SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State volleyball team ventures outside of Lone Star Conference play on Tuesday with a pair of matches against Wayland Baptist and Texas-Permian Basin at the Falcon Dome in Odessa.

The No. 16 Belles (12-5, 4-3 LSC) are coming off a sweep of Tarleton State last Saturday and will play at 5 p.m. against WBU (21-3) and then at 7 p.m. against UTPB (5-14). ASU is 7-2 in non-conference matches this season and are 4-4 in matches away from San Angelo.

Following the midweek doubleheader, ASU will host Texas A&M-Commerce at 7 p.m. on Friday and Texas Woman's at 2 p.m. on Saturday in rematches from last week's road losses.
 

COACH QUOTES

Head coach Chuck Waddington (Sixth season at Angelo State, 130-57 record)

On the team's improvements in their win over Tarleton State last Saturday:
"Our defensive intensity was much improved from the previous three matches. We were able to dig a lot of balls that we weren't able to in our losses. We worked hard to get Tarleton out of system with our intensity. That was the major difference."

On playing against Wayland Baptist:
"Wayland is a very competitive program that has a ridiculous record and a lot of confidence. We've got to be able to beat good teams and they are a good team."

On playing against Texas-Permian Basin:
"Permian-Basin is an experienced team with some quality players on their team. They are a region match for us, so it's very important for us to win the match even though it's not in conference. I'd like to go into this weekend with a couple of wins and momentum on our side."
 
RAMBELLE PLAYER SUMMARIES
Maddie Huth continues to lead ASU this season with 190 kills (3.17 per set) and 59 blocks (0.98 per set). Huth, a three-time LSC Offensive Player of the Week and a reigning all-American, had 32 kills last week in ASU's matches and now has 947 kills in her career.

Shelby Wilt led the Belles with 26 digs in the three-set win over Tarleton State last Saturday and now has 1,505 digs in her career. Wilt, a junior who was named the LSC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year following being the 2012 LSC Libero of the Year, has 271 digs (4.44 per set) this season and averaged 6.20 digs per set in the three matches last week.

Maggi Jo Keffury, a three-time LSC Setter of the Week in her first season at ASU, has 638 assists this season with 11.00 per set. Keffury had 95 assists last week (9.50 per set). Leah McWilliams is second on the team with 154 kills this season, while Arielle Bond has 150 kills in her sophomore season. Courtney Bartusiak, a freshman from Colorado, has 95 kills and leads the team with a .310 hitting percentage.

Defensively, Katie MacLeay has 205 digs with Kaelen Valdez adding 180 and Haley Bianco contributing 139. Bartusiak is second on the team with 29 blocks with Cerbi Ritchey providing 24.  
 

Angelo State vs. Wayland Baptist Pioneers

The Pioneers come into Odessa with an impressive 21-3 record and riding a five-match winning streak which began with a 3-1 win over Texas-Permian Basin. WBU has not played a LSC opponent this season.

Wayland is led by sophomore outside hitter Shahala Hawkins' 255 kills and Grecia Rivera who has 252 kills and 272 digs this season. Ashlyn Westerman, a junior from Liberal, Kan., is orchestrating the offense at the setter position with 858 assists (10.59 per set) with Mercades Torres contributing 237 digs (3.49 per set).

The match is the only contest outside of NCAA play for the Belles with Wayland Baptist (NAIA program. ASU is 7-0 all-time against the Pioneers with the last match coming in 2005. WBU went 19-15 last season, including an 8-4 record in Sooner Athletic Conference play.


Angelo State vs. Texas-Permian Basin Falcons

UTPB enters Tuesday with a 5-14 overall record this season and is currently on a five-match losing streak. The Falcons, who are 3-2 at home, went 0-2 last weekend with road matches against McMurry and St. Edward's. They are currently 0-4 against LSC teams with losses to West Texas A&M, Midwestern State, Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas A&M-Commerce.

Melissa Lusk and Keeley Brogdon lead the team with 185 and 180 kills, respectively, while Ariel Fralick has 373 assists with Ariana Gallardo adding another 314 assists. Jordan McDonald leads the Falcons with 312 digs with Taylor Harmon contributing another 163 digs. A Heartland Conference member, the Falcons are coming off a 13-16 record and a 6-8 in their conference play. The Belles are 2-6 all-time against UTPB with ASU taking the last match played between the two schools 3-1 in 2011 inside the Junell Center.