Third-year head coach Brianne Lowe has had a pair of winning seasons at Cameron, including a 17-12 record in 2009.

   But while some coaches would accept that mark, it’s hard to not think what might have been for the Aggies, who started off last season with a 10-2 record, including a seven-game winning streak to start the season.         

   But injuries to key players, along with a facing an always-stout LSC schedule, the Aggies struggled in conference play, finishing 10th with a 5-8 league record to just miss the postseason tournament for the second straight year.

   “We had to go with a brand new line-up in the middle of the conference season, and I know other teams go through the same things we do,” Lowe stated. “What hurt us was we spent all preseason getting ready and getting a good line-up and the girls adjusted to that, but we couldn’t adjust fast enough after the injury.”

   But Smedley has reason to be excited once again, thanks to the return of a pair of junior outside hitters. Nikita Abbot was a second-team All-LSC selection last year, ranking third in the conference in kills, averaging 3.40 per game.

   Adrienne Lawson is the other returning starter after she recorded 223 kills (third on the team) and a team-high 396 digs.

   Freshman outside hitter Megan Olivarez already has Lowe’s confidence.

   “Megan has worked really hard over the summer and she is a fighter and wants to play. I’m expecting her to come in and not act like a freshman,” Lowe said. “I expect her not to be timid and come in and attack that position.”

   Senior middle blocker Amber Schroer returns up front and will be joined by junior-college transfers Filly Ezenwa (Redlands CC) and Amanda Filiaga (College of Southern Idaho)

   Defensively, the Aggies will be young but will count on sophomore Joanie Dubberly and redshirt freshman Mariah Westlake.

   While the Aggies were picked 11th in the LSC preseason poll, Lowe knows it won’t be easy, especially with an always tough conference slate. 

   “All of the conference schools are stepping their game up. The schools are stepping up their recruiting with the loss of so many key players,” Lowe said. “From top to bottom we are going to see the teams have taken a step forward with their play.”  

 

   Since head coach Mat Aguero took over in 2005, Cameron’s cross country team has made a consistent improvement towards the top of the LSC standings.

   The Aggies placed last in 2005, followed by seventh, sixth, sixth and then fourth last year. And that’s where Cameron is picked once again to finish, although the recent history suggest the Aggies will fare even better than that.

   If so, it’ll likely be because of junior runner Julius Korir, an All-American last year who qualified for the national championship meet and finished 23rd. Korir was the top finisher for Cameron in every race last year, including two wins and three more Top-10 finishes.

   The Aggies have just four returning runners, including senior Juan Ruiz and Mohamed Khelalfa, who had three Top 20 finishes last year. Bhupendra Acharya also returns from last year.

   “We are young, but we have senior leadership coming from Juan,” Aguero said. “He has been one of our top runners over the last three years, along with Mohamad, who was named all-conference last year so we’re going to still pack a punch up front.”

   In the South Central Region preseason poll, the Aggies were picked eighth as one of five LSC teams to make the early list.

   “The region rankings are fun to look at for the guys, but in the end they don't mean much,” Aguero said. “I feel like we have the talent to finish much higher than 8th in the region, but it will be up to the guys.  If they are willing to put in the work then it will make for an exciting season.”