The Angelo State volleyball team starts a new season this weekend when it hosts the 2024 Kathleen Brasfield Invitational. The Rambelles are looking to build on last season’s 24-8 record and return to the NCAA Tournament, where they advanced to the South Central Region semifinals.

The Belles’ season-opening match against New Mexico Highlands will feature over 3,000 elementary school kids from the Concho Valley area in the stands cheering on the Belles. The 3,000 area students will set a new program record for single-game attendance for a Belles Volleyball match inside the Junell Center – Stephens Arena. 

BELLES AT THE KBI

The Belles are 46-5 all-time at the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational as they enter their 14th year of the tournament. The Belles’ .902 winning percentage is the best among the seven schools that have played at least ten matches at the KBI. 

As head coach, Chuck Waddington has a 186-33 record inside the Junell Center—Stephens Arena, which is good for a .849 winning percentage. 

TOP RETURNERS

The Belles attack is spearheaded by all-conference outside hitters Evelyn Torres and Madi Parrish. Torres was an All-LSC Honorable Mention, while Parrish was named to the LSC All-Freshman Team. 

REUNITED AND IT FEELS SO GOOD

Graduate student setter Adeline Ortman had a pair of reunions when she joined the Belles Volleyball program. Ortman joined Eaton HS teammate Caleigh Enax and linked back up with former UT Tyler teammate Evelyn Torres. Enax and Ortman were each three-time all-district selections at Eaton HS, with Ortman recording over 2,000 assists in her prep career. At UT Tyler, Torres and Ortman played together in 2021 and 2022, when Torres was named an All-LSC Second Team selection, and Ortman earned All-LSC Honorable Mention honors.

BELLES IN THE POLLS

• The Belles received 46 votes in the AVCA Top 25, making them the third-highest-placed LSC team in the poll.
• The Belles were the third seed in the 2023 LSC Volleyball Tournament. Under Waddington, the Belles have qualified for the tournament every season. 
• The Belles were picked third in the LSC Preseason Poll behind West Texas A&M and DBU, receiving two first-place votes. 
• They are one of three LSC teams to appear in the poll, joining third-ranked West Texas A&M and receiving votes DBU.
• The Belles are looking to rejoin the nation’s top 25 for the first time since September 2022; they spent the entire 2023 season receiving votes in the AVCA poll.
• 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. 

SCOUTING THE FIELD

CENTRAL OKLAHOMA BRONCHOS

AVCA RANK: 23

2023 RECORD: 26-5

Central Oklahoma, the only ranked team in this weekend’s field, is coming off a season in which they went 26-5 overall but just missed out on an NCAA Tournament berth in a loaded Central Regional. 

The Bronchos return 14 players from last season, and five of their six top attackers. Eastern New Mexico transfer and All-LSC performer Mikayla Garvin fills the sixth spot. 

Setter Lindsey Houran recorded over 1,000 last season before being named a Second Team All-MIAA performer. 

The Bronchos most significant question mark is in the libero slot, where they look to replace All-American Jaedynn Evans. Senior Katie Le is the top returning defensive specialist, as she recorded 217 digs a season ago.

EMMANUEL LIONS

AVCA RANK: N/A

2023 RECORD: 22-11

Emmanuel, along with Angelo State, were the only two teams in this year’s field to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. The Lions were the sixth seed in the Southeast Regional, where they fell in the first round to Lander.

The Lions return 11 players from last season’s team that won the Coastal Carolinas Championship, including their top seven attacking options. Elaina Emminger led the team with 330 kills and a .259 hitting percentage a season ago. 

The Lions have to replace outgoing senior setter Gabrielle McGlamery, who accounted for 86.7 percent of the Lions’ assists last season. 

FORT LEWIS SKYHAWKS

AVCA RANK: N/A

2023 RECORD: 13-13

Fort Lewis returns eight members from last season’s team, which went 13-13 overall. Last season, they played the Belles in their tournament, with the Belles winning in four sets. 

The Skyhawks return their top five attackers from last season, led by Ella Butler with a .299 hitting percentage. They also return top assister Natalia Lambos.

The Skyhawks have to replace their libero from last season in Sarah Wilkey, who recorded twice as many digs as the second-most on the Skyhawk roster last season.

NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS

AVCA RANK: N/A

2023 RECORD: 3-25

One of two teams in the field with a new head coach, NMHU starts a new era under head coach Meg Grose at the KBI. Grose brings in 11 newcomers to join eight returners from last season’s team. 

Sophomore outside hitter Jaylee Gonzales led the team with 214 kills as a freshman, highlighting a team in which 14 of the 19 student-athletes are either freshmen or sophomores. 

UT PERMIAN BASIN

AVCA RANK: N/A

2023 RECORD: 17-10

New head coach CJ Allard inherits 14 returners from a UTPB squad that went 17-10 overall last season and missed out on the LSC Tournament by one match. 

