Aggies set to open volleyball campaign
LAWTON, Okla. (Aug. 28) - The Cameron University women's volleyball team hits the ground running with the opening of the 2003 campaign this week at Cameron's Aggie Gym. Coach Kim Vinson's squad will play four matches in three days as part of the annual First Serve Invitational, presented by Comanche County Memorial Hospital and Red Lion Hotel.
Action begins on Thursday night, as the Aggies play host to Lone Star Conference rival Angelo State University, at 7 pm. Both teams will remain in action on Friday and Saturday, as participants in Cameron’s annual First Serve event. Joining CU and Angelo State will be Colorado State-Pueblo (formerly the University of Southern Colorado), Fort Hays State and Central Missouri State.
Cameron will square off with Fort Hays State at 3 pm, Friday, before facing Colorado State-Pueblo in the evening’s nightcap at 8 pm. The Aggies will conclude action in the round-robin event on Saturday, with a 2 pm, meeting with Central Missouri State.
The Aggies are wasting no time getting to the meat of the 2003 schedule, facing three regional opponents and one nationally ranked team in the first weekend of the season.
Angelo State is looking to improve on last year’s 14-16 record behind the strength of a youthful, but experienced, roster. The Rambelles return nine players from last season, including the squad’s lone senior, outside hitter Nancy Reavis. Gone is second team All-LSC South selection Tinley Grimes, who finished her career at ASU as the team’s sixth all-time leading blocker.
Cameron trails Angelo State in the overall series 5-14, but the Aggies have won three straight over the Rambelles, including a thrilling 3-2 victory in 2002 at the Lone Star Conference crossover event in San Angelo, Texas. ASU is coached by the legendary Kathleen Brasfield, who ranks seventh all-time in the NCAA Division II in career victories with 611 through 2002 (611-331-2).
Coach Jesse Mahoney’s Fort Hays State squad returns five starters from last year’s 18-13 squad, including first team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference selection Andrea Logan. A 6-1 senior outside hitter, Logan established a shool record with 5.01 kills per game in 2002 and currently ranks third on the Tigers’ all-time career kills list.
Fort Hays leads the Cameron series 2-0, but the teams have not met since 1993. The Tigers finished third in the competitive RMAC East Division a year ago, completing back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since the 1990 and 1991 campaigns.
Colorado State-Pueblo returns four starters from a club that finished with a 13-15 record in 2002. The Thunderwolves are led by returning secont team all-conference selections Sarah Lusk (6-2, Jr., MH) and Megan Sater (5-9, So., OH). Head coach Tom Shoji begins his 10th season at the helm with an overall record of 131-133 at CSU-Pueblo. In 22 years as a collegiate head coach, Shoji has compiled a record of 339-355.
Cameron could even its all-time series against the Thunderwolves with a victory this week. CSU-Pueblo owns a 4-3 advantage in the series, including a 3-2 victory in their last meeting with the Aggies during the 2000 Colorado Premier Challenge in Denver.
Head coach Peggy Martin and the Central Missouri State Jennies enter the 2003 campaign with a No. 21 preseason rating in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Top 25 poll. The Jennies were 26-9 last season, advancing to the South Central Regional Championships before falling to eventual national finalist Truman State. The Jennies are led by returning All-Region selections Elyse Mohme (6-2, Jr., MH) and Carrie Potthast (5-10, Sr., OH). CMSU also features senior right-side hitter Trudy Carter, who is the younger sister of former Cameron standout Megan Carter.
Saturday’s match will mark the first meeting between Cameron and Central Missouri State. The Jennies are directed by Peggy Martin, who currently ranks as the all-time winningest women’s volleyball coach in NCAA Division II history. In 27 years at CMSU, Martin has a record of 892-229, including 18 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) conference titles and 21 NCAA tournament appearances.
Cameron finished the 2002 season with an overall record of 16-14, advancing to Lone Star Conference postseason tournament play for the sixth consecutive season. Five Aggie players earned postseason honors in the LSC's North Division, including returning outside hitter Kelsey Kosick, who was selected as the LSC North Offensive Player of the Year.
This week's action is just the beginning of an exciting Aggie schedule that features 17 home matches this season. For season ticket information, contact the CU Athletic Ticket Office at (580) 581-2228.
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