SAN ANGELO, Texas – The Angelo State volleyball team looks to extend its 7-1 conference run this weekend with another pair of conference match-ups against Texas – A&M – Commerce on Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. (Dig Pink match) and fellow conference leader Texas Women's on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. at the Junell Center.
The Belles improved to 17-4 and 6-1 in the LSC over the weekend with a pair of sweeps that placed them in a three way tie for first in the conference. The 2015 squad has remained undefeated at home this year with a 9-0 home record.
Friday's match up against TAMUC is of special significance and it will be ASU's "Dig Pink" match. ASU is currently 10-2 all-time against the Lions under head coach Chuck Waddington and swept a match in Commerce earlier this season. The Belles will be sporting special edition pink jerseys to help bring awareness to breast cancer and will be selling special edition "Dig Pink" t-shirts. The proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Side-Out Foundation.
In volleyball, the term "side-out" refers to a team regaining control of the ball. This is the aim of the Side-Out Foundation, to help breast cancer patients regain control of their lives. The foundation accomplishes this goal by utilizing the power and teamwork of the volleyball community to support "game-changing" breast cancer research. This allows patients an increase in quality time with their families until a cure is found.
"This particular match is important to us because just about everybody on the team, or that we know, has someone or knows someone that has been touched by breast cancer in their lives, " said Waddington in regards to Friday's match. "It's important to us to help raise awareness and funds to help find a cure. We are looking for the fans to come out, help us support this great cause, cheer for us while we play, and have a great time."
On Saturday the ASU plays host to Texas Women's (14-3, 6-1 LSC), who is currently neck and neck with the Belles in a three way tie for first in the LSC. Angelo State is 9-5 against the Pioneers under Waddington and this will be the first time the Belles will see TWU this season.
ASU will look to its offensive leaders, Brianna Sotello, Mallory Blauser and Zoey Hanrahan, to continue their home win streak. Sotello, who hit a season high 22 kills against Cameron, marked a pair of double-doubles in last weekend's matches. The sophomore has chalked up 12 double-doubles on the season. The San Antonio native has also made major contributions to the defense with 243 digs on the year, 31 of which were added in last week's match-ups.
Blauser tallied 25 kills of her own last week. She will be seeking to add to her six match streak of hitting double digit kills. The junior leads the team with 284 kills and is averaging four kills per set with a .244 hitting percentage. Wrapping up the trio, Hanrahan is hitting .297 on the year with 164 kills. She is also a key defensive asset for ASU as she is the team leader in blocks with a total of 56.
Setting up the offensive attack, Maggie Jo Keffury has produced at least 30 assist in 20 matches this season. The senior is seventh in the ASU record books with total assists and complied 79 assists last week averaging 13.17 assist per set. Her efforts aided the Belles to a .225 team hitting percentage on the week. She is second on the team with eight double-doubles.
Anchoring the defense for ASU is Katie MacLeay. The senior averaged 7.67 digs per set and played a major part in holding last week's opponents to a .086 clip. She added a total of 46 digs this week to her season total which now sits at 429. She now has 13 matches with 20 or more digs. MacLeay leads both ASU and the conference in both total digs and digs per set (6.03). The senior libero is also top five nationally in total digs for the season.
The Belles saw major contributions from sophomores Abbie Lynn, Morgan Seaton and Kelly Hasbrouck as well this past week. Lynn, who has 161 kills and a .235 hitting percentage this year, added 10 kills, 3 digs and 2 blocks to her totals. On Friday, Seaton hit a season high 10 kills, hitting double digits in that category for the third time this year, on her way to a total of 16 for the week. Hasbrouck assisted the defense with a total of 18 digs.
