ARKANSAS STATE vs. North Texas
November 14 Denton, Texas Mean Green Volleyball Center 7:00 p.m.
ARKANSAS STATE vs. Denver
November 16 Denver, Colorado Hamilton Gymnasium 1:00 p.m.
LiveStats Available at AStateRedWolves.com

SERVING IT UP: The Arkansas State Red Wolves return to action after a 10-day layoff, wrapping up the regular season on the road against Sun Belt Conference West Division foes North Texas and Denver. The Red Wolves take on the Mean Green of North Texas Nov. 14 at 7:00 p.m., then travel to Denver for the Nov. 16 regular-season finale, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Both matches may be followed using LiveStats, available online through AStateRedWolves.com.

THE TEAMS: Arkansas State, 20-10 on the season and 9-7 in Sun Belt Conference play, hopes to stop a three-match skid as the regular season comes to an end. Included in the three-game slide are home losses to North Texas and Denver. The Red Wolves are assured of the No. 7 seed in the Nov. 20-22 Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Miami. At 6-23 on the season and 4-12 in SBC play, North Texas is no longer in contention for a berth in the conference tournament. The Mean Green have dropped two straight heading into Friday's match against Arkansas State. Denver is 23-6 on the year and 12-4 in conference play. The Pioneers are tied with Arkansas-Little Rock atop the SBC-West standings, and have won two straight. The Pioneers host UALR Friday night before taking on ASU Sunday and are playing for the No. 2 seed in the SBC Tournament.

THE NORTH TEXAS SERIES: The Red Wolves and Mean Green are tied at 11-11 in the all-time series, but North Texas has come out on top in the last three meetings. The Mean Green surprised the Red Wolves with a 3-1 win in Jonesboro Nov. 2 and defeated ASU in both meetings during the 2007 season, winning 3-2 in Denton and 3-1 in Jonesboro. The last time ASU defeated North Texas, the Red Wolves posted a 3-0 victory in Jonesboro during the 2006 season.

THE DENVER SERIES: Arkansas State is 4-9 all-time against Denver. The Pioneers won 3-1 in Jonesboro Oct. 31 and took both matchups with ASU last year, winning 3-0 in Denver and 3-1 in Jonesboro. The last ASU victory in the series was a 3-2 win in Jonesboro during the 2006 season.

PURCELL OUT: Junior outside hitter Konae Purcell will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury last month. Purcell leads the Red Wolves in kills on the season with 296, and is ranked 43rd nationally and third in the Sun Belt with an average of 3.89 kills per set.

AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION: Arkansas State sophomore setter Laura Bennett is currently ranked 23rd nationally in assists per set with an average of 11.06. Junior outside hitter Konae Purcell ranks 43rd nationally in kills per set at 3.89, and freshman middle blocker Cayla Fielder's hitting percentage of .361 ranks 35th nationally. The Red Wolves' team average of 13.65 kills per set ranks 43rd nationally.

AMONG THE BEST IN THE ?BELT: Arkansas State leads the Sun Belt Conference in digs at 14.58 per game. Additionally, Arkansas State junior outside hitter Konae Purcell is third in the league in kills per set at 3.89. Freshman middle blocker Cayla Fielder's hitting percentage of .361 is third in the Sun Belt Conference, and tops among freshmen in the league. Sophomore setter Laura Bennett sits at second in the conference in assists, averaging 11.06 per set. Two Red Wolves are ranked in the SBC's top 10 in digs per set - junior defensive specialist Erin Neeley (4.05) ranks third and junior defensive specialist Heather Bowman (3.06) ranks 10th.

