WTAMU volleyball team opens 2023 season on fire at Britkare Lady Buff Classic

The defending NCAA Division II national champion West Texas A&M Lady Buff volleyball team picked up where they left off last year by getting off to a hot start to the 2023 campaign by looking in midseason form.

Hosting the annual Britkare Lady Buff Classic, No. 1-ranked WTAMU went a perfect getting wins over East Central (25-16, 25-23, 23-25, 25-13) and Adams State (25-18, 25-10, 25-22) on Friday. The Lady Buffs then followed that up with a pair of sweeps on Saturday of Lone Star Conference foe St. Mary’s (25-14, 25-22, 28-26) and Davenport (25-14, 25-22, 28-26).

WTAMU extends their win streak to 30 straight dating back to last season dropping only one set the entire weekend and are 4-0 for the first time in two years.

During the pair of victories on Friday, sophomore standout and Hereford graduate Taytum Stow and senior Torrey Miller combined for 16 kills each. Canyon graduates Carly Evetts and Bryli Contreras also had solid outings. Evetts totaled nine blocks on the day and Contreras hit the floor for 31 digs. Blair Moreland stepped up in a big way in the Adams State match earning a double-double with 20 assists and 11 digs.

On Saturday, the Lady Buffs were absolutely dominant in sweeps of St. Mary’s and Davenport. Miller was unstoppable combining for 23 kills including 16 against St. Mary’s. Contreras kept up her stellar defense with 29 more digs and Stow tallied a combined 16 digs in the two wins.

Miller, a first-team All-American a year ago, was named the Tournament MVP. Contreras and Malis were named as All-Tournament selections.

The Lady Buffs will continue non-conference action after receiving an invitation for a second year in a row to play in the Colorado Premiere Challenge on Friday and Saturday in Denver, Colo. WTAMU will face No. 3-ranked MSU-Denver in the opening round before bracket round on Saturday.