BRYAN, Texas – The Texas A&M volleyball annual player awards were presented at the team's end-of-the-season celebration dinner, held this evening at Christopher's World Grille.
Junior setter Stephanie Aiple and senior middle blocker Jazzmin Babers shared the team's Most Valuable Player award, presented by head coach Laurie Corbelli. The Co-MVPs led the Aggies to a 21-9 record in 2016 and a sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championship.
Aiple, who started every match and played in all but one set this season, became the first in Aggie Volleyball history to receive AVCA All-America mention three times, as she was named AVCA Honorable Mention All-America for a third consecutive year after averaging 10.85 assists per set and directing an Aggie offense that ranked 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, finished the year ranked fifth in the A&M career records with 3,413 total assists.
In addition to her co-MVP accolades, Babers also received the team's Best Offensive Award, marking the third consecutive year she has received the honor. From Syracuse, N.Y., Babers started all 122 matches throughout her illustrious career and became the Texas A&M all-time career record holder in total blocks (562) and block assists (494). In addition, her .370 career hitting percentage ranks second in school annals.
Babers, who also holds numerous other Texas A&M all-time and SEC match, season and career records, was selected to the All-SEC Team for a third consecutive season, having led the Aggies with a .363 hitting percentage while averaging 2.53 kills and 3.19 points per set. A team captain, Babers was second on the team with 1.19 blocks per set.
Sophomore middle blocker Kaitlyn Blake was presented the team's Best Defensive Award, and she shared the Most Improved Player Award with freshman outside hitter Hollann Hans.
Blake, from Allen, Texas, was tabbed AVCA Honorable Mention All-America after leading the SEC and ranking seventh 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.
Hans, who graduated high school early to join the Aggies last January, was the AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year and an AVCA All-South Region Honorable Mention selection after leading the Aggies with 3.57 points per set for the full season. Also a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team and a two-time SEC Freshman of the Week selection, Hans played in all 30 matches and was second on the team with 3.08 kills per set, having posted double-figure kills in a team-high 19 matches. The Corpus Christi, Texas, native led or tied for the team lead in kills in 13 matches overall, tying for most on the team, and she led the Aggies with 24 total aces and 0.26 aces per set.
As voted by the players and coaches, senior defensive specialist Katelyn Labhart (Whitesboro, Texas) was the recipient of the Most Inspirational Player Award. The award was presented by sophomore defensive specialist Amy Houser (Houston), who described Labhart as reliable, confident, focused and the perfect example of what the Aggie volleyball mentality should be, as well as genuine, sincere, selfless and a shining light to everyone.
Corbelli presented senior defensive specialist Victoria Arenas from Cypress, Texas, with the prestigious Aggie Excellence award, which recognizes the player who best represents A&M's core values of respect, integrity, leadership, excellence, loyalty and selfless service.
In addition to the individual team awards, assistant coach Trevor Johnson recognized eight student-athletes for their academic prowess: Emily Hardesty, Amanda Heller and Kaysie Shebeneck, as well as Arenas, Babers, Hans, Houser and Labhart.
The banquet concluded with the showing of the season highlight film, produced by Beth Shecterle and others on the 12th Man Productions staff, and closing remarks by Corbelli.
2016 Texas A&M volleyball team awards:
Co-MVPs: Stephanie Aiple and Jazzmin Babers
Best Offensive Player: Jazzmin Babers
Best Defensive Player: Kaitlyn Blake
Co-Most Improved Players: Kaitlyn Blake and Hollann Hans
Most Inspirational Player: Katelyn Labhart
Aggie Excellence: Victoria Arenas
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.
Junior setter Stephanie Aiple and senior middle blocker Jazzmin Babers shared the team's Most Valuable Player award, presented by head coach Laurie Corbelli. The Co-MVPs led the Aggies to a 21-9 record in 2016 and a sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championship.
Aiple, who started every match and played in all but one set this season, became the first in Aggie Volleyball history to receive AVCA All-America mention three times, as she was named AVCA Honorable Mention All-America for a third consecutive year after averaging 10.85 assists per set and directing an Aggie offense that ranked 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, finished the year ranked fifth in the A&M career records with 3,413 total assists.
In addition to her co-MVP accolades, Babers also received the team's Best Offensive Award, marking the third consecutive year she has received the honor. From Syracuse, N.Y., Babers started all 122 matches throughout her illustrious career and became the Texas A&M all-time career record holder in total blocks (562) and block assists (494). In addition, her .370 career hitting percentage ranks second in school annals.
Babers, who also holds numerous other Texas A&M all-time and SEC match, season and career records, was selected to the All-SEC Team for a third consecutive season, having led the Aggies with a .363 hitting percentage while averaging 2.53 kills and 3.19 points per set. A team captain, Babers was second on the team with 1.19 blocks per set.
Sophomore middle blocker Kaitlyn Blake was presented the team's Best Defensive Award, and she shared the Most Improved Player Award with freshman outside hitter Hollann Hans.
Blake, from Allen, Texas, was tabbed AVCA Honorable Mention All-America after leading the SEC and ranking seventh 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.
Hans, who graduated high school early to join the Aggies last January, was the AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year and an AVCA All-South Region Honorable Mention selection after leading the Aggies with 3.57 points per set for the full season. Also a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team and a two-time SEC Freshman of the Week selection, Hans played in all 30 matches and was second on the team with 3.08 kills per set, having posted double-figure kills in a team-high 19 matches. The Corpus Christi, Texas, native led or tied for the team lead in kills in 13 matches overall, tying for most on the team, and she led the Aggies with 24 total aces and 0.26 aces per set.
As voted by the players and coaches, senior defensive specialist Katelyn Labhart (Whitesboro, Texas) was the recipient of the Most Inspirational Player Award. The award was presented by sophomore defensive specialist Amy Houser (Houston), who described Labhart as reliable, confident, focused and the perfect example of what the Aggie volleyball mentality should be, as well as genuine, sincere, selfless and a shining light to everyone.
Corbelli presented senior defensive specialist Victoria Arenas from Cypress, Texas, with the prestigious Aggie Excellence award, which recognizes the player who best represents A&M's core values of respect, integrity, leadership, excellence, loyalty and selfless service.
In addition to the individual team awards, assistant coach Trevor Johnson recognized eight student-athletes for their academic prowess: Emily Hardesty, Amanda Heller and Kaysie Shebeneck, as well as Arenas, Babers, Hans, Houser and Labhart.
The banquet concluded with the showing of the season highlight film, produced by Beth Shecterle and others on the 12th Man Productions staff, and closing remarks by Corbelli.
2016 Texas A&M volleyball team awards:
Co-MVPs: Stephanie Aiple and Jazzmin Babers
Best Offensive Player: Jazzmin Babers
Best Defensive Player: Kaitlyn Blake
Co-Most Improved Players: Kaitlyn Blake and Hollann Hans
Most Inspirational Player: Katelyn Labhart
Aggie Excellence: Victoria Arenas
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.