NEELEY CAPTURES SBC HONOR: Arkansas State junior defensive specialist Erin Neeley was named Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 20 for her efforts in helping the Red Wolves volleyball team post a perfect 3-0 record on the week. Neeley tallied double-digit digs in all three of Arkansas State's matches to help the Red Wolves go undefeated on the week, with all three wins coming on the road against Sun Belt Conference competition. Neeley posted 19-dig performances in back-to-back matches against Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe and finished the week with a team-high 50 digs, averaging 5.0 per set. She also added three service aces and an assist on the week.
“It is well-deserved recognition for a great weekend by Red,” said ASU head coach Craig Cummings. “Not only for her defense and the digs she made, but for her service prowess as well. We needed every dig and every pass she made to help us be successful.”
“Not lost in this is the overall effort of all of her teammates as well that allowed us to be successful on that grueling road swing,” Cummings added.
This week's award is the third Defensive Player of the Week award won by Neeley. The junior from Jonesboro, Ark. (Westside HS) won the award twice last season. ASU's digs leader the past two seasons, Neeley passed the 1,000 dig mark for her career this season and currently stands at 1,215 digs for her career at Arkansas State.

QUICK HITS: Arkansas State's 203 total attempts Sept. 12 against SEMO were the most for any team in the Sun Belt this season, as were the Red Wolves 99 digs against the Redhawks...ASU's 70 digs Aug. 30 against The Citadel were the most for any Sun Belt team in a 3-set match this season and the Red Wolves 65 digs against Texas Southern ranks second in 3-set matches...The Red Wolves' 14 aces against Mississippi Valley Aug. 29 are tied for the most in a single match this season in the Sun Belt...Arkansas State's 55 kills against Western Carolina Sept. 19 is tied for the most in the SBC in any three-set match this season.


HOT START: With its 4-0 start, ASU got off to its best start since the 2004 season when it started the year 5-0. Arkansas State is now on another 4-match win streak, giving the Red Wolves their best overall start since the 2003 team that started 13-3.

HOTTER START: The Red Wolves did not lose a set in its first four matches this season, equalling the best overall start (12-0 in sets played) for ASU since 1990.

RED WOLVES HONORED: Three Arkansas State volleyball players were honored for their play Aug. 30 at the Texas Southern Season-Opening Tournament in Houston. Junior outside hitter Konae Purcell was named the tournament's MVP after notching 31 kills in eight games. In the final game against The Citadel, Purcell led ASU with 14 kills in the match, hitting .619 on the day. Freshman middle blocker Cayla Fielder (Jonesboro, Ark.) was named to the all-tournament team after recording 10 kills with just one error, on 11 attempts to hit .818 against The Citadel. Fielder hit .412 against Texas Southern and .364 against MVSU. Junior Libero Erin Neeley (Jonesboro, Ark.) was named as the tournament's outstanding defensive specialist after recording 56 digs in three matches.
“We are awfully proud of Konae, Cayla and Erin for being recognized all-tournament for the efforts they put forth during the Texas Southern Tournament representing the Red Wolves,” said ASU Head Coach Craig Cummings. “I think you could also throw in Christin Baker who had a phenomenally steady tournament. Heather Bowman was solid for us as well, passing and playing defense. Laurel England had a great match against The Citadel. Laura Bennett ran our offense for the most part and Brittany Crislip did a nice job as well when she had the opportunity.”
“It was a full team effort,” added Cummings. “Any success is a team effort, and my hat is off to these young ladies for getting us off to a great start.”

MORE HONORS: Freshman Cayla Fielder was named to the All-Tournament team following the Sept. 5-6 Kangaroo Klassic at UMKC. Fielder recorded 25 kills with a hitting percentage of .500 in ASU's three matches at the tournament.

STILL MORE HONORS: Junior outside hitter Konae Purcell was named to the All-Tournament team at the Hampton Inn Saluki Invitational Sept. 13. Purcell had 62 kills in ASU's three matches in the tournament, averaging 4.77 per set. She recorded a career-high 20 kills against Southern Illinois, then topped that number with 25 against Western Illinois. Purcell added 34 digs, two blocks and a service ace on the weekend.

