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Busy Week For Lady Buffs To Wind Down Season
Oct. 28, 2003
The West Texas A&M University volleyball team returns home to the friendly confines of The Box for the Lady Buffs' final homestand of the regular season, as WTAMU hosts four matches this week. Three of the four are Lone Star Conference matches, which will determine the South Division Title and the right to host the Conference Tournament Nov. 13-15.
The Lady Buffs open with border-rival Eastern New Mexico on Tuesday at 7 p.m. WTAMU then takes a break from conference action on Thursday, hosting Lubbock Christian at 6 p.m. LSC action hits its peak on Friday, as the Lady Buffs host Abilene Christian in a Halloween showdown at 7 p.m., between the top two teams in the LSC South standings, that is essentially for all the marbles of the LSC South and the conference. WTAMU has its home finale on Saturday at 2 p.m., with a revenge match against Angelo State, the team that halted the Lady Buffs' NCAA-II record for consecutive victories vs. conference opponents at 77-straight.
Complete Notes in PDF Format
The Teams
The Lady Buffs are 28-6 on the year, and 6-1 in LSC South action, currently on a six-match win streak. Last weekend, WTAMU defeated Tarleton State in four games on Thursday to improve to 22-0 all-time vs. the TexAnns. On Saturday, WTAMU swept Texas A&M-Kingsville, as the Lady Buffs won their 32nd-straight match vs. the Javelinas all-time.
The Eastern New Mexico Zias are 13-13 overall, 5-2 in LSC play, after sweeping both Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Kingsville over the weekend. The Zias have won four-straight (three-straight sweeps) and six of their last seven matches.
Lubbock Christian is 26-5 overall, after winning the John Brown University Tournament at Siloam Springs, Ark. over the weekend. The Chaparrals are currently on a 10-match win streak, and ranked No. 11 in the NAIA Top 25 Poll (as of 10/28/03).
Abilene Christian is 22-7 overall, 5-1 in the LSC, entering Tuesday's non-conference match at St. Edward's. The Wildcats have won five-straight since being swept by WTAMU on Oct. 11 at ACU.
The Rambelles of Angelo State are 10-18 overall, 3-3 in LSC play, after being swept by Abilene Christian on Thursday. ASU has lost two matches in a row and eight of its last 11 matches entering Friday's match at Eastern New Mexico.
The Coaches
WTAMU head coach Tony Graystone (Grand Valley State, 1992) can become the Lady Buffs' all-time winningest coach with his next win. Graystone, in his fifth year at the helm of the Lady Buffs, currently has a 159-16 (.909) career record and is tied with Debbie Hendricks' 159 wins from 1992-'98. He already is the Lady Buffs' winningest coach by percentage. Graystone has an unblemished 10-0 record vs. ENMU. Graystone holds an 8-1 record vs. Angelo State and a 10-0 ledger vs. Abilene Christian.
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 coached Boston College football, reaching the milestone in 108 games.
Eastern New Mexico is coached by Mike Maguire (Mesa State, 1981), who is in his 17th season leading the Zias. Maguire has a 350-212 (.623) record at ENMU and 365-227 (.617) overall.
Lubbock Christian's head coach Steven McRoberts is in his eighth season. He has led the Chaps to six Sooner Athletic Conference, qualifying for the NAIA National Tournament four times.
Region Rankings
WTAMU is ranked sixth in the latest NCAA-II Southwest Regional Rankings, released by the NCAA on Oct. 22.
The Lady Buffs are the highest Lone Star Conference team, followed by Abilene Christian ranked eighth, and Cameron ranked ninth.
The region rankings, which determine who makes the region tournament, will be released on 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. Zias Series History: WTAMU's Won 22 In A Row
WTAMU holds a 43-8 (.843) record vs. ENMU all-time. The Lady Buffs have defeated the Zias in the last 22 meetings, including the first meeting this season, in which WTAMU won, 3-1, on Oct. 7 at Portales, N.M.
The last Zia victory was in the 1993 LSC Tournament. ENMU defeated WTAMU, 3-0, on Oct. 26, 1995, but later had to forfeit for using an ineligible player. The Lady Buffs have swept the Zias 13 times during the current 22-match win streak, including the 2001 LSC Championship match. WTAMU has recorded three five-game victories in the streak, including the 1995 LSC Championship match.
First Meeting This Season: Oct. 7, 2003 - Portales, N.M.
