SAN ANGELO - The Angelo State volleyball team continues its trek in the Rocky Mountain State this weekend as it heads to Grand Junction to take part in the Maverick Fall Classic hosted by Colorado Mesa. They will take on Adams State, Cal Poly Humboldt, Cal State Dominguez Hill, and host No. 15 Colorado Mesa.
BELLES NOTEBOOK
LAST TIME OUT
The Rambelles swept Western Colorado in their road opener yesterday evening, winning 25-20, 25-19, and 25-14. The Belles held the Mountaineers to a .133 hitting percentage and recorded a season-high seven blocks.
ORTMAN EARNS LSC HONORS
Setter
Adeline Ortman earned the LSC's first setter of the week award on Monday for her play at the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational. Ortman averaged an LSC-leading 12 assists per set for the weekend, including a 58-assist performance for the Belles in their tight five-set loss to No. 23 Central Oklahoma, the most for a Belle in a single match since Alex Woolsey tied the single-match record for assists when she recorded 71 against West Texas A&M on September 29th, 2012.
BELLES SET ATTENDANCE RECORD
The Belles' match on Friday against New Mexico Highlands featured 3,315 fans in the stands, which set the Lone Star Conference record for single-match attendance. The match was the third-most attended Division II volleyball match in history and the third-most for a sporting event inside the Junell Center—Stephens Arena.
ACE IN THE HOLE
In their match last weekend against Fort Lewis, the Belles recorded 12 service aces, their most in a single match since they recorded 12 against Texas A&M-Commerce on October 4th, 2019. The Belles have recorded 38 aces in 18 sets of play, the third-best mark in the LSC.
BELLES IN THE POLLS
•The Belles received 42 votes in the AVCA Top 25, making them the second-highest-placed LSC team in the poll.
•The Belles were the third seed in the 2023 LSC Volleyball Tournament. Under Waddington, the Belles have qualified for the tournament every season.
•The Belles were picked third in the LSC Preseason Poll behind West Texas A&M and DBU, receiving two first-place votes.
•They are one of three LSC teams to appear in the poll, joining ninth-ranked West Texas A&M and receiving votes DBU.
•The Belles are looking to rejoin the nation's top 25 for the first time since September 2022; they spent the entire 2023 season receiving votes in the AVCA poll.
•The Belles started the 2021 season ranked first in the country off the heels of the 2021 AVCA National Championship; they spent the entire 2021 season within the top 25 of the poll.
SCOUTING THE FIELD
ADAMS STATS
AVCA RANK: N/A
2024 RECORD: 1-3
Adams State started their season with a 1-3 record, sweeping Western New Mexico to claim their lone win.
The Grizzlies are hitting .101 this season and are led offensively by Cindy Garcia (55 kills), and Katie Bauer leads the team with a .238 attack percentage.
The Belles are 5-1 all-time versus the Grizzlies, with the Grizzlies winning the last matchup in three sets in 2021. The Grizzlies are led by first-year head coach Garcia Ramser, an assistant coach under
Chuck Waddington for the previous four seasons.
CAL POLY HUMBOLDT
AVCA RANK: N/A
2024 RECORD: 3-1
Cal Poly Humboldt is off to its best start since 2016, going 3-1 to open its season.
The Lumberjacks are hitting .196 on the season and have three players with 50 or more kills, led by Awelina Fakalata's 73.
Opponents are only hitting .173 against the Lumberjacks. Allaina Houk (1.13 blocks per set) and Sophia Spoja (4.0 digs per set) help anchor their defense.
This is the first-ever matchup between the Lumberjacks and the Belles.
CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS
AVCA RANK: N/A
2024 RECORD: 2-2
Dominguez Hills split their first four matches of the weekend, suffering a pair of five-set losses.
The Toros hit .195 as a team and are led by the three-headed attack of Kayly Pau, Ava Hurry, and Maria Bejines-Garibay, who have tallied 58.8 percent of all Toros kills this season.
Nina Robles leads the team with 4.25 digs per set, while Aleya Starnes averages just under one block per set.
The Belles are 0-1 against the Toros, with that match taking place in 1978.
COLORADO MESA MAVERICKS
AVCA RANK: 15
2024 RECORD: 3-1
The Mavericks went 3-1 at the Oredigger Classic, including a win over No. 5 Concordia-St. Paul.
The Mavericks boast a .242 team hitting percentage, with their offense highlighted by a pair of All-Americans in outside hitter Sydney Leffler and setter Sabrina VanDeList.
