MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Volleyball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville will open the 2016 season participating at the Christian Brothers Invitational at Canale Arena in Bluff City.

The Javelinas are coming off of a 19-15 record last season, which was the most wins in the Allen era as well as the most wins since 1998. Their season ended after falling in a tight five set rubber match against Cameron University (25-12, 20-25, 25-12, 24-26, 12-15) in the Lone Star Conference Tournament.

As a team, Texas A&M-Kingsville finished 2015 sweeping four schools (St. Mary's University, Oklahoma State Panhandle University, Midwestern State University and Eastern New Mexico University) and held its opponents to 11.87 kills per set, the fourth fewest in the LSC. TAMUK led the LSC with 177 total service aces and ranked second with 2,257 total digs. The team finished third in the conference in total assists (1,526), assists per set (11.92), total kills (1,625) and kills per set (12.70). 

The Hogs will return three All-LSC athletes in Casey Klobedans, Krystal Faison and Brett Zaccardo. 

2016 LSC Preseason Setter of the Year Klobedans ended the 2015 season with 1,283 assists, establishing a third place ranking in the LSC. The junior enters 2016 fourth on the all-time school's record book with 2,454 assists in her career. 

Faison led the club with 391 kills and 37 service aces, ranking fifth in the LSC in both categories. The Converse, Texas native also had a significant role on the defensive end averaging 3.77 digs per set and finished her sophomore year with 483 total digs. 

Defensive specialist Zaccardo led Kingsville with 637 digs and 4.98 digs per set that placed second in the LSC in both categories. Her 637 digs rearranged the Javs single-season record book, putting her second in the programs' history. 

Haley Hutchinson had a successful freshman year as she led the Blue and Gold and finished in the top five of the conference with 121 total blocks. Other key returners are Valarie Hill (358 kills), Ashley Bukowski (350 kills, 327 digs, 32 aces) and Madison Brabham (141 kills, 100 total blocks). Krystal Puente, Alexandria Wells and Lexi Wick also return to the Javelinas in 2016. The team added five true freshmen to the roster this offseason. 

The first match for the Javelinas in 2016 will be against Southwest Baptist University on September 2 at 12:30 p.m. The Bearcats were 5-24 overall a season ago and went 3-15 in the Mid-American Interscholastic Athletics Association (MIAA). SBU finished 2015 recording 10.8 kills per set with a hitting percentage of .134. The club had a total of 109 service aces and 115.5 total blocks. 

A few of SBU's top returners consists of Taryn Marton, Bailey Baumann and Kalyn Sotomayor. Outside hitter Marton had 211 kills, 158 digs and 13 service aces. Baumann led the Bearcats with 197 digs (2.12 per set) and registered 15 aces while Sotomayor put down 114 kills and 43 total blocks. 

TAMUK holds a 2-1 advantage over SBU and have split its two matches at a neutral site. The last time these two teams faced off was in 2012 when the Javelinas defeated the Bearcats in five sets on our home floor. 

Saint Josephs College will also matchup against the Hogs on September 2 at 5 p.m. The Pumas went 8-21 in 2015, 3-15 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and 5-6 against non-conference opponents. As a unit, SJC had 11.4 kills per set and had a hitting percentage of .159. Defensively, they tallied 1,538 digs and 165.5 total blocks. 

Bridget Krasowski led the team with 283 kills and 36 service aces and gathered 215 digs. Senior defensive specialists Katie Dugan totaled 509 digs (4.94 digs per set), 215 digs and 21 service aces. Bailey Worl and Lucy Grenda led in total blocks with 75 and 66, respectively, and Madyson Anthony chipped in 172 kills and 30 blocks.

Texas A&M-Kingsville and Saint Josephs will play each other for the first time in school history. 

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