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COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The 2017 Texas A&M volleyball team officially reports to campus Monday for meetings and a team dinner and will begin preseason practices on Tuesday.
Texas A&M head coach Laurie Corbelli, who along with associate head coach and husband John Corbelli are celebrating their 25th season at the helm of the Aggies, returns 11 letterwinners—including four starters plus the libero—from last year's team that went 21-9 overall and reached the NCAA Championship tournament for a sixth consecutive season. She also will welcome a stellar four-member freshman class, ranked the 18th best recruiting class in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com, as well as a redshirt freshman and a transfer.
"I am most excited about having a really neat blend of returning players and new players to form basically a team with a whole new look," Corbelli said. "The new talent that has come in is really exciting and high level. The returners have been working really hard all spring and summer in preparation for this season, so I think just seeing the unit that they all are going to become is really exciting."
Highlighting the list of returners are 2016 PrepVolleyball.com All-American honorable mention selections Kiara McGee, a senior outside hitter who led the Aggies with 3.15 kills per set last year, and junior middle blocker and all-SEC member Kaitlyn Blake, who led the team and the Southeastern Conference and ranked seventh in the nation with 1.52 blocks per set. Sophomore outside hitter Hollann Hans, the 2016 AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year, and senior opposite hitter Ashlie Reasor also are returning starters, and senior libero and two-time season dig leader Amy Nettles returns to anchor the back row defense.
"The spring was one of the best we've had in terms of gaining strength and agility and speed and confidence," Corbelli said when asked about the nucleus of players returning. "The seniors, Kiara McGee, Amy Nettles, Gabby Litwin and Ashlie Reasor, those four really took seriously their new roles as the 'big sisters' on the team, as the oldest and most experienced on the team. They renewed their commitment to what they want to achieve, and they have wanted to set kind of their own culture within the group. I think we will see a new and improved version, especially in those four and returning Kaitlyn Blake in the middle and Hollann Hans on the left. It's exciting as young athletes to really see growth with the kind of work they put in."
Corbelli's biggest challenges will be to fill the openings at middle blocker, where AVCA All-American Jazzmin Babers, the Texas A&M record holder for career blocks, had started every match of her four-year career, and at setter following three-time AVCA All-American honorable mention Stephanie Aiple's retirement due to medical reasons.
"When you lose your quarterback, it's going to be a new look for a team," Corbelli said. "With new setters, you are looking at overhauling your offense and adjusting the timing of your offense. Every situation in volleyball, it happens so fast and decision making is critical. That just takes some time to understand and to learn. That will be a challenge but a fun one."
Expected to take over the starting setter role is 6-1 freshman lefty Camille Conner (Katy, Texas), a two-time all-state selection from Seven Lakes High School, where she was coached by former Texas A&M setter Farah (Mensik) Holder. Also competing for the spot is sophomore Haley Slocum, whose only court appearance as a freshman was in an exhibition match.
Corbelli also brings in two middle blockers who were both named high school All-Americans by PrepVolleyball.com: Morgan Davis (6-4, Orlando, Florida) and Makena Patterson (6-3, Phoenix, Arizona). They will compete with returning sophomore Maddie Douglas and redshirt freshman Elli Shadricks.
Freshman 6-2 outside hitter Samantha Sanders (Waco, Texas), who was named to the all-tournament team at the 2017 USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships after leading Texas Advantage 18 Black to a runner-up finish in the Open Division, will be competing for time at the outside hitter position, along with sophomore Kiana Peroff. Brookah Palmer, a sophomore redshirt transfer who earned AVCA All-Southeast Region Honorable Mention as a freshman at the University of Houston also will train at the outside hitter position, but she is currently unable to compete due to NCAA transfer rules.
In addition to Nettles, Corbelli has an experienced corps of back row defensive specialists, including Litwin and junior Amy Houser, as well as sophomore Amanda Heller who will provide additional depth.
"I think the personnel we have couldn't be any better people to get into these roles that are really critical right now and perform in those roles," Corbelli said. "The new dynamic and how we are going to get the best out of the group is really a great challenge, and blending it all together is a fun part of coaching."
Although the 2017 version of the Aggies will have somewhat of a new look, what won't change are Corbelli's goals for the season.
"We just want to get better every day," she said. "I know it's a cliché, but it is really, really what we strive to do. I want the players engaged and present every day. I want the gym to be a place where they want to be every day, and they can feel their own improvements.
"We always strive to be at the top of the conference, and I don't see any reason why we can't achieve that. Yes, things can happen all the time, but knowing the talent that we have and the desire, the intangibles, it gives me a lot of hope that we can maintain our spot near the top of the conference. We also always want to get into the NCAA tournament and go deep into the tournament. That is on everyone's mind every year, and it won't be any different this year."
When asked about beginning her 25th season at A&M, Corbelli said, "I'm really proud that when John and I came to A&M in 1993, we thought of it as a long term destination, to be here as long as we possibly can. It was home for me. It was a program we wanted to invest our time and energy in. It is a great university, and to be able to see that really come to be so far is a rewarding feeling.
"I think it just gives you a sense of confidence that you know what you represent, you know the great university you represent. You know what you have been able to achieve here already, and there is no reason why those things won't continue. We would love for this to be the best season ever, and then the next season and the next season and the next."
The Aggies, picked to finish fourth in the SEC standings according to the 2017 SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, play an exhibition match at TCU in Fort Worth on August 19 and open the regular season by hosting a two-day tournament against Sam Houston State, Texas State and Virginia Commonwealth on August 25-26 at Reed Arena.
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.
Practice Schedule for August 8-12:
Tues., Aug. 8 9:30 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 9 10 a.m.
