Texas A&M plays host to TCU in exhibition match

Fans will have their first opportunity to get a glimpse of the 2018 Texas A&M volleyball team on Saturday as the Aggies play host to TCU in an exhibition match at Reed Arena. First serve is at 1 p.m.

Admission is free, and the clear bag policy will be enforced.

There will be many new faces on the home court, including Laura “Bird” Kuhn, who is excited to take the floor in front of the 12th Man for the first time as she begins her inaugural season as head coach.

“Finally getting to train in Reed Arena this week has built up the hype for us,” Kuhn said. “Day by day the facility is being set up for the event, and you can feel the energy. Saturday’s experience will be a great ‘first impression’ for all parties involved, and I know our staff and players are looking forward to the atmosphere our 12th Man will bring.”

Kuhn welcomes eight returning letterwinners, including junior outside hitter Hollann Hans, a 2018 Preseason All-SEC Team selection, and sophomore setter Camille Conner, who like Hans played in every set last year. Others returning with starting experience are pin hitters Samantha Sanders and Maddie Douglas, middle blockers Makena Patterson and Morgan Davis and libero/defensive specialist and lone senior Amy Houser, as well as Haley Slocum, who provided valuable depth in the back row and at setter.

Also returning is outside hitter Brookah Palmer, a redshirt junior who trained with the Aggies last season but sat out the year due to NCAA transfer rules.

Although they enrolled at Texas A&M in January and gained significant experience by participating in the Aggies’ spring drills and foreign training tour to Europe, freshmen London Austin-Roark, Kaitlyn Rogers and Mallory Talbert will be appearing in front of the home crowd for the first time. In addition, Sydnye Fields, a redshirt-junior transfer from the University of North Carolina, and freshmen Sydney Little, Taylor Voss, Allison Fields and Skylar Scott will be donning the maroon and white for the first time.

TCU returns 13 players who helped guide the Horned Frogs to a third consecutive postseason appearance last season. Highlighting the list of returners is AVCA All-Southwest Region Team member and 2018 Preseason All-Big 12 selection Anna Walsh. Director of Volleyball Jill Kramer, who begins her fourth season at the helm of the Frogs, also welcomes four newcomers.

Several in-match promotions will be taking place during the exhibition, including Rudy’s BBQ blindfold crawl, wobble for Whataburger Lucky Row and the CC Creations T-shirt toss for every ace served by the Aggies.

Texas A&M opens the regular season against Ohio University on August 24 at the Sports Imports D.C. Koehl Classic in Columbus, Ohio. The Aggies make their official Reed Arena season debut on Thursday, Sept. 6, as they host the two-day Texas A&M Invitational.

Season and single match tickets are on sale at 12thMan.com.

Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M volleyball. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the team on Facebook and on Twitter and Instagram by following @AggieVolleyball.