2010 Angelo State Invitational Notes

The UNO volleyball team (3-1, 0-0 MIAA) travels to San Angelo, Texas, for the Angelo State Invitational, on Sept. 10-11. The Mavericks open the tournament with Incarnate Word (Noon) and host Angelo State (6 p.m.) on Friday, followed by back-to-back matches with Colorado School of Mines (Noon) and Central Oklahoma (3 p.m.) on Saturday. Live stats are available for all four matches at AngeloSports.com.

UNO is a combined 5-0 all-time against this weekend's opponents, with a 4-0 record against ASU and a 1-0 mark over UCO. The Mavericks last faced Angelo State on Sept. 12, 2009 at the UNO Classic in a 3-0 win, while the last pairing with Central Oklahoma came on Oct. 23, 1992 in a 3-1 victory, also at the UNO Classic. Nebraska-Omaha has never competed against UIW or CSM in 41 years of program history.

Mach Shines in Season-Opening UNO Showcase
Junior middle blocker Lizzy Mach starred for the Mavericks at the UNO Showcase last weekend, tallying a team-best 54 kills on a .511 hitting performance over four matches. The Wahoo, Neb., native averaged 3.60 kills per set and finished with a career-high 17 kills on .696 hitting against Arkansas-Fort Smith on Sept. 4. Mach was also third on the squad with 0.47 blocks per set and had six service aces for the weekend, including four against Northern State, which topped her previous career total over two seasons.

Senior Uhing is Double Trouble
Senior outside hitter Kayla Uhing tallied her first two double-doubles of the season at the UNO Showcase last weekend and was the only Maverick to reach double-figure totals in multiple categories. Uhing, who has three double-doubles in her career, first finished with 10 kills and a career-best14 digs against Northern State on Saturday. In Sunday's final game against Arkansas-Fort Smith, Uhing added 10 kills and 11 digs in the 3-1 victory.

Before last weekend, Uhing's most recent double-double came in her sophomore year against Central Missouri on Oct. 17, 2008, when she contributed 16 kills and 11 digs.

Mavs' Showcase Performance Continues Opening-Game Streak
With their 3-0 win over Newman on Sept. 3, the Mavericks extended their streak of season-opening victories to six straight years (2005-10). Nebraska-Omaha is 17-4 is season openers during the Rose Shires era, which began in 1990.

Mavs Chosen Sixth in MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
Nebraska-Omaha was picked to finish sixth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association's 2010 preseason poll, the league office announced Wednesday. The preseason conference standings are chosen in a survey of MIAA head coaches.

The Mavericks earned 59 points, behind preseason favorite Central Missouri (100), Washburn (91), Emporia State (80), Pittsburg State (69) and Truman (64). Missouri Southern (44) came in at seventh, followed by Northwest Missouri State (41), Southwest Baptist (23), Missouri Western (21) and Fort Hays State (13).

UCM received 10 of 11 first-place votes to earn the top spot and is one of six schools along with UNO, WU, ESU, PSU and TSU to have competed in the 2009 NCAA South Central Regional.

UNO Schedule Features Seven NCAA Postseason Teams
UNO's schedule for the 2010 season will serve as a challenge for the Mavs in preparation for postseason competition in November. The slate includes games with seven postseason-qualifying teams from last season -- Central Missouri, Colorado School of Mines, Dallas Baptist, Emporia State, Pittsburg State, Truman and Washburn.

PSU and WU played through second-round action in the tournament, while UCM qualified for the regional finals before falling 3-1 to West Texas A&M.

In addition, five squads -- UCM, WU, ESU, PSU and TSU, all of whom are members of the MIAA -- were included in the AVCA Division II Preseason Poll released on Aug. 18.

The Mavericks face their first NCAA Tournament team this season with Colorado School of Mines this weekend at the Angelo State Invitational in San Angelo, Texas.

All-MIAA Trio Mach, Myers, Reicks Lead Mavericks
UNO returns to its 2010 roster three players who earned all-conference honors last season in junior middle blocker Lizzy Mach, junior setter Emily Myers and junior defensive specialist Angie Reicks. Reicks garnered second-team All-MIAA status in 2009, while Mach and Myers were selected to the third team.

Reicks set a school record with 46 digs against Central Missouri and reached double figures in digs in 28 of 34 matches over the year, including 13 straight from Oct. 10 to Nov. 19.

Mach averaged 2.11 kills and 0.60 blocks per set, hitting double figures in kills on 11 occasions. Myers ranked fifth in the league with 10.85 assists per set and totaled 30 or more assists in all but two matches last season. She also had 13 double-doubles, combining double-figure assists with double-figure digs.

Since joining MIAA competition in 2008, the Mavericks have had eight all-conference honorees, and UNO has had 44 players combine for 76 All-MIAA or All-NCC accolades.

