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Lady Buffs Make Long Road Trip This Weekend
Oct. 21, 2003
The West Texas A&M University volleyball team will hit the road for a pair of Lone Star Conference matches, first traveling to Stephenville, Texas on Thursday, Oct. 23, to take on Tarleton State University at 7 p.m. The Lady Buffs will then continue on to Kingsville, Texas, where they'll tangle with Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m.
Complete Notes in PDF Format
The Teams
The Lady Buffs are 21-6 on the year, and 4-1 in LSC South action. Last weekend, WTAMU swept through the Lady Buff Challenge. The Lady Buffs have won four in a row, since a five-game loss to Angelo State last Friday night, snapping WTAMU's NCAA-II record for consecutive victories vs. conference opponents at 77-straight.
The Tarleton State TexAnns have a record of 8-17 and 0-4 in conference play. The TexAnns interrupt a seven-game home stint on Tuesday when they travel to Denton, Texas to take on Texas Women's University. In their last four home games, the TexAnns are 2-2 with their latest win coming Saturday, against Southwestern Oklahoma University. However, TSU is 2-7 in its last nine matches.
The Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas are 7-19 overall after being swept by St. Edward's Monday night. TAMUK has lost four matches in a row, after winning the previous three. The Javelinas are 0-4 in LSC action and host Eastern New Mexico Thursday night.
The Coaches
WTAMU head coach Tony Graystone (Grand Valley State, 1992) is in his fifth year at the helm of the Lady Buffs. Graystone currently has a 157-16 (.908) career record. Graystone is three wins away from becoming WTAMU's all-time winningest coach, breaking Debbie Hendricks' 159 wins from 1992-'98. He already is the Lady Buffs' winningest coach by percentage. Graystone undefeated against both TSU and TAMUK, maintaining a perfect 9-0 record vs. both teams.
Graystone was the fastest coach to reach 100 wins in the history of the NCAA. He achieved the accomplishment in only 106 matches. The next closest to reach 100 wins was Gil Dobie, who coach Boston College football, reaching the milestone in 108 games.
Tarleton State is coached by Hadley Foster (Idaho State, 1996). Foster is in his second season has head coach for the TexAnns after leading them to a 16-18 record in 2002. Foster has a 30-45 (.400) career record.
Texas A&M-Kingsville is coached by Jane Atzenhoffer (Texas A&I- now TAMUK, 1983). Atzenhoffer is in her fourth year, spending the entire time at TAMUK, and has registered a 37-86 (.301) record.
Region Rankings
WTAMU is ranked fifth in the first NCAA-II Southwest Regional Rankings, released by the NCAA on Oct. 8, with new rankings out Wednesday.
The Lady Buffs are the highest Lone Star Conference team, followed by Abilene Christian ranked seventh, and Cameron ranked ninth.
The region rankings, which determine who makes the region tournament, will be released on Oct. 22, Nov. 5, and Nov. 12, with the region tournament Nov. 20-22 at the highest seed. {Complete Southwest Region Rankings}
The Box: Home Sweet Home
WTAMU currently has a 39-match win streak in tact at The Box, which currently ranks 10th in the NCAA-II record book. The Lady Buffs have lost just five times in The Box in 13 years. WTAMU won a then-NCAA-II record 55 home matches from 1989-93. The Lady Buffs bettered that with a 57-match run from 1996-99. The 57-win streak is third-best currently in NCAA-II, followed by the 55-win run. New Haven holds the nation's longest streak, winning 109 matches from 1992-97.
Lady Buffs vs. TexAnns Series History: One-Sided
WTAMU has never lost to TSU, holding a 21-0 advantage. WTAMU has won the last 15 meetings via the sweep, including the first meeting this season on Oct. 4.
First Meeting This Season: Oct. 4, 2003 - The Box, Canyon, Texas
WTAMU swept TSU, 30-21, 30-18, 35-33, behind 12 kills apiece from freshmen Ambra Clark (OH/MB) and Jessica Scherr (OH). Sophomore Libby Garza filled in for injured senior setter Kendra Morgan, and dished out a career-high 39 assists. Senior libero Kacie Hyatt tallied a match-high 18 digs.
TSU's Desiree Reed shared match-high honors with Clark and Scherr, registering 12 kills, and Lacey Adkisson logged 10 kills.
WTAMU vs. TAMUK Series History: Lately, All Lady Buffs
The Lady Buffs hold a 31-5 (.861) record vs.TAMUK all-time. After the Javelinas won the first five meetings, the Lady Buffs have won the last 31 meetings, including a four-game defeat on Oct. 3 at The Box.