WTAMU defeated ENMU, 3-1 (30-28, 26-30, 30-28, 30-28), as freshman middle blocker/outside hitter Ambra Clark led the Lady Buffs' attack, tying a match-high with 23 kills, followed by fellow freshman, outside hitter Jessica Scherr's double-16 outing, 16 kills and 16 digs. A third freshman, outside hitter Rachel Altman added 14 kills. Senior setter Kendra Morgan dished out 39 assists, while senior libero Kacie Hyatt logged a match-high 27 digs.
Anna Bellum led ENMU, tying the match-high with 23 kills, while Emilie Rodman added 16 kills. Jennifer Bullock tallied a match-high 59 assists.
WTAMU vs. LCU Series History: Lady Buffs Unbeaten
The Lady Buffs are unbeaten vs. the Chaparrals, leading the all-time series with Lubbock Christian, 13-0-1, including a 3-2 win at Lubbock, Texas on Sept. 9 in WTAMU's first trip to Lubbock since competing in the Lubbock Christian Triangular in 1981.
The lone tie came in 1980 at the Midwestern State Invitational, and the Lady Buffs have won the last 13 meetings.
Lady Buffs-Chaps First Meeting This Season
WTAMU defeated LCU in five games: 30-14, 27-30, 30-27, 36-38, 15-12. The 38-36 game four score was WTAMU's highest since going to the 30-point rally scoring in 2001.
Senior setter Kendra Morgan recorded a triple-double with 67 assists, 12 digs and 10 kills. Freshman outside hitter Jessica Scherr led the Lady Buffs with a match-high 20 kills (.543 hitting percentage), and fellow freshman outside hitter/middle blocker Ambra Clark added 19 kills. Senior libero Kacie Hyatt posted a career-high 37 digs.
LCU had four players in double-digit kills, led by Megan McCormick's 16 kills. The Chaps had six players in double-digit digs, led by Catherine Beville with 20 digs. Mandy Moffit set up 52 assists.
WTAMU vs. ACU Series History
The Lady Buffs lead the overall series, 39-5, claiming victory in the last 21 match-ups, including a 3-1 decision on Oct. 11 at Abilene, Texas.
The First Showdown Between the Lady Buffs and Wildcats: Oct. 11, Abilene, Texas
WTAMU defeated ACU in four-games (30-27, 30-28, 26-30, 30-27), to bounce back from five-game heartbreaking loss to Angelo State the night before.
Freshman middle blocker/outside hitter Ambra Clark led the Lady Buffs with 23 kills, followed by fellow freshmen outside hitters Jessica Scherr and Rachel Altman with 16 and 10 kills respectively. Scherr had a team-high 25 digs and senior setter Kendra Morgan dished out 54 assists.
Haylee Hartline and Michelle Bernhardt led ACU with 23 kills apiece and Malia Plumlee tallied a match-high 64 assists, while Kellen Morrow had a match-high 28 digs.
Lady Buffs vs. Belles Series History
WTAMU leads the all-time series with ASU, 33-12 (.733), after having its NCAA-II record for consecutive victories vs. conference opponents snapped in a five-game loss to ASU on Oct. 10, at San Angelo, Texas.
The Rambelles' victory also halted the Lady Buffs' 19-match win streak in the series, as well as WTAMU's nine-match overall win streak on the year.
The Record Stops Here: Oct. 10, 2003, San Angelo, Texas
WTAMU lost to ASU, in a thrilling five games, (20-30, 30-27, 30-24, 29-30, 13-15) as the Rambelles snapped the Lady Buffs' NCAA-II record for consecutive victories vs. conference opponents at 77-straight.
Four Lady Buffs posted double-digit kills, led by freshman outside hitter Jessica Scherr's 15 kills. Senior libero registered 28 digs and senior setter Kendra Morgan logged 52 assists.
ASU was led by Nicole Stoffel's 29 kills, followed by Lindsey Jones with 17 kills and Amber Smith's 15 kills, who led ASU with 22 digs. Amber Nelson had out a match-high 66 assists.
About the Lady Buffs
WTAMU leads the LSC in hitting percentage (.238), kills (15.93 kpg), assists (14.11 apg), digs (19.82 dpg) and opponent hitting percentage (.159). 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, who was named LSC South Setter of the Week for the third time this season. 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 11.77 apg, 3.48 dpg and 1.71 kpg. Morgan leads the LSC in hitting percentage (.354), 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 100 assists to become the LSC career assist leader. She currently has 5,691 career assists in 455 games, for an career average of 12.51 apg, which presently ranks fifth on the NCAA-II career assists per game list, as well as 16th for career assists. Morgan joins her sister, Holly Morgan, in the NCAA-II record book. Holly, a Lady Buff from 1995-'98, is 19th in digs per game (3.81 dpg).
