CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Southland reigning regular season champions of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball team will open the 2022 conference schedule at home, welcoming New Orleans on Thursday and Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday at the Dugan Wellness Center.
The preseason favorites will look to defend their title as the Islanders (0-14) are set to take on New Orleans (6-6) in their home conference opener Thursday at 6: 30 p.m. before also facing Southeastern (11-2) at home Saturday at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
"Conference play brings a new level of excitement," said head coach
Steve Greene, who is entering his seventh Southland season. "As the defending champions from last year, that brings a lot of confidence to our team. They know the level of commitment and effort it takes to win a championship and are looking forward to another opportunity beginning this week."
Led by Greene, A&M-Corpus Christi has won two regular conference seasons and three conference tournaments to reach the NCAA tournament.
Senior
Carissa Barnes recently became A&M-Corpus Christi's all-time digs leader, recording 1,818 digs and counting. Currently, she is nationally ranked 11
th for total season digs (247) and 32
nd in digs per set (4.84) while also leading the conference in both. She is the two-time SLC Libero of the Year and was named the 2021 Tournament MVP.
Sophomore
Kyndal Payne leads the team in kills with 141 to bring her career-total within 15 kills from the 500. Her 465 attacks this season ranks her 45
th nationally in total attacks. Sophomore
Leah Stolfus holds the team's highest hitting percentage with a .297, placing her fifth overall in the conference. Stolfus has already surpassed her 2021 season total kills, turning in 133 compared to her 98 last year.
Senior
Faith Panhans, defending two-time SLC Setter of the Year, sits third in the conference for total assists at 340 for an 8.72 set average. She has moved into third overall in the program's career record for assists with 2,303 and counting. Panhans has turned in three double-double performances and has been two kills away from a triple-double twice this season.
The freshmen class has stepped up in their respective positions, with setter
Halle Gibson recording her first career double-double against CSUN with 62 assists and 12 digs, and
Tayah Little leading the team in blocks with 30 at middle blocker.
Zoria Heard has racked up 97 digs in the back row and has earned eight service aces.
Panhans, Barnes and Payne were all selected to the preseason All-Conference First-Team.
New Orleans has a split record coming to the Island, winning six and dropping just as many in the non-conference slate. The Islanders are undefeated at home against the Privateers and lead the all-time record 10-1. New Orleans was picked ninth in the SLC preseason poll.
Southeastern only has two losses from its non-conference schedule and will make a stop at HBU to open Southland play before continuing on the road to Corpus Christi. A&M-Corpus Christi leads Southeastern 17-2 in the all-time record and has only dropped one at home in the series. The Lady Lions were picked two spots behind the Islanders in the SLC preseason poll at third.
"New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana are both well coached teams that have done well with their non-conference matches. We know that they will both bring their best matches against us. Being at home with the DeepEnd crowd and all our fans really makes the Dugan Wellness Center a great atmosphere for showcasing volleyball and helps our team bring out their best," said Greene.
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