SAN ANGELO, Texas – No. 21 Angelo State volleyball opened the 2026 season in dominant fashion Friday, sweeping East Central and Fort Lewis to complete a perfect first day at the 16th annual Kathleen Brasfield Invitational, presented by Oliver, Rainey and Wojtek, inside the Junell Center-Stephens Arena.
The Belles played in front of a combined crowd of more than 2,700 fans across the two matches.
MATCH ONE: vs. East Central – W, 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-8)
After a slow start offensively in the opening set, Angelo State found its rhythm and finished the match with a .365 hitting percentage while committing just two attacking errors across the final two sets.
Sydney Thornton led the Belles with seven kills while hitting .538, followed by
Madi Parrish,
Julia Hopkins and
Vivian Parker with six kills apiece.
Gabi Ashcraft led the offense with 19 assists, while
Madison Scrivner added seven.
Taryn Barnes, making her debut as one of ASU's liberos, led the defensive effort with 15 digs.
The opening match also featured several firsts for the Blue and Gold. Parker and
Leah Klueber recorded their first kills for Angelo State, with Klueber's mark also serving as her first collegiate kill.
Malia Miller made her collegiate debut and recorded three digs.
MATCH TWO: vs. Fort Lewis – W, 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-18)
The nightcap featured another strong offensive performance from the Belles, who recorded 48 kills while hitting .330 and added eight service aces.
Allie Kirkpatrick led the way with 10 kills, becoming the first Belle to reach double figures this season. Hopkins followed with nine kills, while Klueber and Parrish added eight and seven, respectively.
Freshman
Olivia Pena also made an immediate impact, becoming the first Belle to record a double-double this season after leading the team with 19 assists and 11 digs.
The third set provided a memorable moment for the program as all five of Angelo State's freshmen shared the court against an in-region opponent. Three freshmen –
Hollie Santos, Pena and
Kennedi Walls – made their collegiate debuts.
Allie Duitsman and
Krizia Perez, who each saw time at libero, recorded three service aces apiece.
The Belles will close the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational Saturday, Aug. 29, with a pair of matches against MSU Moorhead and CSU Pueblo. Angelo State will face MSU Moorhead at 3:30 p.m. before closing the tournament against CSU Pueblo at 7:30 p.m., with both matches taking place inside the Junell Center-Stephens Arena.