Morgan has achieved a triple-milestone that is very rare in college volleyball, as she has 5,691 assists, 572 kills and 1,292 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, leads the team with 3.85 kpg, and second on the team with 0.66 bpg. She logged 29 kills in WTAMU's two matches over the weekend, including a match-high 15 vs. Tarleton State Thursday. Clark is second in the LSC in hitting percentage (.304) and seventh in kills. Scherr is second on the team with 3.80 dpg and 3.30 kpg. She had 12 digs against Tarleton State Thursday. Scherr, a Kingwood, Texas native, ranks sixth 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 4.88 dpg. She has been named LSC South Defensive Player of the Week three times this season. Hyatt, an Amarillo, Texas native, had a match-high 26 digs against Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday. She has 1,415 career digs, moving into fourth on WTAMU's career digs list. 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 0.93 bpg, which ranks tied for sixth in the conference. Spivey, a Keller, Texas native, adds 2.20 kpg, and is sixth in the LSC in hitting percentage (.268). Spivey had five blocks in WTAMU's win over Tarleton State Thrusday.
Cynthia Carter, a 6-0 sophomore middle blocker is just behind the Top 10 in the LSC in hitting percentage (.252). She had seven kills in each match this weekend. Carter, a Corona, Calif., native, adds 2.10 kpg and 0.57 bpg. She tied a career-high with five blocks on Thursday vs. Tarleton State.
Rachel Altman, a 5-10 freshman outside hitter had a successful weekend for WTAMU. The Dallas, Texas native had 27 kills over the weekend, including 11 kills on a match-high .500 hitting percentage against Texas A&M-Kingsville. Altman is averaging 2.23 kpg with a .217 hitting percentage on the season.
The Lady Buffs have swept 13 times this season, including four of their last five matches, and have been swept twice. WTAMU is 5-1 in five-game matches.
About the Opposition
This is the third time the Eastern New Mexico Zias have visited The Box this season, yet it is the first time WTAMU will actually take on the Zias on home court. The previous two times ENMU was participating in WTAMU's tournaments and the two teams never played each other. The Zias are on a roll as of late having won six of their last seven matches. The latest victory came on the road at Tarleton State where the Zias took the TexAnns in three games. Despite being out hit by the TexAnns, the Zias pulled out the victory in three games. With that win, ENMU improved to 13-13 on the year and 5-2 in LSC action.
The Zias are ranked high in the conference statistics on defense, as they are fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.169), fifth in both blocks (1.94 bpg) and digs (17.16 dpg). However, offensively, ENMU is ninth in assists (11.79 apg), 10th in hitting percentage (.155), kills (13.13 kpg) and service aces (1.39 sapg).
ENMU is led by junior outside hitter Anna Bellum who has a team-high 388 kills (4.17 kpg) and 345 digs (3.71 dpg), and has also added 22 service aces and 43 total blocks. Bellum ranks fifth in the LSC in kills and eighth in digs.
Junior outside hitter Kelley McGinty has chipped in with 252 kills (2.65 kpg), 322 digs (3.39 dpg) and 15 service aces. Freshman middle blocker Grace George dictates action at the net for the Zias, leading the team in blocks with 100 (1.05 bpg), 30 more than the next team member. George ranks third in the league in blocks. Junior setter Jennifer Bullock has tallied 974 assists (10.47 apg), ranking sixth in the conference.
The Zias have swept their opponent eight times including their last three in a row. They have been swept seven times. ENMU is 5-1 in five-game matches.
Lubbock Christian is 26-5 overall, after winning the John Brown University Tournament at Siloam Springs, Ark. over the weekend. The Chaparrals are currently on a 10-match win streak, and ranked No. 11 in the NAIA Top 25 Poll (as of 10/28/03).
LCU averages 15.3 kpg, 2.4 bpg, 21.2 dpg and 14.3 apg.
The Chaps are led by senior middle blocker Beth Ratcliff with 336 kills (3.5 kpg), with a .397 hitting percentage. Ratcliff adds 2.3 dpg and is tied for the team-high with 1.1 bpg.
