SAN ANGELO – The Angelo State Volleyball team looks to return to winning ways in the 2023 season, with their first opportunity to do so coming this weekend inside Junell Center/Stephens Arena when the Rambelles host the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational.
 
The Belles' Weekend Schedule
The Belles open the weekend at noon on Friday against Southwest (NM) before closing day one against Henderson State at 6 p.m. They complete their weekend on Saturday with a 1 p.m. match against Huston Tillotson and a 5 p.m. matchup against UT Permian Basin in a non-conference matchup.
 
Belles' Dominance at KBI
Under head coach Chuck Waddington, who is entering his 16^th season leading the Belles Volleyball program, the Belles are 42-5 at the KBI, including an impressive 27-match winning streak that stretched from 2014 until it was broken last season by CSU Pueblo.
 
Angelo State in the Polls

• The Belles ended the 2022 season as the eighth-ranked team in the LSC standings, qualifying for the LSC Tournament. The Belles have qualified for the tournament every season under Waddington.
• The Belles were picked fifth in the LSC Preseason Poll behind West Texas A&M, UT Tyler, DBU, and Texas A&M-Kingsville.
• The Belles are receiving nine votes in the AVCA Preseason Top 25.
• They are one of four LSC teams to appear in the poll, behind top-ranked West Texas A&M, receiving votes DBU, and tied with receiving votes UT Tyler.
• The Belles started the 2021 season ranked 13th in the country before dropping to 23rd the following week and falling out of the poll the next week, failing to rejoin at any point during the rest of the season.
• The Belles started the 2021 season ranked first in the country off the heels of the 2021 AVCA National Championship; they spent the entire 2021 season within the top 25 of the poll.

 
Game 1
RV Angelo State vs. Southwest (NM)
Friday, Sept. 1 - 12 p.m.
Junell Center/Stephens Arena

Angelo State vs. Southwest (NM)
This marks the first-ever matchup between the Rambelles and the Mustangs. The Mustangs went 8-18 a season ago, going 0-4 against Division II opposition.
 
Game 2
RV Angelo State vs. Henderson State
Friday, Sept. 1 – 6 PM
Junell Center/Stephens Arena
 
Angelo State vs. Henderson State
This is the first time the Reddies and the Rambelles will face each other. Last season, the Reddies lost their only match against an LSC opponent, 3-0, to Cameron in their season opener. The Reddies are coming off a season where they went 10-18 and 4-12 in GAC play.
 
Game 3
RV Angelo State vs. Huston Tillotson
Saturday, Sept. 2 - 1 p.m.
Stephens Arena/Junell Center
 
Angelo State vs. Huston Tillotson
The Rambelles are 2-0 all-time against the Rams, winning matches in 2008 and 2009, with both victories being sweeps. The Rams finished last season with a 4-20 record and will face their first Division II opponents since 2017.
 
Game 4
RV Angelo State vs. UT Permian Basin
Saturday, Sept. 2 - 5 p.m.
Stephens Arena/Junell Center
 
Angelo State vs. UT Permian Basin
This is the first of two times these two teams will match up this season, with the two playing on September 23rd in Odessa in LSC play. The Rambelles beat the Falcons 3-1 last season inside Stephens Arena/Junell Center.
 
Returning Stats
Angelo State returns 79.8 percent (1052 of 1319) of its kills, 94.7 percent (107 of 113) of its service aces, 88.3 percent (1572 of 1780) of its digs, and 34.2 percent of its blocks (81.5 of 238.5) from last season's team.
 
Rambelles Add Seven
ASU returns four starters and 12 letter winners from last year's team while adding seven newcomers, including a pair of in-conference transfers.
 
                Alli Kirkpatrick
                Freshman * 5-11 * Setter
                Bonham, Texas * Bonham HS
                Recorded 1,939 kills and 1,375 digs at Bonham HS; two-time district hitter of the year
               
                Madi Parrish
                Freshman * 5-9 * Outside Hitter
                Saginaw, Texas * Boswell HS
                Recorded 981 kills and 1,049 digs at Boswell HS; two-time all-district selection.
 
                Krizia Perez
                Freshman * 5-6 * Defensive Specialist
                Laredo, Texas * United HS
                Led United HS to four district championships; first-team all-district selection.
 
                Maya Smalls
                Grad. Student * 5-10 * Right Side
                San Antonio, Texas * St. Edward's
                2022 All-LSC First Team selection at St. Edward's; recorded 361 kills for the Hilltoppers in 2022
 
                Hannah Spencer
                Freshman * 6-1 * Middle Blocker
                San Antonio, Texas * Cornerstone Christian
                Tallied 385 kills and 210 blocks; two-time all-district selection
 
                Evelyn Torres
                Senior * 5-9 * Outside Hitter
                Fort Worth, Texas * UT Tyler
                All-LSC Second Team in 2022 for UT Tyler
 
                Kamryn Williams
                Freshman * 6-0 * Outside Hitter
                Wall, Texas * Wall HS
                All-time kill leader at Wall HS with 1,260; most kills in a season with 448; 2021 All-West Texas MVP
 
Personal Bests in 2022

• Setter Kayla Baer recorded a career-high 33 assists versus Midwestern State on Sept. 24. Baer also recorded a season-high 19 digs against Texas A&M-Kingsville on October 21st and recorded seven double-doubles in 2022.
• Middle Cate Boldrick buried 15 kills against Midwestern State on Sept. 24. She also recorded a season-high .667 hitting percentage against Western New Mexico on Sept. 14 and had ten blocks against No. 11 Central Missouri on Sept. 3.
• Outside hitter Caroline Brackens recorded a season-high two kills against Northwest Missouri State on Sept. 2.
• Setter Laney Dale notched a career-high 39 assists and 26 digs against Oklahoma Christian on Oct. 29. The junior recorded six double-doubles in 2022.
• Libero Caleigh Enax assisted ten times against Central Missouri on Sept. 3. She also set a career-best 30 digs against Midwestern State on Sept. 24 and has one career double-double.
• Libero Ireland Ferguson set a career-high with 39 digs against Oklahoma Christian on Oct. 29. She also set a personal best with nine assists against St. Edward's on Oct. 14.
• Outside hitter Kaila Garnett recorded a career-best 13 kills twice, doing so both times against Lubbock Christian.
• Outside hitter Hannah Kinnison set two personal bests this season, recording 21 kills against Central Missouri on Sept. 3 and 22 digs against Texas Woman's on Sept. 21. Kinnison had six double-doubles in 2022.
• Outside hitter Elsa Lamphere recorded a career-best 22-kill, 18-dig performance against Oklahoma Christian on Oct. 29.
• Middle Marina Sanchez recorded a personal-best eight kills twice against Oklahoma Christian on Oct. 29 and Western New Mexico on Sept. 14. She also set a school record with 13 blocks versus Lubbock Christian on Sept. 10.
• Libero Jaedyn Woolley recorded a career-high 14 digs against UT Permian Basin on Sept. 17.

Up Next
Following this weekend, the Rambelles travel to Las Vegas, New Mexico, to face New Mexico Highlands in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday before competing at the FLC Tournament hosted by Fort Lewis on September 8-9.