Arkansas State hosts
Denver & North Texas
Nov. 5 vs. DU 7:00 pm
Nov. 6 vs. UNT 7:00 pm
SERVING IT UP: The A-State volleyball squad returns home this weekend as it hosts Denver and North Texas Friday and Saturday at the HPESS Facility. Both matches are set to begin at 7:00 p.m.
THE TEAMS: Arkansas State will enter the weekend at 13-10 overall and 7-4 in league play. The Red Wolves extended their win streak to six Friday night with a 3-0 sweep of ULM before seeing that streak snapped the next night at Louisiana-Lafayette in four sets.
The Denver Pioneers stand at 13-15 overall and 7-6 in Sun Belt Conference action. DU fell to WKU in three sets last weekend.
The North Texas Mean Green will travel to Jonesboro at 17-11 overall with a 9-4 conference slate. UNT dropped back-to-back matches last weekend at Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky, falling to the Blue Raiders in five sets and to the Hilltoppers in four. UNT will meet UALR Friday night before the matchup with ASU Saturday.
THE NORTH TEXAS SERIES: Arkansas State stands at 15-12 all-time against North Texas. The Red Wolves topped the Mean Green in four sets on the road earlier this season and took both meetings in 2009.
THE DENVER SERIES: Denver holds a 12-6 advantage over the Red Wolves in the all-time series. A-State posted its first ever road win over DU in three sets earlier this season, and the two teams each won at home in 2009.
THE WEEKEND'S PROMOTIONS: Friday's match against Denver has been designated Greek Night, and all ASU Greek letter organizations are encouraged to come out to support the Red Wolves. The group with the most spirit will win an autographed volleyball and a pizza party with the team.
The ASU-UNT contest Saturday night with be this year's "Cram the HPESS/Black Out" match. The first 100 ASU students with a valid ID will receive a free adidas "Black Out" t-shirt.
ASU'S BASKA EARNS THIRD SUN BELT CONFERENCE VOLLEYBAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD: Arkansas State freshman Megan Baska was named the Sun Belt Conference's volleyball Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 25 after helping the Red Wolves extend their win streak to five straight league victories last weekend with sweeps over both Florida Atlantic and Florida International.
Baska chalked up 40 digs on the weekend, putting up 17 against FIU Sunday and 23 against FAU Friday night. She leads the league in digs per set with a 5.30 average and owns a team-high 429 on the season. The libero from Overland Park, Kan. also added four assists and a kill over the weekend.
Baska's average heading into last weekend of 5.19 digs per set ranked No. 32 nationally.
ALL-TOURNEY HONORS: Three Red Wolves earned all-tournament honors during ASU's nonconference schedule. Junior Cayla Fielder racked up three selections at the ASU Invitational, the Radisson Tulsa Airport Invitational and the Rice Invitational II. Sophomore setter Allison Kearney was selected at the IU adidas Classic, and freshman libero Megan Baska earned the honor at the Radisson Tulsa Airport Invitational as well.
RED WOLVES VOLLEYBALL PICKED SECOND IN PRESEASON COACHES' POLL, FIELDER EARNS SECOND PRESEASON ALL-SBC HONOR: The Arkansas State volleyball team was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference West Division preseason poll, the league announced Thursday morning, and ASU's Cayla Fielder was named to the preseason All-SBC team, as voted on by the league's 12 head coaches.
The Red Wolves received 57 points in the poll with four first place votes, while Denver topped the West Division with 68 points. Middle Tennessee totaled 66 points to land as the favorite in the East Division just three points ahead of Florida International.
Fielder's selection to the preseason All-SBC team marks the second of her career. She was named to the All-SBC First Team following the 2009 season, after leading the Red Wolves in kills (373), hitting percentage (.341) and total blocks (128), including a team-high 33 unassisted. Fielder was named the 2008 Freshman of the Year and earned Second Team All-SBC honors that same season.
"We feel honored to have received some first place votes and to have a player recognized on the preseason All-Sun Belt team," said ASU head coach Justin Ingram. "A lot of that recognition has to do with what we did last season, and we'll have to work extremely hard to repeat as Division Champions. Great things are happening at practice, and we are anxious to get started."
A-State opens the 2010 season Friday, Aug. 27 when they host Arkansas-Pine Bluff at noon and Northwestern State at 7:00 p.m. in the ASU Invitational at the HPESS facility on the ASU campus. Louisiana Tech will face Northwestern State in the opening match of the tournament at 10:00 a.m., while UAPB and Louisiana Tech will meet on the hardwood at 5:00 p.m.
HEAD COACH JUSTIN INGRAM: Justin Ingram enters his second year as head coach of the Red Wolves with a 22-11 overall record and a SBC West-Division Co-Championship under his belt.