Senior outside hitter Stacy Simpson has 329 kills (3.5 kpg), hitting at a .279 percentage. Simpson has a team-high 420 digs (4.5 dpg). Junior outside hitter/middle blocker Magen McCormick adds 2.9 kpg and sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Meagan Kamplain chips in 2.7 kpg.
Mandy Moffit, a junior setter, leads LCU with 11.9 apg.
Abilene Christian is currently 22-7 on the year and 5-1 in conference play. ACU has won five-straight matches since a loss to WTAMU on Oct. 11. The Wildcats posted a nine-match winning streak earlier this season and have only lost twice since Sept. 19, a span of 17 matches.
The Wildcats have outhit their opponents by almost 300 kills on the season.
ACU leads the LSC in blocks (2.20 bpg) and service aces (2.17 sapg). The Wildcats ranks second in hitting percentage (.222) and assists (13.66 apg), and ranks third in kills (14.94 kpg) and opponent hitting percentage (.162). ACU is sixth in digs (16.37 dpg).
Sophomore outside hitter Michelle Bernhardt leads the team in kills with 499 (4.62 kpg) and is second in digs with 316 (2.93 dpg). Bernhardt is second in the LSC in kills and fourth in hitting percentage (.292). Another offensive threat for the Wildcats is senior outside hitter Haylee Hartline, who is second on the team in kills, recording 372 (3.51 kpg), ranking ninth in the league in kills. She has also added 149 digs (1.41 dpg), and 62 total blocks (0.58 bpg).
Amanda Slate, a sophomore middle blocker, is a strong defensive player for the Wildcats. Slate leads the team with 117 blocks (1.08 bpg), and has 72 service aces which is almost 40 aces better than her next teammate. She has also tallied 298 kills (2.76 kpg). Slate leads the conference in blocks, ranks second in service aces and is seventh in hitting percentage. Junior libero Kellen Morrow leads ACU with 407 digs (3.80 dpg), ranking fifth in the conference stats. Lindsey Marting, a sophomore setter, ranks second in the LSC with 11.86 apg.
ACU has recorded 14 sweeps on the year, and have been swept only once. The Wildcats are 4-2 in five-game matches.
The Angelo State Rambelles have a record of 10-18 overall and 3-3 in conference action. One of those conference victories came at the expense of WTAMU on Oct. 11. In the tight five-game contest, the Belles came out victorious, snapping the Lady Buffs conference unbeaten streak. Since that game, ASU is 2-4 and enters the match on a two-game losing streak.
The latest match for the Belles was at home vs. Abilene Christian Oct. 23 where they lost in three games. The Belles had no hitter in double digits and only had a .049 hitting percentage compared to ACU's .333.
ASU ranks second in the conference in service aces (2.03 sapg) and has three players in the top 10 in the league in that category. The Belles also rank seventh in the LSC in hitting percentage (.168), eighth in assists (11.98 apg), ninth in kills (13.43 kpg), 10th in both opponent hitting percentage (.211) and digs (14.70 dpg) and 12th in blocks (1.47 bpg).
The Belles are led by freshman middle blocker Amber Smith with 2.85 kpg, 3.13 dpg and 42 total blocks. Smith is ninth in the LSC in hitting percentage (.260).
Junior setter Amber Nelson is seventh in the conference with 10.41 apg.
Sophomore outside hitter Joslyn Banks leads the team in two categories. Banks has tallied 68 total blocks, 37 service aces and added 226 kills (2.33 kpg). Banks is 10th in the league in service aces with 37 (0.38 sapg).
Shelby Pitcock, junior libero, leads the defensive end for the Belles. Pitcock leads the team with a 3.23 dpg.
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:
- 9/9 vs. Lubbock Christian
- 9/13 vs. Incarnate Word
- 9/27 vs. Cameron
^ - one off of career-high
WTAMU Coaching Ledger
WTAMU head coach Tony Graystone (Grand Valley State, 1992) can become the Lady Buffs' all-time winningest coach with his next win. Graystone, in his fifth year at the helm of the Lady Buffs, currently has a 159-16 (.909) career record and is tied with Debbie Hendricks' 159 wins from 1992-'98. He already is the Lady Buffs' winningest coach by percentage.
WTAMU's Top Five Winningest Coaches List
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 close out the regular season with a match at New Mexico Highlands on Nov. 10 at Las Vegas, N.M. at 7 p.m. Central Time.
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