The Falcons, who competed at the KBI last season, return two all-tournament performers, Gabby Gregorski and Gloria Guerin, and All-LSC performer April Egwu.

PERSONAL BESTS LAST SEASON

Twelve Belles recorded at least one personal best in 2023.

• Libero Caleigh Enax recorded 36 digs against Cameron on Oct. 7; her career-best is tied for the fourth-most digs in a single match in program history.
• Setter Alli Kirkpatrick assisted 26 times against East Central on Sept. 9, the most in her debut season; she also recorded eight digs against TAMUK on Sept. 14.
• Outside hitter Madi Parrish buried 15 kills against Texas Woman’s on Sept. 27. She recorded 15 digs against UAFS on Nov. 3 and had four blocks against TAMIU. 
• Defensive specialist Krizia Perez recorded six digs against Cameron on Oct. 7. She also recorded her first ace against MSU on Sept. 30. 
• Middle Hannah Spencer recorded seven blocks against UT Tyler on Nov. 16. She also recorded ten kills in her LSC debut versus WNMU and hit .625 against UTPB on Sept. 23. 
• Outside hitter Evelyn Torres set a new career high with 18 kills against UAFS on Sept. 16; she tied that mark again on Sept. 27

RETURNING STATS

• ASU returns four starters and ten letter winners from last year’s team while adding ten newcomers, including three Division II transfers.
• Angelo State returns 46.9 percent (746 of 1589) of its kills, 67 percent (134 of 200) of its service aces, 70.7 percent (1337 of 1892) of its digs, and 50.8 percent of its blocks (99 of 195) from last season’s team.

BELLES ADD TEN

Angelo State brought in ten newcomers in 2024, with seven freshmen and three Division II transfers joining the ten returners from last year’s team.

        Adeline Ortman

        Graduate Student * 5-7 * Setter

        Rhome, Texas * UT Tyler

• Two-time All-LSC selection who ranked fourth in the LSC in assists last season for UT Tyler

        Raelee Allen

        Freshman * 5-9 * Outside Hitter

        San Antonio, Texas * Reagan HS

• 6A Offensive Player of the Year in 2018-19

       Taryn Barnes

        Freshman * 5-9 * Outside Hitter

        Southlake, Texas * Carroll HS

• Two-time All-District selection for the Dragons

       Sydney Thornton

        Freshman * 5-10 * Middle Blocker

        Prosper, Texas * Prosper HS

• Recorded 594 kills and 289 blocks in her prep career

        Julia Hopkins

        Freshman * 6-0 * Outside Hitter

        Austin, Texas * Westwood HS

• District MVP for the Warriors

        Amelia Creacy

        Freshman * 6-1 * Right Side

        Cypress, Texas * Bridegland HS

• Two-time Offensive Player of the Year at Bridgeland HS

        Demi Carter

        Freshman * 6-2 * Middle Blocker

        Bridge City, Texas * Bridge City HS

• Recorded 1,353 career kills, 258 blocks, 522 digs, and 221 aces; District 19-4A MVP in 2022

        Allie Duitsman

        Freshman * 5-6 * Defensive Specialist

        Prosper, Texas * Prosper HS

• 2023 First Team All-District selection

        Ella Unterweger

        Junior * 5-9 * Outside Hitter

        Oconomowoc, Wis. * St. Cloud State

• Member of the 2022 NSIC Tournament Championship team

        Marta Roicka

        Graduate Student * 6-0 * Setter

        Warsaw, Poland * Gannon

• Helped Golden Knights to two PSAC championships and an appearance in the Elite Eight

RECORD WATCH

Senior libero Caleigh Enax looks to establish herself among the all-time greats at Angelo State as she continues climbing the all-time digs leaderboard. She is 50 digs away from being the 17th player in program history and the 12th in the rally-scoring era to eclipse the 1,000-dig mark. She would be the first player to do so since former teammate Makenna Hanssen did so in the 2021 season. 

Additionally, teammates Adeline Ortman, Marta Roicka, and Evelyn Torres are closing in on personal career milestones in their respective collegiate careers.

CAREER RECORDS                                                                                

Digs - All-Time

15.   Kayla Smith       2008-11        1,025  

16.   Cel Bennett       1985-88        1,022  

17.   Caleigh Enax   2021-24          950  

Digs - Rally Scoring Era (since 2001)

10.   Lindsey Jones   2001-04        1,078

11.   Kayla Smith       2008-11        1,025  

12.   Caleigh Enax   2021-24          950    

CAREER MILESTONES                                                                        

Assists

Adeline Ortman  

1,568 career assists

432 from 2,000

Marta Roicka         

734 career assists

266 from 1,000

Kills

Evelyn Torres        

778 career kills

222 from 1,000

UP NEXT

Following the KBI, the Belles are on the road to Colorado. They will take on Western Colorado on Tuesday evening before competing in the Maverick Fall Classic, hosted by Colorado Mesa, next weekend.