CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The back-to-back Southland Conference Champions and preseason favorite, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi opens its 2017 campaign Friday and Saturday at the SMU Doubletree Invitational in Dallas.
First serve for the Islanders comes bright and early as Corpus Christi faces Rice at 10 a.m. Friday morning. The Islanders will also play Mississippi State Friday afternoon before battling host SMU on Saturday.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday | 10 AM vs. Rice –
Live Stats
Friday | 4:30 PM vs. Mississippi State –
Live Stats
THE CHAMPS ARE BACK
The Islanders boast a balance of experience and youth heading into 2017. Five starters from the 2016 Southland Championship squad return to provide veteran leadership as the Islanders aim to make it three titles in a row.
Reigning Southland Conference Player of the Year
Brittany Gilpin leads the Islanders offensively along with returning Setter of the Year
Kristyn Nicholson. Middle blockers
Madi Fitzsimmons and
Madeleine Doud return after leading the Blue and Green block last season. On the back row,
Madison Woods will anchor the Islander defense in 2017 with two years of experience under her belt.
Key returners also include
Morgan Williams in the middle and
Mallory Moran on the outside as both figure to earn growing roles after strong 2016 campaigns. In ball control, sophomore setter
Madison Green adds flexibility to the Islanders both on the defensive side and engineering the attack.
NEW FACES
Nine new Islanders will don the Blue and Green for the first time this weekend. Perhaps the most talented recruiting class in program history, several freshman figure to make immediate contributions.
OH –
Shanice Horn
OH –
Chloe Simon
OH –
Emily Hubacek
MB –
Rachel Young
MB -
Jessi Herbold
MB –
Chloe Thorpe
S –
Mackenzie Coates
DS –
Camryn Tucker
DS –
Jenna Krenek
GRUELING SCHEDULE
2017 sees the Islanders face their toughest slate in program history. All but one of the Blue and Green's non-conference opponents finished 2016 in the top 125 of the RPI.
This weekend includes a pair of top 75 teams in Rice and SMU along with SEC-foe Mississippi State.
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