Reed Arena is reserved for a career fair on the only date compatible for both teams.
Texas A&M, currently ranked 14th in the AVCA Top-25 Coaches Preseason Poll and the preseason favorite to win the Southeastern Conference championship, returns five starters and the libero, as well as 14 letterwinners overall from last year's celebrated team that won the SEC. The Aggies also welcome eight freshmen, including 2016 A&M Consolidated graduate Haley Slocum.
The Aggies are 3-3 on the season, with all three losses coming against teams ranked in the top 20. Most recently, the Aggies went 1-2 at the Puerto Rico Clasico, narrowly falling to No. 16 Florida State, 3-2, falling to No. 6 Minnesota, 3-0, and capping the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Virginia Tech.
Texas A&M leads the SEC with 14.48 kills per set. Individually, sophomore middle blocker Kaitlyn Blake leads the league with a .456 hitting efficiency as well as 1.57 blocks per set. Junior setter and reigning SEC Player of the Year Stephanie Aiple ranks second in the conference with 11.22 assists per set, and junior outside hitter Kiara McGee is fourth in the league with 3.78 kills per set.
Shandong swept UTSA on August 30 and also did not drop a set against Southwestern. The Chinese team takes on UNLV in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Sept. 7.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the team on Facebook and on Twitter and Instagram by following @AggieVolleyball.