Defensively, the Mavericks have allowed opponents to hit .202 against them so far.
The Belles are 4-3 all-time versus the Mavericks; this marks their first matchup since 2014.
PERSONAL BESTS THIS SEASON
Twelve Belles have recorded at least one personal best in 2024.
- Outside hitter Taryn Barnes recorded two kills against No. 23 Central Oklahoma on Sept. 6 and recorded three digs against Fort Lewis the next day.
- Middle Demi Carter recorded eight kills without an attacking error against No. 23 Central Oklahoma on Sept. 6, recording a .533 hitting percentage. She had two digs against New Mexico Highlands and recorded her first career solo block against Fort Lewis on Sept. 7.
- Right side Amelia Creacy recorded seven kills against Fort Lewis, hitting .250, and a pair of digs against the Skyhawks. Later, on Sept. 7 against Emmanuel, she recorded her first career block.
- Defensive specialist Allie Duitsman recorded a pair of digs against Fort Lewis on Sept. 7.
- Libero Caleigh Enax tied a career-high with four aces against Fort Lewis on Sept. 7.
- Outside hitter Julia Hopkins had three kills in eight attempts against Fort Lewis, hitting .375 against the Skyhawks on Sept. 7.
- Setter Adeline Ortman tied her career high with 58 digs in the Belles' five-set loss to No. 23 Central Oklahoma on Sept. 6; she also tied a personal best with a pair of blocks, doing so twice during the KBI.
- Outside hitter Madi Parrish set a new personal best with 18 kills in the Belles' win over Fort Lewis on Sept. 7; she attempted a career-high 53 attacks against No. 23 Central Oklahoma on Sept. 6.
- Defensive specialist Krizia Perez tied personal bests in assists and aces during the KBI.
- Middle Hannah Spencer attempted a career-high 24 attacks during the Belles' five-set loss against No. 23 Central Oklahoma on Sept. 6.
- Middle Sydney Thornton had eight kills and three digs on Sept. 6 versus No. 23 Central Oklahoma; in her collegiate debut against New Mexico Highlands, she hit .583 and recorded four blocks on Sept. 6.
- Outside hitter Evelyn Torres recorded 25 digs and 57 attack attempts in the Belles' five-set loss to No. 23 Central Oklahoma on Sept. 6
RETURNING STATS
- ASU returns four starters and ten letter winners from last year's team while adding ten newcomers, including three Division II transfers.
- Angelo State returns 46.9 percent (746 of 1589) of its kills, 67 percent (134 of 200) of its service aces, 70.7 percent (1337 of 1892) of its digs, and 50.8 percent of its blocks (99 of 195) from last season's team.
BELLES ADD TEN
Angelo State brought in ten newcomers in 2024, with seven freshmen and three Division II transfers joining the ten returners from last year's team.
Adeline Ortman
Graduate Student * 5-7 * Setter
Rhome, Texas * UT Tyler
Two-time All-LSC selection who ranked fourth in the LSC in assists last season for UT Tyler
Raelee Allen
Freshman * 5-9 * Outside Hitter
San Antonio, Texas * Reagan HS
6A Offensive Player of the Year in 2018-19
Taryn Barnes
Freshman * 5-9 * Outside Hitter
Southlake, Texas * Carroll HS
Two-time All-District selection for the Dragons
Sydney Thornton
Freshman * 5-10 * Middle Blocker
Prosper, Texas * Prosper HS
Recorded 594 kills and 289 blocks in her prep career
Julia Hopkins
Freshman * 6-0 * Outside Hitter
Austin, Texas * Westwood HS
District MVP for the Warriors
Amelia Creacy
Freshman * 6-1 * Right Side
Cypress, Texas * Bridegland HS
Two-time Offensive Player of the Year at Bridgeland HS
Demi Carter
Freshman * 6-2 * Middle Blocker
Bridge City, Texas * Bridge City HS
Recorded 1,353 career kills, 258 blocks, 522 digs, and 221 aces; District 19-4A MVP in 2022
Allie Duitsman
Freshman * 5-6 * Defensive Specialist
Prosper, Texas * Prosper HS
2023 First Team All-District selection
Ella Unterweger
Junior * 5-9 * Outside Hitter
Oconomowoc, Wis. * St. Cloud State
Member of the 2022 NSIC Tournament Championship team
Marta Roicka
Graduate Student * 6-0 * Setter
Warsaw, Poland * Gannon
Helped Golden Knights to two PSAC championships and an appearance in the Elite Eight
