SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State volleyball team opens their Lone Star Conference schedule this week with a pair of matches, traveling to Western New Mexico on Wednesday before returning home to face UT Permian Basin on Saturday.
The Rambelles ended non-conference play with a 4-8 overall record, with five losses against ranked opponents. This past weekend at the LSC Crossover, the Belles lost to No. 13 West Texas A&M and UT Tyler before ending the weekend on a high note by defeating Lubbock Christian.
Hannah Kinnison leads the team with 97 kills, while teammates
Sam Rodgers and
Kaila Garnett have 85 and 83 kills, respectively.
Defensively,
Marina Sanchez established herself at the net for the Belles in their match against the Lady Chaps, recording 13 blocks in the four-set win. The 13 blocks are the most for a Belle in the rally-scoring era (since 2001) and the most for an LSC player since 2005. The Presidio native is averaging 1.52 blocks per set this season.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
Western New Mexico is 2-10 overall on the season, with their wins coming over Westminster (Utah) and Midwestern State in four sets.
Jazmyne Walker leads the Mustangs with 154 kills on the season while owning a .198 attack percentage.
The Mustangs have three players with over 100 digs, led by Janey Cortez's 122. Senior middle blocker Zoe Chatterton has 29 blocks on the season, with 14 solo blocks.
The Belles are 12-1 against the Mustangs dating back to 2009. The Belles have won the last seven matchups between these teams and the previous three meetings in New Mexico.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
UT Permian Basin is 5-6 on the season and is coming off a 1-2 weekend at the LSC Crossover with a win over UAFS.
First-team all-conference hitter Aquincia Strambler leads the Falcons offensively with 113 kills on the season. The senior has reached double figures in kills in six of 11 matches this season.
The last time these two teams met, the Falcons upset the Belles in the quarterfinals of the LSC Tournament inside Stephens Arena at the Junell Center. Strambler led the Falcons with 13 kills that night, including the last point of the match that secured the upset win for the Falcons.
Following this week, the Belles are on the road next Wednesday to face Texas Woman's in Denton before returning home to host Midwestern State.