Lady Buffs-Javelinas' First Tangle This Year: Oct. 3, 2003 - The Box, Canyon, Texas
WTAMU defeated TAMUK in four games: 30-23, 24-30, 30-21, 30-18, in which the Lady Buffs established the new NCAA-II record for consecutive victories vs. conference opponents, winning their 75th-straight vs. LSC opponents, breaking North Alabama's record of 74-consecutive.
Four Lady Buffs posted double-digit kills, led by freshman middle blocker Megan Spivey with 15 kills, followed by fellow freshmen, outside hitter/middle blocker Ambra Clark with 14 kills and outside hitter Jessica Scherr with 13 kills. Senior setter Kendra Morgan tallied 12 kills, along with dishing out 37 assists and tallying nine digs, one dig short of her fifth triple-double of the season.
The Javelinas' Melanie Biggerstaff posted a match-high 18 kills, while Shelly McGlothin added 14 kills and Jamie Alvarado chipped in with 12 kills. Sara Streets dished out a match-high 54 assists.
About the Lady Buffs
WTAMU leads the LSC in hitting percentage (.237), kills (15.88 kpg), assists (14.13 apg) and digs (19.98 dpg). The Lady Buffs are 18th in digs per game in the NCAA-II statistics (as of 10/12/03), 21st in kills per game and 22nd in assists.
WTAMU is led by two-time All-American 5-9 senior setter Kendra Morgan. The Amarillo, Texas native has recorded four triple-doubles on the season. Morgan, who was named Sports Imports/AVCA National Player of the week following the opening weekend, is averaging 11.67 apg, 3.57 dpg and 1.70 kpg. Morgan leads the LSC in hitting percentage (.355), ranks fourth in assists and 10th in digs.
Morgan has surpassed 1,000 assists for the fourth-straight season. She is the WTAMU career assist leader and needs 192 assists to become the LSC career assist leader. She currently has 5,599 career assists in 448 games, for an career average of 12.50 apg, which presently ranks fifth on the NCAA-II career assists per game list, as well as 16th for career assists.
Morgan has achieved a triple-milestone that is very rare in college volleyball, as she has 5,599 assists, 559 kills and 1,277 digs for her career.
A pair of freshmen provide the offensive charge for the Lady Buffs, in 5-11 outside hitter/middle blocker Ambra Clark and 5-9 outside hitter Jessica Scherr. Clark, an Amarillo, Texas native, who was named LSC South Offensive Player of the Week, leads the team with 3.83 kpg, and second on the team with 0.66 bpg. She pounded 38 kills in WTAMU's three sweeps last week, including 21 against Bellarmine Saturday. Clark is third in the LSC in hitting percentage (.306) and seventh in kills. Scherr is second on the team with 3.88 dpg and 3.35 kpg. She had 11 kills in the sweep over St. Mary's Friday night. Scherr, a Kingwood, Texas native, ranks fourth in the LSC in digs.
Kacie Hyatt, a 5-5 senior libero leads the LSC and ranks 17th in the NCAA-II statistics in digs with 4.76 dpg. She was named LSC South Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 6 for the third time this season, following her 30-dig performance in WTAMU's win over TAMUK. Hyatt, an Amarillo, Texas native, had a match-high 16 digs against St. Mary's Friday. She has 1,371 career digs, and recently cracked into the top five list for WTAMU, surpassing Mindy Bennett's 1,304 digs from 1987-'90. Hyatt's 37 digs on in WTAMU's five-game victory over Lubbock Christian is the most in the LSC this season.
Freshman middle blocker Megan Spivey (6-0), leads the Lady Buffs in blocking with 0.91 bpg, which ranks tied for fifth in the conference. Spivey, a Keller, Texas native, adds 2.25 kpg, and is sixth in the LSC in hitting percentage (.271). Spivey had eight blocks in WTAMU's sweep of Oklahoma Panhandle State Friday afternoon, as well as two blocks in the sweep over St. Mary's Friday night, adding 10 kills in each match. She had a .474 hitting pct. vs OPSU and .526 vs. St. Mary's.
Cynthia Carter, a 6-0 sophomore middle blocker is just behind the Top 10 in the LSC in hitting percentage (.252). She had 10 kills (.450 hitting percentage) in the sweep over Bellarmine Saturday. Carter, a Corona, Calif., native, adds 2.11 kpg and 0.52 bpg.
The Lady Buffs have swept 12 times, including the last three matches, and have been swept twice. WTAMU is 5-1 in five-game matches.
About the Opposition
The Tarleton State TexAnns have a record of 8-17 and 0-4 in conference play. The TexAnns interrupt a seven-game home stint on Tuesday when they will travel to Denton to take on Texas Women's University. In their last four home games, the TexAnns are 2-2, with their latest win coming Saturday, against Southwestern Oklahoma University. However, the TexAnns are 2-7 in their last nine games.
