A&M-COMMERCE 2011 VOLLEYBALL SEASON REVIEW
2011 A&M-Commerce Volleyball Statistics
Opening Serve
Texas A&M University-Commerce closed out the 2011 volleyball season with an overall record of 11-17 and 6-14 in Lone Star Conference play. The Lions finished tied for ninth in the LSC standings with Incarnate Word, one match back of both Texas A&M-Kingsville and Midwestern State.
Robertson, Neal Garner All-Lone Star Conference Honors
For the second consecutive season, middle blocker Rachel Robertson and setter Jordan Neal were honored as All-Lone Star Conference selections with Robertson garnering first team accolades with Neal being named a second team selection. Robertson led the team in kills (358), hitting percentage (.295) and blocks (97) while finishing second in service aces (21). Robertson made her mark among the Lone Star Conference leaders as well, leading the conference in points per set (4.6), fourth in kills per set (3.65) and blocks per set (0.99) and seventh in hitting percentage. Neal had a career year as well, setting a personal-best with 1,047 assists with 73 kills, 215 digs, 44 blocks and 41 service aces. Neal led the Lone Star Conference in both service aces and service aces per set (0.39) while sitting fourth in total assists and fifth in assists per set (9.97).
Robertson, Bond Named Capital One Academic All-District Second Team
In addition to being successful on the court in 2011 for A&M-Commerce, middle blocker Rachel Robertson and outside hitter Kayla Bond were recognized for their work in the classroom as well. Both were named Capital One Academic All-District VI second team selections, voted on by the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). To be eligible for consideration, student-athletes must be a major contributor to their respective team, boast a GPA above a 3.30 and be at least a sophomore. It marked the second academic honor of the season for Robertson, who was also named to the Lone Star Conference Academic Team.
Neal Named Lone Star Conference Setter of the Week
Jordan Neal was named the Lone Star Conference Setter of the Week on October 4. Neal earned the honor coming off the Lions' appearance in the 2011 Holiday Inn & Suites Invitational in which A&M-Commerce posted a 2-2 record as Neal dished out 160 assists (11.43 per set). Neal also racked up 13 kills, 37 digs, five service aces and six blocks with a pair of double-doubles on the weekend. Thanks to her performance, Neal was also named to the All-Tournament team as Neal picked up the second Setter of the Week honor of her career.
Robertson, Snyder Make Appearances in 20-Kill Club
A&M-Commerce middle blockers Rachel Robertson and Breanne Snyder each made appearances in the 20-kill club in 2011. Robertson had three matches with 20-or-more kills, led by her career-best 24 against Incarnate Word on October 27. She also finished with 21 against Angelo State (Sept. 16) and 20 against Dallas Baptist (Oct. 4). Snyder was the first player to crack the list, notching a career-best 22 kills at Cameron on September 10.
Five Lions Notch Double-Doubles in 2011
Five different Lions combined to post 22 double-double performances on the season, recording double-figure totals in two different statistical categories. Setter Jordan Neal led A&M-Commerce with nine double-doubles on the year, followed by six from freshman middle blocker Breanne Snyder. Fellow freshmen Ezon Onditi notched four double-doubles on the year, with middle blocker Rachel Robertson adding two and outside hitter Kayla Bond finishing with one for A&M-Commerce.
Robertson Notches Career-Best Season in 2011
Junior middle blocker Rachel Robertson continued to solidify her place in A&M-Commerce history, having her best statistical year in 2011. Robertson set new career highs in kills (358), hitting percentage (.295), digs (93), solo blocks (26), block assists (71) and total blocks (97). Her .295 hitting percentage is the ninth-best single-season total in program history while her blocking totals are just shy of cracking the top-10 as well. Entering her senior season, Robertson sits on the verge of a pair of career milestones, as she has posted 952 career kills, needing just 48 to reach 1,000 and is just 21 away from moving into 10 th-place all-time in program history.
Neal Sets Handful of Career-Bests in 2011
Setter Jordan Neal has already made her mark in two seasons at A&M-Commerce, with her sophomore campaign proving to be her best yet. Neal set career-bests in assists (1,047), kills (73), service aces (41), digs (215), block assists (38) and total blocks (44) in 2011, ranking among the Lone Star Conference leaders in both assists and service aces. In her first two season in a Lion uniform, Neal has racked up 1,920 assists, 142 kills, 68 service aces, 411 digs and 84 blocks, en route to being a two-time All-Lone Star Conference second team selection.
