Tickets | Schedule | Roster
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M volleyball team officially reports to campus on Tuesday to begin final preparations for the upcoming fall season under the direction of first-year Aggie head coach Laura "Bird" Kuhn. Following an afternoon team meeting, the players will be issued their gear and then attend a team dinner Tuesday evening before participating in their first day two-a-day practice on Wednesday morning.
"Report day has always been my most favorite day as a player and a coach," said Kuhn, who was hired in December and coached the team during its spring training season as well as its European training tour in May. "It's the most fun day because everyone is back together, and you get to be in the moment and welcome everyone back."
Kuhn returns eight letterwinners from last year's team, including junior outside hitter Hollann Hans, a 2018 Preseason All-SEC Team selection, and sophomore setter Camille Conner, who like Hans played in every set last year. Others returning with starting experience are pin hitters Samantha Sanders and Maddie Douglas, middle blockers Makena Patterson and Morgan Davis and libero/defensive specialist and lone senior Amy Houser, as well as Haley Slocum, who provided valuable depth in the back row.
Also returning is outside hitter Brookah Palmer, a redshirt junior who trained with the Aggies last season but sat out the year due to NCAA transfer rules. In addition, freshmen Berkley Adams, London Austin-Roark, Kaitlyn Rogers and Mallory Talbert enrolled at Texas A&M in January and gained valuable experience by participating in the Aggies' spring drills as well as competing during the team's trip to Europe.
"We had a great spring and we are excited to be back in the gym with them again," Kuhn said. "From start to finish, we have seen so much growth and development in the team, and it is going to carry over into the fall. We've told them that is what we want; that is what we strive for in the preseason and the SEC. I want them to feel that growth, but I also want them to feel it in their development and in what we are accomplishing."
Several other new faces will be donning the maroon and white for the first time this fall, including middle blocker/opposite hitter Sydnye Fields, a redshirt-junior transfer from the University of North Carolina, as well as freshmen Sydney Little, Taylor Voss and Allison Fields, who joined the team in July.
Kuhn played down the fact that she is entering the first season of her head coaching career, instead choosing to focus on the team aspect.
"I don't feel that different," she said. "For me it has always been about team, even with my staff. All of us collectively are talking about what we need to do and get done. That team feel is what makes it special.
"At the end of the day there will be wins and losses, but we need to focus on the process and individual growth as well as team growth. It will be fun to see what we can accomplish, becoming the best version of yourself and seeing where that takes you."
Fans can get their first glimpse of the Aggies on Saturday, August 18 when Texas A&M plays host to TCU in an exhibition match at Reed Arena. First serve is at 1 p.m., and admission is free.
The Aggies open the regular season against Ohio University on August 24 at the Sports Imports D.C. Koehl Classic in Columbus, Ohio. Kuhn and the Aggies make their official Reed Arena debut on Thursday, Sept. 6, as they host the two-day Texas A&M Invitational.
Season and single match tickets are on sale at 12thMan.com.
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.
2018 Texas A&M Volleyball Quick Facts:
Coaching Staff
Head Coach.............................................. Laura "Bird" Kuhn
Alma Mater....................................... Georgia Tech, 2005
A&M Record.................................................... 0-0 (1st year)
Career record................................................ 0-0 (1st year)
Associate Head Coach............ Kolby O'Donnell (1st year)
Alma Mater......................... Lees-McRae College, 2006
Assistant Coach.................. Wendel Camargo (1st year)
Alma Mater......................................... University Paulista
Texas A&M Volleyball History
First Year of Volleyball....................................................... 1975
All-Time SEC Record....................................... 77-33 (6 years)
No. of appearances in NCAA Tournament................... 24
(1981-82, 1985,-86, 1993-2005, 2009, 2011-16)
Last Postseason Opponent........................................... SMU
Result......................................... Lost, 3-0 (2016 First Round)
NCAA Best Finish................... Regional Finals (1999, 2001)
NCAA Tournament All-Time Record.......................... 26-24
Team Information
2017 Overall Record.......................................................... 10-15
2017 SEC Record (finish).......................................... 7-11 (9th)
2017 NCAA Tournament.................................................... n/a
2017 Final AVCA Ranking.................................................... NR
2017 Final NCAA RPI............................................................... 53
Returning starters/letterwinners.................................... 4/8
Lost starters/letterwinners................................ 2 + libero/6
Newcomers............................................................ 8 + redshirt
Class Breakdown (Sr/Jr/So/Fr)................................. 1/5/4/7
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M volleyball team officially reports to campus on Tuesday to begin final preparations for the upcoming fall season under the direction of first-year Aggie head coach Laura "Bird" Kuhn. Following an afternoon team meeting, the players will be issued their gear and then attend a team dinner Tuesday evening before participating in their first day two-a-day practice on Wednesday morning.
