SAN ANGELO – The No. 8 Angelo State volleyball team continues its LSC road tour as it heads to UT – Permian Basin and West Texas A&M this Friday and Saturday.
Coming off a sweep road win over Tarleton State, the Belles are currently boasting a 12-1 overall record and remain undefeated with a 3-0 record in conference play. This was the first road sweep in Stephenville over the TexAnns since October 13, 2011.
In its first year in the LSC, UTPB has amassed a 5-6 overall record and is sitting at 1-1 in the conference. The Falcons are coming off a sweep of Cameron in Lawton, Oklahoma and will be looking to win its first home match. The Belles lead the all-time series between the two teams 7-6, with ASU sweeping the Falcons in both of its last meetings.
Riding a four match winning streak, West Texas A&M is 6-4 on the year and 2-0 in the Lone Star Conference. The Lady Buffs opened their LSC slate with a five set win over Cameron on the road and then took a 3-1 victory over Midwestern State in Wichita Falls. WTAMU owns the all-time series record with the Belles, 58-19. ASU took all three matches with West Texas A&M in 2015, including the Belles' first victory in Canyon since November 3, 1993. The Last time Angelo State took back-to-back matches on the road against WT was in 1986 and 1987.
Heading up the Belles attack and assisting them to an LSC leading .264 team attack percentage will be upper classmen Mallory Blauser and Brianna Sotello. Blauser, who leads the conference and the team with 200 kills, fired in 14 kills against the TexAnns. This was her 10 consecutive matches with double-figure kills. She is currently sporting an outstanding average of 4.65 kills per set. The senior notched her fifth double-double during the Belles last match as she recorded a season high 15 digs to assist the defense. Sotello led the team against TSU with 16 kills. She is second on the squad in total kills (142) and is averaging 3.30 kills per set. The junior is also third on the team with 11 service aces and leads the Belles defense with 156 total digs at an average of 3.63 digs per set.
Holding down the right side position for ASU will be junior Abbie Lynn. The Amarillo native is third on the squad with 102 total kills on the season, averaging 2.37 per set. She has also assisted the defense with 17 total blocks.
Distributing for the ASU attack will be three time LSC setter of the week, Meghan Parker. She is fourth in the nation and leads the LSC in total assist (513) and assists per set (11.93). In the hostel environment of TSU she dished out 38 assists to the ASU attackers. The freshman continues to lead in the service ace department with 19 on the season. Defensively, she is fourth on the squad with 107 digs and has recorded a team most six double-doubles.
Leading the Belles' defensive efforts will be Morgan Seaton and Brook Robertson. Seaton has taken over the top spot on the team with 30 total blocks on the year. Against TexAnns she led the team with a season high five total blocks. The middle blocker has also put up stellar numbers on the offensive side of the ball as she is fourth on ASU with 84 total kills and has dropped in seven aces in 2016. Stepping into the libero roll for the past three match-ups, Robertson has turned in double-figure digs in each of the matches for a total of 40. She has now totaled 52 digs on the season, and is only eight away from surpassing her 2015 total.
Finally, adding depth to the Belles rotation will be Leiyona Young, Mallory Davidson and Tulani Titley. With a team second 28 blocks, Young has provided stellar coverage along the net. On offense she has totaled 41 total kills. Davidson's 9 aces is second on the team, while the defensive specialist has recorded 102 digs thus far. Titley has also made an impact on both sides of the ball as the freshman is averaging 2.00 kills per set with a .291 clip, and has totaled 15 blocks on the season.
