SAN ANGELO – After a solid 4-0 start to the season, the Angelo State volleyball team will venture to Colorado, where it will face Adams State and take on some of the nation's best in the Colorado Premier Tournament.

This will mark the first road trip of 2017 for the undefeated Belles, a team whose offense is sporting a .266 clip after sweeping its way through the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational. On the road to Denver, ASU will make a one match stop in Alamosa, Colorado, on Wednesday, September 6 where it will take on the Adams State at 2 p.m. (CST). The Belles will then procced to the Colorado Premier Tournament on where it will take on Florida Southern at noon (CST) and then tournament host No. 20 Metropolitan State at 3:30 p.m. (CST) on Friday, September 8. The outcome of these matches will determine which teams ASU will square off against on Saturday, September 9. ASU will have the possibility of seeing several other nationally ranked opponents in this tournament.   

Adams State, now 2-2, recently dropped matches by a score of 3-1 to both West Texas A&M and St. Mary's in the Lady Buffs Classic. The Grizzlies, however will be seeking to build of its last match which resulted in a sweep over Southwestern Oklahoma State. The Belles swept Adams State in the last match up between the two squads, which took place last season.

Florida Southern, which will be traveling to Denver from Lakeland, Florida, is a constant in the AVCA national rankings and has started this season receiving votes. The Mocs are currently 2-2, but have only dropped matched to two top 15 nationally ranked squads in No. 1 Concordia - St. Paul and No.12 Western Washington. This will be ASU's opening match of the Colorado Premier Tournament and the Belles are 0-1 all-time against FSC with the only matchup between the two coming in 2010.

Finally, Angelo State will face No. 20 Metro State before discovering which teams it will see on day two of the tournament. This will be a rematch of last season NCAA South Central Regional finale, in which the Belles emerged victorious with a sweep and headed to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in program history. The Road Runners also took ASU the distance, falling 3-2 earlier in the season in the 2016 Colorado Premier Tournament.

The Belles will look to senior outside hitter Brianna Sotello, sophomore right side Sundara Chinn and sophomore Anna Graham to lead the way for the attack. Sotello has gotten off to a strong start this season racking up 49 kills in ASU's first four matches, averaging 4.08 kills per set. The senior also sports the team's only double-double thus far and the squad's second highest clip at .374. Leading the Belles with a phenomenal .375 attack percentage, Chinn has proven herself a force from the right side. The newcomer has tallied 39 total kills for an average of 3.25 kills per set on offense. Rounding out the group, Graham has accrued a team third 27 kills, while heading the defense with 15 total blocks, as well.

Meghan Parker will continue to set up the Belles attack. The sophomore is averaging 8.00 assists per set and is coming off a seven service ace performance against New Mexico Highlands. This has made her the current team leader in the ace category. On the defensive side of the ball, the San Antonio native is averaging 2.00 digs per set.

Angelo State's stout defense will be led by libero Micheala Sifuentes and middle blocker Morgan Seaton. Sifuentes kicked off her season with a team leading 5.83 digs per set. The junior marked a season high 21 digs in the Belles' Kathleen Brasfield closing match. Seaton, last season's block leader, has once again shown her dominance along the net with a 1.08 block per set average and 13 total blocks on the season. She has also made serious contributions on offense with 2.54 kills per set which currently places her fourth on the team's scoring hierarchy.   

Finally, ASU will also be looking to its support staff to play a major roll. Outside hitters Abbie Lynn and Bailey Drum, as well as libero/defensive specialist Bailey Mulder and setter Eadara Files have provided excellent play in the past four matches. Senior leader Lynn is carrying a 1.25 kill per set average, while redshirt freshman Drum has turned in a 1.45 average from the outside hitter position. Mulder, a freshman, has provided the Belles with a great defensive option as she is averaging 2.27 digs per set. Files, who is now averaging 4.67 assists per set, will provide great depth at the setter position for ASU.