KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M-Kingsville volleyball team opens the 2015 season in St. Louis, Missouri this weekend at the Maryville Invitational hosted by Maryville University. The Javelinas play two matches on Friday and Saturday in the John E. and Adaline Simon Athletic Center.
First up for the Blue and Gold is Southern Wesleyan at 11 a.m. for the very first match of the tournament. They then take on Henderson State at 3 p.m. Saturday sees TAMUK face former Lone Star Conference foe Central Oklahoma (1 p.m.) and the host Saints (5 p.m.).
Scouting Texas A&M-KingsvilleThe Javelinas will rely on four returning all-conference selection from last season.
Ashley Bukowski led the team with 331 kills and a .286 attack percentage while
Krystal Faison contributed 292 kills and 35 service aces.
Setting both of them and the rest of the team up for attacks will be
Casey Klobedans, the LSC's Preseason Setter of the Year. She recorded 1,171 assists for 10.18 a/s and a team-high 36 aces in her freshman campaign. Pushing her for playing time through preseason camp has been freshman and Kingwood, Texas native
Madison Brabham.
Sophomore
Brett Zaccardo is also back after posting team-highs in digs (555) and d/s (4.78).
Other returners are
Shania Gilpin,
Valarie Moehrig and
Alexandria Wells.
Scouting Southern WesleyanSouthern Wesleyan had a strong 27-10 showing last year. Their season ended in the semifinals of the NCCAA National Tournament to South Central regional opponent Colorado Christian. The Warriors are in the third year of the process to become a full-fledged member of the NCAA Division II.
Sarah Hughey is SWU's top returner after recording 472 kills, 3.78 k/s and .313 attack percentage, the most on the team. She also paced the Warriors with 112 blocks and 31 solo rejections. Setting her up was Megan Widener, who was credited with 1,196 assists (9.88 a/s). Courtney O'Brien paced the team with 373 digs while Milica Stamenic and Hughey recorded 282 and 262 digs, respectively. The fifth returner from 2014 is Shelby Sheets. She played in a total of 19 sets over 10 matches, finishing with 10 kills, 10 digs and eight blocks.
The season opener is the first time that the two schools will play against each other.
Scouting Henderson StateHenderson State was picked to finish last in the 12-team Great American Conference. In 2014, the Reddies were 4-27 and went winless in 14 conference matches. They ended the season by dropping their final six contests.
Only four players are back from last season. Middle blocker Violet Williams played in all 113 sets, amassing 153 kills, 1.35 k/s and 48 blocks. Kaylie Pyles finished with 103 kills and 12 blocks in 95 sets. Appearing in 93 sets over 26 matches was Ryleigh Thompson. She recorded 788 assists, 155 digs, 29 blocks and 12 service aces. Jessie Jacoby saw limited action in 20 matches (32 sets).
HSU has won the only two meetings between the programs, both coming in three sets. The Reddies won on Oct. 10, 1992 and Oct. 8, 1993 on their home court in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
Scouting Central OklahomaCentral Oklahoma was voted to finish fourth in the MIAA, just three points behind Nebraska-Kearney. The Bronchos went 28-5 in 2014 with a 17-5 mark in conference play. However, they were not selected to compete in the NCAA Tournament.
Back from last season are six athletes including the top two attackers, Allison Barr and Barbara Jackson. Jackson paced the team with 472 kills, 4.14 a/s and 45 service aces while adding 62 blocks, 17 of them solo. Bar posted 243 kills, 2.34 k/s and a team-high .330 attack percentage. Also cracking the 200-kill mark with 205 was Bonnie Vernon. Being credited with 1,361 assists was Katy Davis. Whitney Gifford produced 670 digs and 5.73 d/s and Mikayla Bangasser added187 digs.
UCO leads the overall series 22-7 and have won the last two meetings in 2010 and 2009. All the previous contests came while the Bronchos were members of the Lone Star Conference. The Javelinas last victory came on Oct. 9, 2008 in Kingsville in five sets.
Scouting MaryvilleMaryville went 15-14 overall last season and 6-12 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Saints were voted to finish seventh in the league's West Divisiion just ahead of William Jewell.
Nine returners are back from at 15-win squad. Their top five attackers are returning paced by Ashley Selman (2.72 k/s), Maddie Timmermann (2.44 k/s) and Laura Welling (2.25 k/s). Taryn Trubich led the team last year with 578 assists, 5.40 a/s and 22 service aces. Pacing the squad with 651 digs and 6.08 d/s was Ali Lampen. Defensively, Selman recorded 108 blocks (1.01 b/s) and Timmermann posted 73 rejections with 17 being solo.
Saturday will be the first meeting ever between the two programs.
Winningest TAMUK CoachTexas A&M-Kingsville head coach
Tanya Allen is closing in on becoming the volleyball program's all-time winningest coach. She enters the season with 65 wins and need four more to set the record. Jane Kieschnick (2000-06) holds the mark with 68 victories.
Assists ChaseKlobedans ended her freshman campaign with 1,171 assists, the 10th most on the career list. She is 1,881 away from surpassing the Javelinas' all-time mark held by Natalie Walther (2001-04). Klobedans is currently 829 shy of becoming the seventh TAMUK player ever with 2,000 career assists.
Live stats and video will be available for all four contests. Links can be found at the top of the article and on the volleyball schedule page.
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