Ingram became the sixth head coach in ASU Volleyball history last season, and his Red Wolves' .667 winning percentage was the highest ASU has seen since the 2004 season. He led A-State to a 12-6 (.667) conference record and a 10-1 (.909) record in home matches, also the highest percentage since 2004. Two of Ingram's 2009 Red Wolves garnished post-season conference honors including the SBC Defensive Player of the Year award, and ASU chalked up six SBC Player of the Week accolades last season.
Ingram came to ASU after serving eight years as an assistant coach at Kansas State.
During his time at Kansas State, he served as the recruiting coordinator and offensive coordinator for the Wildcats who posted a 171-79 record and made seven NCAA tournament appearances during his time with the program.
While at Kansas State, the Wildcats earned American Volleyball Coaches Association top-25 final rankings six different seasons including a No. 11 final ranking in 2003. The Wildcats also had seven 20-win seasons in his time there, including a 30-win season and a first-place finish in the Big 12 in 2003. Kansas State's final RPI ranked in the top-30 nationally during seven of Ingram's eight seasons with the Wildcats.
Ingram served the previous two years as an assistant coach at the University of Houston. He served as a junior college recruiting coordinator, travel coordinator and assistant director of camps. The Cougars posted a 42-24 record and made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances and posted consecutive 20-win seasons in 1998 and 1999. The Cougars were the Conference USA National Division Runners-up in 1998 and C-USA National Division Champions in 1999.
During his career, Ingram has helped lead teams to nine NCAA Tournament appearances including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in 2003. He has coached eight All-America selections, 22 All-Big 12 selections, 55 Academic All-Big 12 players, six All-Conference USA selections, four Big 12 Libero of the Year winners, a Big 12 Player of the Year, a Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and a C-USA Player of the Year.
Ingram earned his bachelor's degree in Community and Regional Planning from Iowa State University in 1995 and a master's degree in City and Regional Planning from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1998.
"Arkansas State is a tremendous university with an excellent volleyball program and I'm thrilled to be here," said Ingram. "I think the program is heading in a very positive direction and I'm excited to be part of its future. Not only does ASU have a strong volleyball program, it's in a strong conference and has great support from the community. So, this is a great situation and opportunity and I look forward to the challenges ahead."
ASSISTANT COACH SHAWN TAYLOR: ASU head volleyball coach Justin Ingram announced March 19 that Shawn Taylor had joined the Red Wolves coaching staff as assistant coach for the 2010 season.
"I feel fortunate to have attracted Shawn to Arkansas State," said Ingram. "He is a very knowledgeable and hard working coach who understands the demands it takes to be successful."
Taylor comes to Arkansas State from Independence Community College in Independence, Kan. where he served as the head coach for the 2009 season. Prior to working at ICC, he coached as an assistant at Valparaiso and spent the 2007 season as the head coach at Kansas Wesleyan University. Taylor was a volunteer assistant coach at Kansas State for three seasons and served as the head women's junior varsity and a men's assistant coach at Graceland University from 2002-2004. Taylor also apprentice coached with the U.S. national team in 2007.
Taylor earned his master's degree in college student personnel from Kansas State and his bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Graceland. He played for the Graceland Yellowjackets from 1999-2002.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2010: With just three returning Red Wolves, Arkansas State will have a crowd of new faces on the hardwood in 2010. Head coach Justin Ingram and the new A-State team are looking to follow a great season with an even greater one. The Red Wolves received 57 points in the preseason Sun Belt Conference poll with four first place votes and were predicted to finish second in the West Division behind Denver. Returning junior middle blocker Cayla Fielder was selected to the preseason All-SBC team.
Fielder and sophomores Taylor Coughlin and Kelsie Hodges were part of a 22-11, Sun Belt Conference West Division Co-Championship team last season that posted ASU Volleyball's highest winning percentage since 2004. ASU welcomes five freshmen and four transfers from all over the country, spanning from Utah to Ohio.
Fielder returns as the most experienced player on the roster, and her selection to the preseason All-SBC team marks the second of her career. She was named to the All-SBC first team following the 2009 season, after leading the Red Wolves in kills (373), hitting percentage (.341) and total blocks (128), including a team-high 33 unassisted. Fielder was named the 2008 Freshman of the Year and earned Second Team All-SBC honors that same season.
The team will also welcome new assistant coach Shawn Taylor and graduate assistant coach Jen Malcom. Taylor comes to Arkansas State from Independence Community College in Independence, Kan. where he served as the head coach for the 2009 season. Prior to working at ICC, he coached as an assistant at Valparaiso and spent the 2007 season as the head coach at Kansas Wesleyan University. Malcom graduated from Iowa State in 2008 where she played two years on the Cyclone volleyball team. She was named a Strength and Conditioning All-American, as well as AVCA All-Central Region and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention following her senior season.
