COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M junior setter Stephanie Aiple became the first in Aggie Volleyball history to receive AVCA All-America mention three times, and sophomore middle blocker Kaitlyn Blake received the prestigious distinction for the first time in her young career as both were named AVCA Honorable Mention All-America, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced today.
Aiple, who started every match and played in all but one set this season, averaged 10.85 assists per set and directed an Aggie offense that ranks 11th in the nation and finished second in the Southeastern Conference with 14.39 kills per set. A member of the All-SEC Team, the Round Rock, Texas, native also commanded the Aggies to a .259 hitting percentage, the eighth highest team season hitting percentage in program history.
Earlier this season, Aiple directed the A&M offense to a .392 hitting efficiency in a 3-2 victory at Georgia, marking the highest team hitting percentage in a five-set match in school history. Aiple, who led A&M with four double-doubles in 2016, will enter her senior year ranked fifth in the A&M career records with 3,413 total assists.
Blake, from Allen, Texas, led the SEC and ranks sixth in the nation with 1.52 blocks per set, the fourth highest block average in Texas A&M history. A member of the All-SEC Team and a two-time SEC Player of the Week, Blake's 164 total blocks ranks fourth in the A&M all-time season records, and her 145 block assists ties for third all-time.
Blake, who started every match and played in all 108 sets in 2016, led or tied for the team lead in blocks in 22 of 30 matches. She tied the Texas A&M all-time records for total blocks (13) and block assists (12) in a four-set match in the Aggies' 3-1 victory at North Texas on August. 27, and she was instrumental in the Aggies breaking eight different team blocking records throughout the SEC season.
Blake finished second on the team with a .361 hitting percentage while averaging 2.41 kills and 3.37 points per set.
Texas A&M finished the season 21-9 after advancing to the first round of the NCAA Championship. It marked the Aggies' sixth consecutive and 20th overall NCAA tournament appearance under 24th-year head coach Laurie Corbelli, making A&M one of only 14 teams in the nation that has made at least 20 NCAA tournament appearances since she was hired in 1993.
For the complete list of 2016 AVCA All-Americans, go to AVCA.org.
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 and Instagram by following @AggieVolleyball.
Aiple, who started every match and played in all but one set this season, averaged 10.85 assists per set and directed an Aggie offense that ranks 11th in the nation and finished second in the Southeastern Conference with 14.39 kills per set. A member of the All-SEC Team, the Round Rock, Texas, native also commanded the Aggies to a .259 hitting percentage, the eighth highest team season hitting percentage in program history.
Earlier this season, Aiple directed the A&M offense to a .392 hitting efficiency in a 3-2 victory at Georgia, marking the highest team hitting percentage in a five-set match in school history. Aiple, who led A&M with four double-doubles in 2016, will enter her senior year ranked fifth in the A&M career records with 3,413 total assists.
Blake, from Allen, Texas, led the SEC and ranks sixth in the nation with 1.52 blocks per set, the fourth highest block average in Texas A&M history. A member of the All-SEC Team and a two-time SEC Player of the Week, Blake's 164 total blocks ranks fourth in the A&M all-time season records, and her 145 block assists ties for third all-time.
Blake, who started every match and played in all 108 sets in 2016, led or tied for the team lead in blocks in 22 of 30 matches. She tied the Texas A&M all-time records for total blocks (13) and block assists (12) in a four-set match in the Aggies' 3-1 victory at North Texas on August. 27, and she was instrumental in the Aggies breaking eight different team blocking records throughout the SEC season.
Blake finished second on the team with a .361 hitting percentage while averaging 2.41 kills and 3.37 points per set.
Texas A&M finished the season 21-9 after advancing to the first round of the NCAA Championship. It marked the Aggies' sixth consecutive and 20th overall NCAA tournament appearance under 24th-year head coach Laurie Corbelli, making A&M one of only 14 teams in the nation that has made at least 20 NCAA tournament appearances since she was hired in 1993.
For the complete list of 2016 AVCA All-Americans, go to AVCA.org.
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 and Instagram by following @AggieVolleyball.