AND YET MORE HONORS: Junior outside hitter Konae Purcell was named the MVP of the Sept. 19-20 Western Carolina Catamount Clash. Purcell averaged 4.67 kills per set in the tournament while adding a pair of blocks and 10 digs. Senior outside hitter Mafo Joelle was named to the all-tournament team at the Catamount Clash after notching 31 kills and four blocks in the tournament.

RULE CHANGES FOR 2008: Volleyball games have a new name. The term “game” has now been changed to “set.” The number of points required to win a set has been changed as well. The number of points required to win sets one through four is now 25, with the fifth set still being played to 15 points. The maximum number of substitutions for each team is now 12 per set.

NEW ERA AT ASU: The 2008 season is the first season in which Arkansas State University will compete as the Red Wolves. After 77 years of competition as the Indians, the Red Wolves mascot was adopted in January 2008 after many hours of work by the University's Mascot Selection Steering Committee. The job of the committee was to make a new mascot recommendation to Chancellor Dr. Robert L. Potts and the University administration. The committee recommended “Wolves” at a Jan. 31 meeting, and the Red Wolves mascot evolved from that point.


HEAD COACH CRAIG CUMMINGS: Craig Cummings is entering his 13th season as head coach of the Red Wolves volleyball program, making him the longest tenured coach in ASU volleyball history. During his 12 seasons at Arkansas State, Cummings has compiled an impressive 224-161 record, picking up three Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year honors along the way. During the 2006 campaign, he became just the third coach in ASU volleyball history to eclipse 200 victories, and last year moved into second place on the ASU all-time wins list. Cummings reached another milestone in 2007 as well when he topped the 300 career victories mark and he now stands at 305-271 through 18 seasons as a head coach.
Hampered by injuries throughout the season, Arkansas State finished 12-19 a year ago, including an 8-10 mark in the Sun Belt Conference. Although ASU finished the year below .500, the season did produce several memorable moments. Arkansas State finished the regular season on a high note, winning three straight matches on the road in Louisiana. ASU began the late season surge with a 3-0 win at Louisiana-Monroe, followed by a 3-1 victory at Louisiana-Lafayette. Arkansas State completed the sweep through Louisiana when they defeated New Orleans 3-0 to close out the regular season, earning a berth in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in the process. The 2007 season also was highlighted by senior middle blocker Robin Aaron being named to the All-Sun Belt Conference team for the third consecutive year, and senior Katie Peil's ascent to the top of the career assists chart. Peil finished her career with 5,048 assists, becoming the only player in ASU history to top the 5,000-assist mark.
During his tenure at Arkansas State, Cummings has guided the Red Wolves program to four Sun Belt Conference regular season championships, and one appearance in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament. His most recent championship came in 2004 when ASU took home the SBC East Division title, posting an 11-3 mark in Sun Belt play, and a 25-8 overall record on the season.
In 2004, the then-Lady Indians closed out the regular season by picking up victories in 13 of their last 14 matches on their way to the title. The Tribe also posted an undefeated record at home with a 14-0 mark at the Convocation Center. Also under Cummings' tutelage, outside hitter Giedre Tarnauskaite was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and setter Katie Peil picked up SBC Freshman of the Year accolades.
Cummings' crowning achievement so far was a three-game victory over Arkansas-Little Rock in Little Rock, Ark., on Nov. 21, 1999, that gave him his first SBC Tournament championship and ASU's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1995.
In 1999, Cummings guided the Lady Indians to a 21-11 record on the season. The 21 wins were the most for ASU since the 1999 campaign and returned ASU to the upper echelon in the Sun Belt Conference.
ASU won another Sun Belt Conference title in 1999 when the Lady Indians finished with a 28-7 record, including a stellar 14-2 mark in conference action. The Lady Indians finished atop the league standings and went on to win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament title and gain the NCAA Tournament appearance. The 28-win campaign was the highest win total for ASU under Cummings and the most since the 1993 season in which ASU picked up 32 victories.
Eight of Cummings' teams have won 20-or-more games-after a 24-win campaign in Cummings' first season in 1996, ASU had a 21-12 record in 1997, a 23-11 record in 1998, a 28-7 mark in 1999, a 20-11 record in 2000, a 21-11 mark in 2003, 2005's 25-8 record and last season's 21-14 mark.
Cummings was named the head volleyball coach at Arkansas State in May of 1996. He is the fifth coach in the program's 29-year history. He had spent the previous six seasons as head coach at his alma mater, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
As a player, Cummings played three seasons for the Cal Poly men's program from 1978-80. A member of the Western Intercollegiate Volleyball Association, the Cal Poly men played against some of the top collegiate men's teams ever to step foot on a floor.
Cummings began his coaching career in 1981 as the head coach of the Cal Poly-SLO men's program, posting a record of 23-10. Cal Poly discontinued its men program the following year and Cummings went to work as an assistant coach of the women's team and remained there until 1989.
During his term as an assistant coach, Cal Poly participated in eight straight NCAA Tournaments from 1982-89, a run that included three Elite Eight appearances (1982, 1983, 1985). The Cal Poly coaching staff was named Coaching Staff of the Year in the Big West Conference in 1985 and 1989.
In 1990, Cummings began his career as a head coach by taking over the Mustang program. In 1992, his Mustangs posted a 22-11 record and were ranked fourth in the Northwest Region. That same year he was named Northwest Region Coach of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
During his time at Cal Poly-SLO, Cummings coached 19 All-Americans.
In recognition of his coaching excellence at Cal Poly, Cummings was named to the coaching staffs at three straight U.S. Olympic Festivals (1993-95). As an assistant for the South squad in 1993, Cummings earned a gold medal for his efforts. In 1994 and 1995, Cummings served as head coach of the West squads, finishing second and fourth.
He has been a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association since 1983 and a member of USA Volleyball since 1980. In addition to his work with the U.S. Olympic Festivals, he has served on the Board of Directors and Selection Committee of the National Invitational Volleyball Championships. He has been a member of the NCAA Division I Northwest Region Advisory Committee and the AVCA Northwest Region Division I All-American Committee.
Cummings has been a clinic speaker for West Coast Clinics in Palo Alto, Calif., and at the 1990 and 1996 National (Junior )Volleyball Festival. Cummings was also instrumental in the development of the San Luis Obispo Juniors Volleyball Club, serving on its Board of Directors.
Cummings was born in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on March 28, 1957. He and his wife Carol have two children, Drew (18) and Alex (16). Cummings, a 1982 graduate of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo with a degree in Physical Education, earned a master's degree in Physical Education in 1987 from Cal Poly-SLO.

