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July 1, 2009

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M is well represented at the 2009 USA Junior Olympic Girls' Volleyball Championships, which got underway today at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Fla.

All five members of A&M's 2009 volleyball recruiting class qualified for the elite event with their respective club teams.

"I'm really proud of all of them," A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. "The time and commitment they have put into playing the game day in and day out at a high level and just the number of touches they are getting is a huge benefit for us."

Abby Howden (Austin, Texas), Tori Mellinger (Dallas, Texas) and Caitlin Adams (Kansas City, Mo.) are competing in the 18 Open Division. Howden's Austin Junior team won the 17 Open Division last year, defeating Mellinger's Skyline RoShamBo team for the gold medal. Mellinger earned all-tournament honors at last year's event. Adams is competing for KC Extreme in the 28-team open division.

Lindsey Miller (Katy, Texas) plays for Texas Tornados 18 Mizuno, the No. 1 seed in the 48-team American Division.

Alisia Kastmo (Tyler, Texas) is representing the Aggies in the 48-team National Division as a member of Sport VB 18 National.

"We are going to need these freshmen to be on the court and be ready to go at the next level," Corbelli said. "It is just a tremendous bonus for us that all five of these players made the decision to stay with their teams throughout their senior year of high school and into the summer and spend the time training and competing,"

Pool play at Junior Olympics continues through Friday, and championship matches for each division are scheduled for Saturday. All five soon-to-be Aggies are then scheduled to arrive in College Station a day after the conclusion of the tournament, as they all are enrolled in A&M's second session of summer school, which begins Monday.

"I'm just really impressed with the entire group, with their academics and with their volleyball abilities," Corbelli said. "These girls have been playing in national tournaments throughout the spring to prove their strength and quality of play, and they are in the best shape that they have ever been in. They come to College Station and report Monday for summer school and to meet their new teammates and to continue to get themselves ready for the season and their college careers.

"By continuing to train and compete at the highest level in their age group throughout the spring and summer, they are already a step ahead. I just think we couldn't have gotten a better class for 2009."

The Aggies hold their first official preseason practice on August 10 and open the season August 28 against Iona at Reed Arena.

For more information and results from the Junior Olympics Championships, go to USAVolleyball.org.