Thur., Aug. 10 9 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 11 9 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 12 10 a.m.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The 2017 Texas A&M volleyball team officially reports to campus Monday for meetings and a team dinner and will begin preseason practices on Tuesday.
Texas A&M head coach Laurie Corbelli, who along with associate head coach and husband John Corbelli are celebrating their 25th season at the helm of the Aggies, returns 11 letterwinners—including four starters plus the libero—from last year's team that went 21-9 overall and reached the NCAA Championship tournament for a sixth consecutive season. She also will welcome a stellar four-member freshman class, ranked the 18th best recruiting class in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com, as well as a redshirt freshman and a transfer.
"I am most excited about having a really neat blend of returning players and new players to form basically a team with a whole new look," Corbelli said. "The new talent that has come in is really exciting and high level. The returners have been working really hard all spring and summer in preparation for this season, so I think just seeing the unit that they all are going to become is really exciting."
Highlighting the list of returners are 2016 PrepVolleyball.com All-American honorable mention selections Kiara McGee, a senior outside hitter who led the Aggies with 3.15 kills per set last year, and junior middle blocker and all-SEC member Kaitlyn Blake, who led the team and the Southeastern Conference and ranked seventh in the nation with 1.52 blocks per set. Sophomore outside hitter Hollann Hans, the 2016 AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year, and senior opposite hitter Ashlie Reasor also are returning starters, and senior libero and two-time season dig leader Amy Nettles returns to anchor the back row defense.
"The spring was one of the best we've had in terms of gaining strength and agility and speed and confidence," Corbelli said when asked about the nucleus of players returning. "The seniors, Kiara McGee, Amy Nettles, Gabby Litwin and Ashlie Reasor, those four really took seriously their new roles as the 'big sisters' on the team, as the oldest and most experienced on the team. They renewed their commitment to what they want to achieve, and they have wanted to set kind of their own culture within the group. I think we will see a new and improved version, especially in those four and returning Kaitlyn Blake in the middle and Hollann Hans on the left. It's exciting as young athletes to really see growth with the kind of work they put in."
Corbelli's biggest challenges will be to fill the openings at middle blocker, where AVCA All-American Jazzmin Babers, the Texas A&M record holder for career blocks, had started every match of her four-year career, and at setter following three-time AVCA All-American honorable mention Stephanie Aiple's retirement due to medical reasons.
"When you lose your quarterback, it's going to be a new look for a team," Corbelli said. "With new setters, you are looking at overhauling your offense and adjusting the timing of your offense. Every situation in volleyball, it happens so fast and decision making is critical. That just takes some time to understand and to learn. That will be a challenge but a fun one."
Expected to take over the starting setter role is 6-1 freshman lefty Camille Conner (Katy, Texas), a two-time all-state selection from Seven Lakes High School, where she was coached by former Texas A&M setter Farah (Mensik) Holder. Also competing for the spot is sophomore Haley Slocum, whose only court appearance as a freshman was in an exhibition match.
Corbelli also brings in two middle blockers who were both named high school All-Americans by PrepVolleyball.com: Morgan Davis (6-4, Orlando, Florida) and Makena Patterson (6-3, Phoenix, Arizona). They will compete with returning sophomore Maddie Douglas and redshirt freshman Elli Shadricks.
Freshman 6-2 outside hitter Samantha Sanders (Waco, Texas), who was named to the all-tournament team at the 2017 USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships after leading Texas Advantage 18 Black to a runner-up finish in the Open Division, will be competing for time at the outside hitter position, along with sophomore Kiana Peroff. Brookah Palmer, a sophomore redshirt transfer who earned AVCA All-Southeast Region Honorable Mention as a freshman at the University of Houston also will train at the outside hitter position, but she is currently unable to compete due to NCAA transfer rules.
In addition to Nettles, Corbelli has an experienced corps of back row defensive specialists, including Litwin and junior Amy Houser, as well as sophomore Amanda Heller who will provide additional depth.
"I think the personnel we have couldn't be any better people to get into these roles that are really critical right now and perform in those roles," Corbelli said. "The new dynamic and how we are going to get the best out of the group is really a great challenge, and blending it all together is a fun part of coaching."
Although the 2017 version of the Aggies will have somewhat of a new look, what won't change are Corbelli's goals for the season.
"We just want to get better every day," she said. "I know it's a cliché, but it is really, really what we strive to do. I want the players engaged and present every day. I want the gym to be a place where they want to be every day, and they can feel their own improvements.
"We always strive to be at the top of the conference, and I don't see any reason why we can't achieve that. Yes, things can happen all the time, but knowing the talent that we have and the desire, the intangibles, it gives me a lot of hope that we can maintain our spot near the top of the conference. We also always want to get into the NCAA tournament and go deep into the tournament. That is on everyone's mind every year, and it won't be any different this year."
When asked about beginning her 25th season at A&M, Corbelli said, "I'm really proud that when John and I came to A&M in 1993, we thought of it as a long term destination, to be here as long as we possibly can. It was home for me. It was a program we wanted to invest our time and energy in. It is a great university, and to be able to see that really come to be so far is a rewarding feeling.
"I think it just gives you a sense of confidence that you know what you represent, you know the great university you represent. You know what you have been able to achieve here already, and there is no reason why those things won't continue. We would love for this to be the best season ever, and then the next season and the next season and the next."
The Aggies, picked to finish fourth in the SEC standings according to the 2017 SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, play an exhibition match at TCU in Fort Worth on August 19 and open the regular season by hosting a two-day tournament against Sam Houston State, Texas State and Virginia Commonwealth on August 25-26 at Reed Arena.
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.
Practice Schedule for August 8-12:
Tues., Aug. 8 9:30 a.m. & 3 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 9 10 a.m.
Thur., Aug. 10 9 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 11 9 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 12 10 a.m.