SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State volleyball teams faces its toughest test of their 2023 season so far when they welcome 2022 National Champions West Texas A&M on Friday night into the Junell Center - Stephens Arena. 

The Rambelles will also play host to Cameron this weekend, with the Aggies taking on the Belles on Satruday afternoon at 2 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
The Belles improved to 14-2 on the season and 4-0 in LSC play on Saturday with a sweep of Midwestern State in Wichita Falls - their ninth sweep of the season. Hannah Kinnison led all players with 19 kills and only committed one error for a .581 attack percentage. Laney Dale had a 22-assist, 10-dig double-double and Caleigh Enax had 16 digs. 

KINNISON NAMED LSC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kinnison earned her first LSC accolade by being named the LSC Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday. The senior averaged 4.71 kills per set and hit .391 in wins over TWU and MSU. She is the only player that ranks in the top five in the LSC this season in kills (second) and hitting percentage (fourth). 

Game 1
RV Angelo State vs. No. 5 West Texas A&M
Friday, October 6th - 6 p.m.
Junell Center - Stephens Arena

The Lady Buffs are 13-2 on the season and 3-1 in LSC play, with their only losses coming in five sets to No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul and RV DBU. The Belles are 27-63 all-time against the Lady Buffs, who swept the Belles in each of their three matchups last season. 

The Buffs are hitting .252 as a team and average 13.27 kills per set. They are led offensively by Emma Becker, who is averaging 2.88 kills per set and is hitting .325 on the season. Setters Ainsley Malis (5.93 assists per set) and Blair Moreland (4.36 assists per set) faciliate the Lady Buffs offense. 

Defensively, the Lady Buffs hold their opponents to a .151 hitting percentage. Their defensive efforts are led by libero Bryli Contreras (4.70 digs per set) and by middles Taytum Stow (1.06 blocks per set) and Carley Evetts (0.95 blocks per set). 

Game 2
RV Angelo State vs. Cameron
Saturday, October 7th - 2 p.m.
Junell Center - Stephens Arena

The Aggies are 3-13 on the season and 0-4 in LSC play; they are currently riding a six-match losing streak. The Belles are 33-11 all-time against the Aggies; the Belles have won the last 22 matches against the Aggies. Last season in Lawton, the Belles pulled out a five-set win over CU, the first match in the series to go to five sets since 2009. 

The Aggies are hitting .118 as a team and averaging 9.66 kills per set. Paris Patterson (3.30 kills per set) and Caitlyn Henderson (2.11 kills per set) pace the Aggies' attack; Henderson also leads the team with a .276 hitting percentage. 

Defensively, opponents hit .184 against the Aggies. They record 16.43 digs per set, led by Meagan Jimenez (5.04 digs per set) and record 1.91 blocks per set, led by freshman Caitlyn Cornell (1.18 blocks per set). 

PERSONAL BESTS THIS SEASON

•     Eleven Belles have recorded at least one personal best this season.
•     Setter Kayla Baer had three service aces against UAFS on Sept. 16, including two in a row that gave the Belles the lead in the fifth set.
•     Setter Laney Dale recorded a pair of kills against New Mexcio Highlands on Sept. 5; she has seven kills this season, exceeding her total from the 2022 season. She also set a new career high with three service aces against East Central on Sept. 9 and has seven double-doubles this season. 
•     Outside hitter Hannah Kinnison set a career-high attacking percentage of .750 against University of the Southwest on Sept.1.
•     Setter Alli Kirkpatrick assisted 26 times against East Central on Sept. 9, the most in her debut season; she also recorded eight digs against TAMUK on Sept. 14.
•     Outside Elsa Lamphere hit .833 in the season opener versus Southwest, a new career-high for the senior. 
•     Outside hitter Madi Parrish buried 15 kills against Texas Woman's on Sept. 27. She recorded 13 digs against TWU on Sept. 27 for her second-career double-double. 
•     Defensive specialist Krizia Perez recorded two digs against Huston-Tillotson on Spetmeber 2nd. She also recorded her first ace against MSU on Sept. 30. 
•     Middle Marina Sanchez had 13 kills vs. CSU Pueblo on Sept. 8, the first time she's had ten or more kills in a match in her career. She also had eight digs against the Thunderwolves, a career-high.  
•     Middle Hannah Spencer recorded three blocks against Henderson State on September 1st; she also recorded ten kills in her LSC debut versus WNMU; she hit .625 against UTPB on Sept. 23. She also recorded a pair of aces against St. Mary's on Sept. 15. 
•     Outside hitter Evelyn Torres set a new career high with 18 kills against UAFS on Sept. 16; she tied that mark again on Sept. 27 against Texas Woman's. 
•     Outside hitter Kamryn Williams recorded four kills each against Huston-Tillotson and Southwest; she hit .667 against the Mustangs.  

RETURNING STATS

• ASU returns four starters and 12 letter winners from last year's team while adding seven newcomers, including a pair of in-conference transfers.
• Angelo State returns 79.8 percent (1052 of 1319) of its kills, 94.7 percent (107 of 113) of its service aces, 88.3 percent (1572 of 1780) of its digs, and 34.2 percent of its blocks (81.5 of 238.5) from last season's team.

BELLES ADD SEVEN

Angelo State brought in seven newcomers in 2023, including a pair of transfers from within the LSC. 

    Alli Kirkpatrick
    Freshman * 5-11 * Setter
    Bonham, Texas * Bonham HS
Recorded 1,939 kills and 1,375 digs at Bonham HS; two-time district hitter of the year
    
    Madi Parrish
    Freshman * 5-9 * Outside Hitter
    Saginaw, Texas * Boswell HS
Recorded 981 kills and 1,049 digs at Boswell HS; two-time all-district selection.

    Krizia Perez
    Freshman * 5-6 * Defensive Specialist
    Laredo, Texas * United HS
Led United HS to four district championships; first-team all-district selection

    Maya Smalls
    Grad. Student * 5-10 * Right Side
    San Antonio, Texas * St. Edward's
2022 All-LSC First Team selection at St. Edward's; recorded 361 kills for the Hilltoppers in 2022

    Hannah Spencer
    Freshman * 6-1 * Middle Blocker
    San Antonio, Texas * Cornerstone Christian
Tallied 385 kills and 210 blocks; two-time all-district selection

    Evelyn Torres
    Senior * 5-9 * Outside Hitter
    Fort Worth, Texas * UT Tyler
All-LSC Second Team in 2022 for UT Tyler

    Kamryn Williams
    Freshman * 6-0 * Outside Hitter
    Wall, Texas * Wall HS
All-time kill leader at Wall HS with 1,260; most kills in a season with 448; 2021 All-West Texas MVP

UP NEXT
Following this weekend, the Belles are on the road next weekend to take on Lubbock Christian and Eastern New Mexico.