September 18, 2008

Aggies sweep in home opener

LAWTON, Oklahoma (September 18) – The Cameron Aggie volleyball team (6-5) kicked off their home season in perfect fashion tonight with a 3-0 sweep of the Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs (5-8) in front of a fantastic Aggie crowd. Tonight’s match was scored 25-18, 25-20, 25-15, and was the Lone Star Conference opener for both teams. CU has now won two matches in a row.

“It was great to finally get to play in front of our home fans; you could tell the girls felt a lot more comfortable in Aggie Gym,” Head Coach Brianne Smedley said. “I thought we played well tonight, but I think our best volleyball has yet to come.”

Cameron was in control throughout the match and outplayed Southwestern Oklahoma State in nearly every aspect of the game. The Aggies led the Bulldogs in every statistical category except for serve reception errors. As a team CU compiled 36 kills on 108 attacks with 17 errors for a hitting percentage of .176.

Tonight the Aggies spread the ball around very well offensively, as a number of players finished with nearly 10 kills. Freshman outside hitter Malyssa Acton led the team with 9 kills on 19 attacks with 1 error for an impressive hitting percentage of .421. Acton also recorded a team-high 5 services aces.

CU’s top hitting percentage came courtesy of junior middle blocker Jelia Janssen who recorded a .714. She finished with 6 kills on 7 attacks with only 1 error.

Senior libero Haley Hatch finished with a team-high 17 defensive digs while junior setter Laura Ellerbrock recorded a team-high 26 assists. Hatch also recorded 3 assists of her own, while Ellerbrock added 3 kills, 2 service aces, and 3 defensive digs.

“We spread the ball around very well tonight,” Coach Smedley said. “A number of our girls stepped up and contributed nicely. It was nice to not have to rely on just one girl because everyone did well.”

Herb Jacobs of the Lawton Constitution was honored between the second and third sets of tonight’s match with the Lone Star Conference Kirk Hill Award for Sports Writing. The honor is awarded each year by the LSC to the top sports writer in the conference, and is nominated by each school’s sports information director.

Cameron stays home for the next week, first to host the Central Oklahoma Bronchos at 2:00pm on Saturday and then to host the Midwestern State Mustangs at 7:00pm next Thursday. Both matches will take place at the Aggie Gym.