Final Box

COMMERCE – The No. 20-ranked Angelo State volleyball team remained perfect on the season with a 3-1 win (25-11, 25-17, 23-25, 25-18) against Lone Star Conference foe Texas A&M-Commerce at the Field House on Friday.  

Maddie Huth continued her offensive production for Angelo State (13-0, 5-0 LSC), as the sophomore had 12 kills with a .750 attacking percentage in the victory, while Celeste Bonter had 13 of her own. Defensively, Alex Woolsey, Kayla Smith and Shelby Warick all netted 10 digs against the Lions (2-5, 1-4 LSC). The win came less than 24 hours after the Belles topped Texas Womans' University 3-1 on Friday night.

“We had to be very resilient with the short turnaround from last night's game and the travel the last two days,” ASU head coach Chuck Waddington said. “It was a different kind of schedule for us, but our kids are mentally tough. They knew they were going to face a challenge today, and they came out swinging. Every conference game is a fight, and we are excited to be leaving here with a win.”

Angelo State built its first double-digit lead in set one, 17-7, after Huth recorded her fourth kill of the game. The Colony native ended the first set with seven kills, with the final one coming on game point, ending the set at 25-11. The Belles carried the momentum into game two, earning a 25-17 win to go up 2-0.

After dropping the third set, 25-23, the Belles bounced back for a decisive 25-18 over Texas A&M-Commerce. Lone Star Conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Chelsea Gibson was a big reason why, as the junior had a game-high six kills, along with a block-assist alongside Woolsey to end the match.

“We had to come out with a different mentality,” Gibson said. “We had to brush off the third game and know that we had to come out stronger. They were a good, emotional team that could have come back on us if we lost our focus. We knew we had to put the fire out right away.”

The Rambelles return to action at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Javelinas enter the contest with a 3-4 overall record, and a 1-4 LSC record.


Coaches and Player Quotes

Head coach Chuck Waddington
On the Belles' 3-1 win over Texas A&M-Commerce on Friday:
We had to be very resilient with the short turnaround from last night's game and the travel the last two days. It was a different kind of schedule for us, but our kids are mentally tough. They knew they were going to face a challenge today, and they came out swinging. Every conference game is a fight, and we are excited to be leaving here with a win.
  
On the state of the Belles through the first 13 games of the season:
We are a mature team. We have an experienced core group that understands that we can't look past any game. They are doing what we know how to do on the court regardless of our opponent. That's a sign of a mature team.

On Tuesday's trip to South Texas to face the Javelinas of Texas A&M-Kingsville:
Kingsville is an extremely difficult place to play. They have a good team and we have to take a long bus ride down there to play. You have to stay focused the entire day to win. We'll take the weekend to rest and let our bodies recover and get back out there on Monday ready get back out there. Playing a team a week apart is a challenge because the last game is fresh in their mind and they are motivated. They are going to come out ready to play and we have to be ready for that.


Celeste Bonter: Senior outside hitter from Madoc, Ontario
On the Belles' win over Texas A&M-Commerce on Friday:
We worked hard together with everyone doing their role. We had to fight for every point against them.

On the state of the Belles through the first 13 games of the season:
Everything is real positive and exciting. Everyone comes to practice and is ready to get better. We are a team that knows that better things are to come if we stay focused and continue improving.


Chelsea Gibson: Junior middle blocker from Spring Branch
On the Belles closing out the win over Texas A&M-Commerce in the fourth set after dropping the third:
We had to come out with a different mentality. We had to brush off the third game and know that we had to come out stronger. They were a good, emotional team that could have come back on us if we lost our focus. We knew we had to put the fire out right away.

On what the Belles need to do next week to continue their strong season:
We just have to carry in the same attitude we have all season and play our game.

AngeloSports.com: Your online source for Angelo State Athletics news, multimedia, photos and more.