Islanders Open Season at Baylor Invitational

BAYLOR INVITATIONAL
Prairie View • Friday • 4 p.m.
UTRGV • Saturday • 1 p.m.
Baylor • Saturday • 7 p.m.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
Live Stats                                                        Twitter (@IslandersVB)
Video (Baylor Match Only)                          Instagram (@IslandersVB)
 
 
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball opens its 2016 slate with three matches at the Baylor Invitational.
 
The Islanders are a balanced squad of new and old with eight players returning from the 2015 Southland Conference Championship team and eight new faces added to the fold. A new man is also at the helm for the Islanders in 2016 as Steve Greene will lead the indoor squad for the first time.
 
WHAT TO KNOW
 
• Five Islanders were named to the preseason All-Southland Conference teams.
• The Blue and Green returns 2015 Southland Setter of the Year Kristyn Nicholson along with Libero of the Year Kate Klepetka.
• Keep an eye out for Brittany Gilpin who is making a move to outside hitter this season after earning First Team All-Southland honors at middle blocker in 2015.
• The Islanders once again figure to lean on defense after finishing fourth in the nation by holding opponents to a .143 hitting percentage last season.
• Lone senior Morgan Carlson should be a centerpiece in the Islander offense. Carlson leads all returners with 303 kills.
 
STACKING UP
 
The trio of opening weekend opponents are no stranger to the Islanders. A&M-Corpus Christi has faced each of the three multiple times, including bouts with Prairie View and UTRGV last season.
 
In the all-time series, the Islanders lead Prairie View 18-1, lead UTRGV 20-15 and trail Baylor 0-5.  In 2015, the Blue and Green swept Prairie View twice and took three matches from UTRGV.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
 
For live updates and all the sights and sounds of Islanders volleyball, follow the team on Twitter (@IslandersVB), Instagram (@IslandersVB) and Facebook (/IslandersVolleyball).