Lion Freshman Make Significant Impact
One of the brightest aspects of the 2011 season for A&M-Commerce was the play of the three Lion freshmen. Middle blocker Breanne Snyder ranked second on the team in attack percentage (.203), kills (268), digs (219) and points (312) while ranking third in blocks (54). Outside hitter Ezon Onditi ranked third on the Lions in attack percentage (.166), kills (219) and points (256) while sitting fourth in service aces (17) and fifth in blocks (29) as both Snyder and Onditi started over 90 percent of the matches on the season. Defensive specialist Savanah Neal also had a productive season for A&M-Commerce, appearing in 19 matches with one start while dishing out 24 assists, nine service aces and 103 digs for the Lions.
Lions Among Lone Star Conference Leaders
As the 2011 season wrapped up, A&M-Commerce found itself among the Lone Star Conference leaders in a handful of statistical categories, both as a team and as individuals. As a team, A&M-Commerce ranked second in service aces per set (1.34) and fourth in blocks per set (1.99). Among the Lion individuals, Rachel Robertson ranked first in the conference in points per set (4.49) while sitting fourth in kills per set (3.65) and sixth in both hitting percentage (.295) and blocks per set (0.99). Jordan Neal led the Lone Star Conference in both service aces (41) and service aces per set (0.39) while sitting fifth in assists per set (9.98).
2011 Key Lion Victories
• A&M-Commerce 3, Henderson State 0 (Sept. 6): A&M-Commerce got the season off on a positive note, dominating the Lady Reddies 25-12, 25-20, 25-13. Rachel Robertson led the way with 24 kills while Jordan Neal had a career-best seven service aces with 24 assists and seven digs.
• A&M-Commerce 3, Texas Woman's 2 (Sept. 13): A&M-Commerce picked up both its first Lone Star Conference and road victory of 2011, defeating Texas Woman's 11-25, 25-12, 25-17, 21-25, 15-9 in Denton. Breanne Snyder posted a double-double on the night, finishing with 18 kills and 12 digs while Rachel Robertson posted 17 kills for the Lions with nine blocks as a 12-2 blocking advantage proved to be the difference.
• A&M-Commerce 3, Arkansas-Monticello 1 (Sept. 30): A&M-Commerce snapped a six-match skid, rallying past the Cotton Blossoms 22-25, 25-20, 25-12, 25-9 in Denton. Rachel Robertson again led the way with 14 kills with a .423 hitting percentage while Jordan Neal finished with 38 assists and 12 digs for the Lions.
• A&M-Commerce 3, Dallas Baptist 2 (Oct. 4): After falling behind 2-1, A&M-Commerce rallied for a 25-21, 17-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-8 victory over Dallas Baptist at the Field House. Three Lions recorded double-figure kill totals, led by Rachel Robertson's 20 kills, .474 hitting percentage and nine digs while Breanne Snyder added 14 kills and 17 digs with Ezon Onditi finishing with 13 kills. Jordan Neal also notched 56 assists on the night.
• A&M-Commerce 3, Midwestern State 1 (Oct. 13): After dropping the opening set to the Mustangs, the Lions roared back to take the next three, handing Midwestern State an 18-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-22 defeat at the Field House. Breanne Snyder notched another double-double with 14 kills, a .357 hitting percentage and 17 digs while Rachel Robertson just missed her first career double-double with 13 kills and nine blocks.
• A&M-Commerce 3, Incarnate Word 2 (Oct. 27): Trailing two sets to none with Incarnate Word serving for match point in the third, it appeared the Lions were on the verge of getting swept by the Cardinals. But A&M-Commerce rallied to win the third, sparking the Lions to a 23-25, 17-25, 26-24, 25-23, 15-5 victory over Incarnate Word at the Field House. Rachel Robertson came up big for A&M-Commerce, recording 24 kills and 10 digs for her first career double-double, with Jordan Neal dishing out a career-best 65 assists. The freshmen duo of Ezon Onditi and Breanne Snyder each finished with 14 kills on the night for the Lions.
• A&M-Commerce 3, Eastern New Mexico 1 (Nov. 5): A&M-Commerce bookended the 2011 season with a 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 25-22 victory over Eastern New Mexico in the season finale at the Field House. Four Lions finished with double-digit kill totals, led by 14 each from both Ezon Onditi and Rachel Robertson as the duo just missed recording double-doubles. Chelsee Hudson set a career-high with 12 kills while Breanne Snyder closed out her freshman campaign with a 10-kill, 10-dig double-double.
