NCAA Volleyball Countdown: #15 Texas A&M
NCAA Volleyball Countdown: #15 Texas A&M
The Texas A&M women's volleyball team snagged the No. 15 ranking in our NCAA Countdown.
Check out the FloVolleyball NCAA Countdown, where we rank the top 20 collegiate women's volleyball teams in the country leading up to opening day on August 26. The No. 15 spot goes to Texas A&M this year, and here's why:
Bad news for A&M's SEC opponents: the 2015 conference champion Aggies return all but one starter for 2016.
Last Season
The Players
RETURNING STARS
Stephanie Aiple | 6-1 | Junior | Setter
11.44 assists/set (#15 in nation); 2015 SEC Player of the Year
Jazzmin Babers | 6-2 | Senior | Middle Blocker
3.17 kills/set (.412); 1.37 blocks/set; 2015 Second Team AVCA All American
Kiara McGee | 5-11 | Junior | Outside Hitter
2.96 kills/set (.191); 0.40 blocks/set
Emily Hardesty | 6-3 | Senior | Outside Hitter
1.82 kills/set (.197); 0.35 blocks/set
Ashlie Reasor | 6-1 | Junior | Opposite
2.06 kills/set (.224); 0.74 blocks/set
PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Hollann Hans | 6-1 | Freshman | Outside Hitter
Maddie Douglas | 6-1 | Freshman | Maddie Douglas
Kiana Peroff | 6-2 | Freshman | Outside Hitter
BIGGEST LOSSES
Shelby Sullivan | 6-0 | Middle Blocker
2.38 kills/set (.377); 0.94 blocks/set
Non-Conference Matches to Watch
August 27 vs. Ohio State @ North Texas
September 1 vs. Florida State @ Puerto Rico
September 1 vs. Minnesota @ Puerto Rico
September 14 @ Texas
September 16 vs. Wisconsin
Coach Laurie Corbelli (24th season at A&M; 31st overall) says her team will miss its only graduated player, middle blocker Shelby Sullivan. "She was the glue," Corbelli said, "such a wonderful leader." That said, the Aggies have one of the most veteran teams in the nation, led by 2015 SEC Player of the Year, junior setter Stephanie Aiple. Aiple's success is all the more surprising considering her history of back injuries, which forces her to modify her training. Even so, says Corbelli, "Steph is super-accurate, which is 90 percent of being a good setter." A&M's middles are the team's offensive strength, although junior outside hitter Kiara McGee may have made the most progress in the offseason. The Aggies surely have the toughest non-conference schedule in the country, facing Ohio State, Florida State, Minnesota and Texas on the road, and Wisconsin at home. "Why not?" Corbelli said. "We love playing high-level volleyball teams. It helps us gain confidence, whether we win or not."
Teams have challenged Florida's SEC dominance over the years, but few have pulled it off more than one year in a row. Texas A&M might just be the team that pulls off a conference title repeat.
Previously:
20. Louisville
19. UNC
18. BYU
17. Illinois
16. Purdue
Additionally research and reporting contributed by Leslie Hamann.
The Upshot
Bad news for A&M's SEC opponents: the 2015 conference champion Aggies return all but one starter for 2016.
Last Season
- 24-7 overall, 16-2 in SEC (1st place) 1-1 in NCAA Tournament (lost 3-0 at home to Hawai'i)
- No. 9 in final 2015 RPI
- Team hitting percentage: .272 (#16 in nation)
- Opponents' hitting percentage: .212 (#203 in nation)
- Team blocks per set: 2.50 (#39 in nation)
The Players
RETURNING STARS
Stephanie Aiple | 6-1 | Junior | Setter
11.44 assists/set (#15 in nation); 2015 SEC Player of the Year
Jazzmin Babers | 6-2 | Senior | Middle Blocker
3.17 kills/set (.412); 1.37 blocks/set; 2015 Second Team AVCA All American
Kiara McGee | 5-11 | Junior | Outside Hitter
2.96 kills/set (.191); 0.40 blocks/set
Emily Hardesty | 6-3 | Senior | Outside Hitter
1.82 kills/set (.197); 0.35 blocks/set
Ashlie Reasor | 6-1 | Junior | Opposite
2.06 kills/set (.224); 0.74 blocks/set
PROMISING NEWCOMERS
Hollann Hans | 6-1 | Freshman | Outside Hitter
Maddie Douglas | 6-1 | Freshman | Maddie Douglas
Kiana Peroff | 6-2 | Freshman | Outside Hitter
BIGGEST LOSSES
Shelby Sullivan | 6-0 | Middle Blocker
2.38 kills/set (.377); 0.94 blocks/set
Non-Conference Matches to Watch
August 27 vs. Ohio State @ North Texas
September 1 vs. Florida State @ Puerto Rico
September 1 vs. Minnesota @ Puerto Rico
September 14 @ Texas
September 16 vs. Wisconsin
Outlook
Coach Laurie Corbelli (24th season at A&M; 31st overall) says her team will miss its only graduated player, middle blocker Shelby Sullivan. "She was the glue," Corbelli said, "such a wonderful leader." That said, the Aggies have one of the most veteran teams in the nation, led by 2015 SEC Player of the Year, junior setter Stephanie Aiple. Aiple's success is all the more surprising considering her history of back injuries, which forces her to modify her training. Even so, says Corbelli, "Steph is super-accurate, which is 90 percent of being a good setter." A&M's middles are the team's offensive strength, although junior outside hitter Kiara McGee may have made the most progress in the offseason. The Aggies surely have the toughest non-conference schedule in the country, facing Ohio State, Florida State, Minnesota and Texas on the road, and Wisconsin at home. "Why not?" Corbelli said. "We love playing high-level volleyball teams. It helps us gain confidence, whether we win or not."
Prediction
Teams have challenged Florida's SEC dominance over the years, but few have pulled it off more than one year in a row. Texas A&M might just be the team that pulls off a conference title repeat.
Previously:
20. Louisville
19. UNC
18. BYU
17. Illinois
16. Purdue
Additionally research and reporting contributed by Leslie Hamann.