The Red Wolves will open the season Aug. 27-28 when they host Louisiana Tech, Northwestern State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the ASU Invitational at the HPESS complex on the ASU campus. A-State will visit Bloomington, Ind. for the Indiana University Tournament Sept. 3-4, Tulsa, Okla. for the University of Tulsa Invitational Sept. 10-11 and Houston, Texas for the Rice University Invitational Sept. 17-18.
Arkansas State will return to the Convocation Center to open Sun Belt Conference action, hosting Western Kentucky Sept. 24 and Middle Tennessee Sept. 26.
The Red Wolves will spend the next two weekends on the road, traveling to Troy Oct. 1 and South Alabama Oct. 3 before visiting North Texas Oct. 8 and Denver Oct. 10.
In-state rival UALR will visit the Convocation Center Oct. 15 for a matchup with ASU, while Florida Atlantic and Florida International will make stops in Jonesboro the following weekend (Oct. 22 and 24).
Oct. 29 and 30 will mark a road swing through the state of Louisiana for the Red Wolves as they meet ULM Friday and Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday before returning to Jonesboro for matches against Denver Nov. 5 and North Texas Nov. 6 at the HPESS complex.
ASU will travel to Little Rock to take on the UALR Trojans for a second time in their only midweek action of the season Nov. 9 at the Jack Stephens Center.
The Red Wolves will then wrap up their season Nov. 12 and 13, hosting ULM and Louisiana-Lafayette at the HPESS complex.
This year's SBC Tournament will be hosted by Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Nov. 18-20, and the NCAA Tournament first and second rounds are set for Dec. 2-4.
Ingram said, "We are all optimistic about the direction of this team. The girls have been working hard all summer, and we are certainly seeing the rewards."
The Red Wolves also have some changes to their home facility this season. ASU's locker room got a makeover during the offseason to include a lounge area with a flat screen television, refrigerator and two computer work stations. The lockers now have a personalized touch with each player's name, jersey number and picture displayed in them, and the walls are adorned with custom graphics.
"I am extremely grateful for the locker room renovation," said Ingram. "Facility improvements are important in the recruitment of student-athletes, and specifically it shows the administration's support and positive direction of its programs. Our volleyball team is fortunate and we are all thankful."
ASU VOLLEYBALL SWEEPS ULM FOR SIXTH-STRAIGHT SBC WIN: The Arkansas State Red Wolves (13-9, 7-3) swept the Warhawks of ULM (0-19, 0-10) to pick up their sixth-straight Sun Belt Conference win Friday night in Monroe, La.
ASU coasted past ULM in three sets, 25-12, 25-16, 25-16.
"It's important to string success," said ASU head coach Justin Ingram. "It's important to get in habits of playing well often, and that's what we're trying to do. The wins and losses are the product of playing well and putting things together offensively and defensively. This win streak is the product of working hard at practice and it paying off in matches."
Junior Cayla Fielder and sophomore Jasmine Terry each added 11 kills in the match, with Terry posting a .409 hitting percentage. Freshmen Ashley Tipps and Kelsie Hodges followed with eight each. Tipps led the team with four blocks, while Hodges notched three service aces. Sophomore setter Allison Kearney put up 33 assists, a team-high 12 digs and three kills. Freshman Megan Baska also saw double-digit digs with 11.
"Four of our five attackers hit above the standard," added Ingram. "It isn't just one player, it's several and that puts pressure on the opponent. We came out serving extremely aggressively and got them out of system quite often. That certainly helped us score points in transition. I'm really happy with how the girls came out and competed from start to finish."
A-STATE VOLLEYBALL SNAPS STREAK WITH 3-1 LOSS AT LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE:The Arkansas State Red Wolves (13-10, 7-4) saw their six-match win streak snapped Saturday night, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (15-12, 5-6) on the road.
ULL jumped out to an early 2-0 set lead, winning the first two 25-21 and 25-20. The Red Wolves battled back to take set three 25-23, but the Ragin' Cajuns held on to take the match with a 25-19 set four victory.
"This is was far from a good performance by any player," said ASU head coach Justin Ingram. "Our expectations are way higher than what we achieved today, and we need to certainly be better in order to beat anybody in this conference. We have a couple of opponents coming up that are very tough, so we need to get back to work and take care of the things that aren't helping us win these matches."
Junior Cayla Fielder and freshman Sadie Clark led the ASU offense with 11 kills each, followed by sophomore Jasmine Terry with 10. Sophomore Allison Kearney and freshman Megan Baska both put in double-digit digs, posting 16 and 10 respectively. Kearney added 37 assists and two service aces.
