Spring Break
Volleyball team travels to Lubbock to take on struggling Raiders
By: Michael Teague
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: Sports
The Texas A&M volleyball team (8-8, 3-3) will make the trip to Lubbock, Texas Saturday to take on Texas Tech (5-13, 0-7). The Aggies are looking for its 3rd consecutive win, which will put them above the .500 win percentage for the first time since September 19th.
Though A&M has won its last two games, Head Coach Laurie Corbelli said the team has room for improvement and wants to accomplish much more.
"(We) tried to bring a new approach in terms of a new season," Corbelli said. "It's time to get where we can be."
Now at 3-3 in Big 12 play, A&M is ranked No. 6 in the conference standings. Ahead of the Aggies are Colorado, Baylor, Kansas State, Texas, and Nebraska. Texas A&M has struggled away from home this season with a 2-7 record outside of Aggieland, though the Aggies are coming off its first road conference victory of the season against Kansas.
Junior Mary Batis leads the team with 208 kills and 175 digs this season. She has scored double-digit kills in each of the past four matches.
After struggling with blocking earlier in the season, the Aggies have picked it up the last three matches recording 13 at Colorado, 16 versus Missouri, and 15 at Kansas.
"It's really something we see every year," Corbelli said. "As the season goes along, we start to get a better feel for it."
Senior Darla Donaldson leads the team in blocks with 1.10 per set and ranks No. 5 in the Big 12. Defensively for the Aggies junior Jennifer Banse has played well in conference play averaging 2.77 digs per set.
Texas Tech has struggled in 2008. They have lost five consecutive matches, three of which were sweeps. In conference play, the Red Raiders have lost 21 sets and won 6. Dating back to last season, the Red Raiders have lost 26 straight Big 12 matches.
Texas Tech is at the bottom of the Big 12 standings in kills, digs and blocks. Corbelli said she has made sure that her team is not looking past the Red Raiders.
"I think they have some key positions where they're young, but there's talent there," Corbelli said.
Tech's young cast of stars includes freshman Amanda Dowdy who scored 16 kills in a loss at Oklahoma this season.
Home court advantage has not been a factor for the Red Raiders this season. Tech is 0-6 at home and has not won on its own court since September 12, 2007. They are currently in the midst of a 15-game home losing streak.
In the school's last meeting in 2007, the Aggies swept Texas Tech in Lubbock 3-0. Junior Sarah Ammerman led the Aggies with 16 kills and 11 digs in the match. The Red Raiders have not defeated A&M since November 2006.
Though A&M has won its last two games, Head Coach Laurie Corbelli said the team has room for improvement and wants to accomplish much more.
"(We) tried to bring a new approach in terms of a new season," Corbelli said. "It's time to get where we can be."
Now at 3-3 in Big 12 play, A&M is ranked No. 6 in the conference standings. Ahead of the Aggies are Colorado, Baylor, Kansas State, Texas, and Nebraska. Texas A&M has struggled away from home this season with a 2-7 record outside of Aggieland, though the Aggies are coming off its first road conference victory of the season against Kansas.
Junior Mary Batis leads the team with 208 kills and 175 digs this season. She has scored double-digit kills in each of the past four matches.
After struggling with blocking earlier in the season, the Aggies have picked it up the last three matches recording 13 at Colorado, 16 versus Missouri, and 15 at Kansas.
"It's really something we see every year," Corbelli said. "As the season goes along, we start to get a better feel for it."
Senior Darla Donaldson leads the team in blocks with 1.10 per set and ranks No. 5 in the Big 12. Defensively for the Aggies junior Jennifer Banse has played well in conference play averaging 2.77 digs per set.
Texas Tech has struggled in 2008. They have lost five consecutive matches, three of which were sweeps. In conference play, the Red Raiders have lost 21 sets and won 6. Dating back to last season, the Red Raiders have lost 26 straight Big 12 matches.
Texas Tech is at the bottom of the Big 12 standings in kills, digs and blocks. Corbelli said she has made sure that her team is not looking past the Red Raiders.
"I think they have some key positions where they're young, but there's talent there," Corbelli said.
Tech's young cast of stars includes freshman Amanda Dowdy who scored 16 kills in a loss at Oklahoma this season.
Home court advantage has not been a factor for the Red Raiders this season. Tech is 0-6 at home and has not won on its own court since September 12, 2007. They are currently in the midst of a 15-game home losing streak.
In the school's last meeting in 2007, the Aggies swept Texas Tech in Lubbock 3-0. Junior Sarah Ammerman led the Aggies with 16 kills and 11 digs in the match. The Red Raiders have not defeated A&M since November 2006.
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.
By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.
You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com