TSU is fourth in service aces (1.92 sapg), but 11th in assists (11.12 apg), kills (12.84 kpg) and 12th in hitting percentage (.125).
The TexAnns offensive is powered by 5-9 senior middle blocker Lacey Adkisson. Through 91 games, Adkisson has totaled 290 kills (3.19 kpg), 52 service aces (0.57 sapg), 196 digs (2.15 dpg) and 79 total blocks (0.91 bpg). She is tied for fifth in the league in blocks and fourth in service aces. Adkisson was voted LSC Preseason Player of the Year.
Desiree Reed, 6-0 sophomore outside hitter, leads the team in kills with 329 (3.62 kpg), and has 28 service aces (0.31 sapg), 94 digs (1.03 dpg) and 26 total blocks. Reed is eighth in the conference in kills.
Freshman Ella Fernandes, 5-7 defensive specialist/setter, leads her team on the defensive end. Fernandes leads her team with 258 digs (2.97 dpg), has tallied 15 assists (0.17 apg) and three kills (0.03 kpg).
Carly English, 5-6 freshman setter, organizes the attack for the TexAnns and has dealt out 504 assists (7.52 apg), totaled 86 digs (0.12 dpg), 22 kills (0.33 kpg) and has 8 service aces on the year.
TSU has won via sweeping three times and have been swept nine times. The TexAnns are 3-1 in five-game matches.
The Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas are 7-19 overall after being swept by St. Edward's Monday night. TAMUK has lost four matches in a row, after winning the previous three. The Javelinas are 0-4 in LSC action and host Eastern New Mexico Thursday night.
The Javelinas are led by 5-10 senior outside hitter Melanie Biggerstaff, who averages 3.21 kpg, .217 hitting percentage, 2.58 dpg.
Jamie Alvarado, a 5-11 senior outside hitter, adds 3.16 kpg on .211 hitting percentage, and a team-high 0.77 bpg. Alvarado tallied a team-high 13 kills in the loss to St. Edward's Tuesday.
Sara Streets, a 5-5 senior setter, dishes out 7.90 apg, ranking 10th in the LSC stats.
TAMUK has swept once and been swept seven times. The Javelinas are 2-3 in five-game matches.
Triple-Double Bubble, Toil and Trouble
Kendra Morgan has recorded four triple-doubles on the season and just missed her fifth, coming up one dig shy in Friday's match. Morgan, who logged two triple-doubles in one week alone, has earned LSC Setter of the Week twice and Sports Imports/AVCA D-II National Player of the Week honors once, along the way.
Morgan is the first Lady Buff to accomplish the feat since Sarah Butler tallied a triple-double on Aug. 28, 1998, vs. Nebraska-Kearney. WTAMU records are incomplete as far as other triple-doubles, but Morgan is thought to be the first to not only accomplish it multiple times in a week, but more than once in a season.
Morgan's Triple-Double Log:
- 8/30 vs. Grand Valley State
- 9/9 vs. Lubbock Christian
- 9/13 vs. Incarnate Word
- 9/27 vs. Cameron
^ - one off of career-high
WTAMU Coaching Ledger
Head coach Tony Graystone is closing in on becoming WTAMU's all-time winningest coach, as he currently has a 157-16 (.908) career record. Graystone is three wins away from becoming WTAMU's all-time winningest coach, breaking Debbie Hendricks' 159 wins from 1992-'98. He already is the winningest coach by percentage.
WTAMU's Top Five Winningest Coaches List
Debbie Hendricks, 1992-'98 159-47 (.772)
WTAMU's NCAA-II Record Streak Snapped at 77
On Oct. 10, WTAMU was upset by Angelo State in five-games, snapping the Lady Buffs' NCAA-II record for consecutive wins in all matches vs. conference opponents at 77-straight.
Poll Positions
WTAMU fell out of the AVCA poll two weeks ago, the first time since 1995 that the AVCA poll did not include the Lady Buffs. After beginning the season with a No. 12 ranking and climbing as high as ninth after the first week, WTAMU has slid out of the AVCA Top 25 Poll for the first time since the final poll of the 1995 season, when the Lady Buffs posted a 30-8 overall record. WTAMU was not ranked in the poll for most of the 1993, '94, and '95 seasons.
Upcoming Schedule
The Lady Buffs return home to the friendly confines of The Box for a four-match homestand. WTAMU opens the stretch by hosting border-rival Eastern New Mexico on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. On Thursday, the Lady Buffs host Lubbock Christian at 6 p.m. Abilene Christian is WTAMU's Halloween visitor on Friday at 7 p.m., before the Lady Buffs try to extract revenge on Angelo State on Saturday at 2 p.m.
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