ASSISTANT COACH JULIE ALLEN: Julie Allen joined the Arkansas State volleyball staff as an assistant coach on April 1, 2008, after two seasons at Georgetown.
Allen joined the Georgetown program in August 2006 after spending nearly two years at California State University at Chico as the assistant women's volleyball coach and head men's club coach.
“I am truly excited that Julie agreed to come to Arkansas State and our volleyball program,” ASU Head Coach Craig Cummings said. “She brings with her a wealth of experience from the Big East Conference, training the setters and coordinating the offense at Georgetown University during the last couple of seasons. With some very talented candidates in the pool, Julie stood out as the best, allowing our program to take advantage of her experience and expertise and help us climb back to the top of the Sun Belt Conference.”
After graduating from the University of Portland in 2002, Allen was the head volleyball coach at Tualatin High School in Tualatin, Ore. until 2003. She was a lead coach for the Empire Volleyball Club in Santa Rosa, Calif. from 2000-2004.
Allen is also a graduate of the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy, which is designed for women coaches who are ready and willing to increase their individual effectiveness through learning advanced skills and strategies that directly affect their personal and team success.
A four-year setter at Portland, Allen stands at fifth on the Pilots' all-time career assists list with 2,042.
“Julie is a bright young lady with a lot of energy and has an outside-the-box mentality towards developing new ways to train the team,” Cummings said. “She will coordinate our recruiting efforts as well as handle the video systems throughout the year.”