UNO Returns Three Team Statistical Leaders From 2009
Despite losing All-American Ellen Thommes to graduation, UNO returns three key statistical leaders from last year's squad in junior libero Angie Reicks, junior setter Emily Myers and sophomore outside hitter Natalie Ebke. Reicks averaged 4.62 digs per game, while Myers had 10.85 set assists per set, which ranked 18th nationally in Division II. Ebke, who totaled 59 service aces, led the MIAA in the statistical category at 0.45 aces per game.

Category             Overall                                             MIAA Matches Only
Kills/Game          Ellen Thommes -- 3.16 kpg        Ellen Thommes -- 3.27 kpg
Hitting Pct.           Ellen Thommes -- .388                Ellen Thommes -- .392
Assists/Game    Emily Myers* -- 10.85 apg            Emily Myers* -- 10.84 apg
Digs/Game         Angie Reicks* -- 4.62 dpg            Angie Reicks* -- 4.68 dpg
Blocks/Game     Ellen Thommes -- 1.02 bpg         Ellen Thommes -- 0.96 bpg
Aces/Game         Natalie Ebke* -- 0.45 sapg          Natalie Ebke* -- 0.47 sapg
*Denotes returning player to 2010 squad

Scouting the Competition: Incarnate Word Cardinals
Head Coach: Jennifer Montoya (Florida State, 2002)
2010 Record: 1-0 (0-0 Lone Star)
Career Record: 116-119 (8th Year)
Last Match: W, 3-0 vs. St. Mary's (9/7/10 in San Antonio, Texas)
Record at IWU: Same
Website: CardinalAthletics.com

Incarnate Word was tabbed sixth in the Lone Star Conference's preseason poll after finishing the 2009 season as a member of the Heartland Conference with a record of 24-9 (11-3 HC). The Cardinals return three starters from last year's squad, including senior all-conference setter Sarah Nordman. The Cardinals' leading returning hitter is junior outside hitter Chelsea Grayson (2.29 kills per set), while their top returning blocker is junior middle blocker Anna Herr (0.62 blocks per set).

Scouting the Competition: Angelo State Rambelles
Head Coach: Chuck Waddington (Rensselaer, 1993)
2010 Record: 2-2 (0-0 Lone Star)
Career Record: 41-30 (3rd Year)
Last Match: W, 3-0 vs. Montevallo (9/4/10 in Lakeland, Fla.)
Record at ASU: Same
Website: AngeloSports.com

Angelo State was picked third in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll after finishing the 2009 season with a record of 19-14 (10-3 LSC). The Rambelles swept the league's weekly honors after a 2-2 performance at the Florida Southern Classic, as sophomores Alex Woolsey and Alexa Williams were named Setter and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively. Woolsey collected her first double-double of the season with 45 assists and 10 digs against Montevallo, while Williams totaled 56 digs over four matches. Sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Gibson is one of ASU's leading returners, as she earned first-team All-LSC honors as a freshman.

Scouting the Competition: Colorado School of Mines Orediggers
Head Coach: Jamie Skadeland (North Dakota, 2005)
2010 Record: 3-1 (0-0 RMAC)
Career Record: 44-24 (3rd Year)
Last Match: L, 3-0 vs. Southwest Minnesota State (9/4/10)
Record at CSM: Same
Website: CSMOrediggers.com

Colorado School of Mines was slated third in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason poll after finishing the 2009 season with a record of 22-10 (13-6 RMAC). The Orediggers look to returning all-conference outside hitter Elizabeth Serra-Hsu, who ranked first in the league in service aces (0.36 per game) and also averaged 3.23 kills and 0.67 blocks per set.

Scouting the Competition: Central Oklahoma Bronchos
Head Coach: Jeff Boyland (Mid-American Christian, 2000)
2010 Record: 4-1 (0-0 Lone Star)
Career Record: 157-80 (8th Year)
Last Match: W, 3-1 vs. Oklahoma City (9/7/10 in Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Record at UCO: Same
Website: BronchoSports.com

Central Oklahoma was picked fourth in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll after a 16-16 (7-6 LSC) season in 2009. The Bronchos went 3-1 at the West Texas A&M Classic last weekend, led by senior outside hitter Zuela Adom and junior libero Ginger Gowen, who earned Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week awards, respectively. Adom, a first-team all-league selection as a junior, collected 70 kills over four matches, while Gowen averaged 4.71 digs per game.

2009-10 Squad Named to AVCA Team Academic Award List
UNO was one of 450 teams -- and just 55 Division II programs -- named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Team Academic Award list released July 20th. With 15 student-athletes making the UNO Dean's List and five on the Chancellor's List, the Mavericks tallied a team GPA of 3.78 (with a 3.65 cumulative average) last season, the highest mark of any UNO team in 2009-10.

The annual AVCA award honors collegiate and high school volleyball programs that displayed excellence in the classroom by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Next Up for the Mavs...
Following the Angelo State Invitational, the Mavericks return home for their first MIAA conference tangle on Wednesday, Sept. 15 with Missouri Southern. The match is slated to begin at 5 p.m. at Sapp Fieldhouse.