COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M volleyball honored several of its outstanding players from the 2011 season at its annual banquet, held today at The Zone at Kyle Field.
Senior outside hitter Kelsey Black (Amarillo, Texas) took top honors as she was presented the MVP award for the second consecutive year and also was the recipient of the Best Defensive Player award by Aggie head coach Laurie Corbelli.
Junior middle blocker Lindsey Miller (Katy, Texas) was named Best Offensive Player, and junior right-side hitter Alisia Kastmo (Tyler, Texas) took home the Most Improved Player award. In addition, senior Chelsea Ringel (Arlington, Texas) was presented the prestigious Most Inspirational Player award for the second consecutive year, recognizing her for her outstanding leadership both on and off the court.
An honorable mention All-American in her final season, Black led the Aggies and ranked in the top 10 in the Big 12 Conference in kills (3.26), aces (0.25), digs (3.29) and points (3.80) per set this past season. She was a member of the AVCA All-Central Region first team, was unanimous selection on the All-Big 12 First Team and was a three-time tournament MVP selection in 2011.
Black led or tied for the A&M lead in kills in 18 of 31 matches, posting double-digit kills in 22 matches. She also recorded double-figure digs in 23 contests -- including three 20-plus dig performances -- and finished the season with an A&M-leading 18 double-doubles. Black surpassed both 1,000 digs and 1,000 points in her four-year career and came within 14 kills of reaching the 1,000-kill milestone.
Miller, who has started every match during her three-year career, also was an honorable mention All-American, and an All-Central Region and All-Big 12 first-team selection after leading A&M and ranking seventh in the league with a .328 hitting percentage. Miller was second among A&M players with 3.34 points per set and third with 2.62 kills per set in all matches this past season. She also led the Aggies, ranked third in the Big 12 and was 50th in the nation with 1.19 blocks per set for the full season.
Kastmo earned All-Big 12 first-team accolades after placing second among A&M starters with 2.74 kills and a .310 hitting percentage for the full season. She was third among starters with 3.19 points per set after posting double figures in kills in 15 matches. Kastmo posted a .369 hitting percentage when recording 10 or more kills.
Ringel played in 21 matches and 52 sets and made six starts as a senior. She was a three-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 first-team during her career and was a 2011 State Farm Scholar Athlete.
The honorees helped pace the Aggies to one of their best seasons in recent history, as A&M finished the year 23-8 after advancing to the NCAA Championship second round. The 23 victories were the most by an A&M team since the Aggies went 23-10 in 2003.
In addition, A&M went 11-5 in its final year as a member of the Big 12 Conference and placed third, the Aggies’ highest finish since a third-place tie in 2004.
2011 Texas A&M volleyball team award recipients:
MVP: Kelsey Black
Most Improved: Alisia Kastmo
Most Inspirational: Chelsea Ringel
Best Offensive: Lindsey Miller
Best Defensive: Kelsey Black