"Report day has always been my most favorite day as a player and a coach," said Kuhn, who was hired in December and coached the team during its spring training season as well as its European training tour in May. "It's the most fun day because everyone is back together, and you get to be in the moment and welcome everyone back."
Kuhn returns eight letterwinners from last year's team, including junior outside hitter Hollann Hans, a 2018 Preseason All-SEC Team selection, and sophomore setter Camille Conner, who like Hans played in every set last year. Others returning with starting experience are pin hitters Samantha Sanders and Maddie Douglas, middle blockers Makena Patterson and Morgan Davis and libero/defensive specialist and lone senior Amy Houser, as well as Haley Slocum, who provided valuable depth in the back row.
Also returning is outside hitter Brookah Palmer, a redshirt junior who trained with the Aggies last season but sat out the year due to NCAA transfer rules. In addition, freshmen Berkley Adams, London Austin-Roark, Kaitlyn Rogers and Mallory Talbert enrolled at Texas A&M in January and gained valuable experience by participating in the Aggies' spring drills as well as competing during the team's trip to Europe.
"We had a great spring and we are excited to be back in the gym with them again," Kuhn said. "From start to finish, we have seen so much growth and development in the team, and it is going to carry over into the fall. We've told them that is what we want; that is what we strive for in the preseason and the SEC. I want them to feel that growth, but I also want them to feel it in their development and in what we are accomplishing."
Several other new faces will be donning the maroon and white for the first time this fall, including middle blocker/opposite hitter Sydnye Fields, a redshirt-junior transfer from the University of North Carolina, as well as freshmen Sydney Little, Taylor Voss and Allison Fields, who joined the team in July.
Kuhn played down the fact that she is entering the first season of her head coaching career, instead choosing to focus on the team aspect.
"I don't feel that different," she said. "For me it has always been about team, even with my staff. All of us collectively are talking about what we need to do and get done. That team feel is what makes it special.
"At the end of the day there will be wins and losses, but we need to focus on the process and individual growth as well as team growth. It will be fun to see what we can accomplish, becoming the best version of yourself and seeing where that takes you."
Fans can get their first glimpse of the Aggies on Saturday, August 18 when Texas A&M plays host to TCU in an exhibition match at Reed Arena. First serve is at 1 p.m., and admission is free.
The Aggies open the regular season against Ohio University on August 24 at the Sports Imports D.C. Koehl Classic in Columbus, Ohio. Kuhn and the Aggies make their official Reed Arena debut on Thursday, Sept. 6, as they host the two-day Texas A&M Invitational.
Season and single match tickets are on sale at 12thMan.com.
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.
2018 Texas A&M Volleyball Quick Facts:
Coaching Staff
Head Coach.............................................. Laura "Bird" Kuhn
Alma Mater....................................... Georgia Tech, 2005
A&M Record.................................................... 0-0 (1st year)
Career record................................................ 0-0 (1st year)
Associate Head Coach............ Kolby O'Donnell (1st year)
Alma Mater......................... Lees-McRae College, 2006
Assistant Coach.................. Wendel Camargo (1st year)
Alma Mater......................................... University Paulista
Texas A&M Volleyball History
First Year of Volleyball....................................................... 1975
All-Time SEC Record....................................... 77-33 (6 years)
No. of appearances in NCAA Tournament................... 24
(1981-82, 1985,-86, 1993-2005, 2009, 2011-16)
Last Postseason Opponent........................................... SMU
Result......................................... Lost, 3-0 (2016 First Round)
NCAA Best Finish................... Regional Finals (1999, 2001)
NCAA Tournament All-Time Record.......................... 26-24
Team Information
2017 Overall Record.......................................................... 10-15
2017 SEC Record (finish).......................................... 7-11 (9th)
2017 NCAA Tournament.................................................... n/a
2017 Final AVCA Ranking.................................................... NR
2017 Final NCAA RPI............................................................... 53
Returning starters/letterwinners.................................... 4/8
Lost starters/letterwinners................................ 2 + libero/6
Newcomers............................................................ 8 + redshirt
Class Breakdown (Sr/Jr/So/Fr)................................. 1/5/4/7