SOCCER

A&M announces schedule: The Texas A&M soccer team, coming off a national quarterfinal appearance last season, takes on a tough 2009 schedule featuring matches against each of the last two national champions -- North Carolina and Southern Cal.

The Aggies have 12 matches at the Aggie Soccer Complex, which will host the 2009 Women's College Cup.

The Aggies face eight teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament last year. A&M opens with a home exhibition Aug. 15 against UAB before its first regular-season game Aug. 22 against USC, also at the Aggie Soccer Compex.

Purdue (Aug. 28) and UT-San Antonio (Aug. 30) travel to College Station before the Aggies head to California to take on the Cal Golden Bears on Sept. 4 and Saint Mary's on Sept. 6.

A&M then travels to Chapel Hill, N.C., on Sept. 11 for a rematch with the defending national champion UNC. The Aggies advanced to the quarterfinals of the '08 NCAA tournament before falling in double-overtime to the Tar Heels.

A&M closes out its nonconference schedule at home against Portland, the defending West Coast Conference champion, on Sept. 18 and Sam Houston State on Sept. 20. The Aggies open Big 12 play at Baylor Sept. 25.

The Big 12 tournament is Nov. 4-8 in San Antonio, and the NCAA tournament begins Nov. 12. Texas A&M will play host to the Women's College Cup on Dec. 4-6 at the Aggie Soccer Stadium.

Season tickets will be available beginning June 15 at www.12thmanfoundation or by calling 1-888-99-AGGIE.

For the full schedule, see B2.

VOLLEYBALL

A&M's recruiting class ranked 18th by PrepVolleyball.com: The 2009 Texas A&M volleyball recruiting class has been ranked No. 18 in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com.

A&M's class consists of three middle blockers -- Caitlin Adams (6-foot-2) of Kansas City, Mo., Alisia Kastmo (6-4) of Tyler and Lindsey Miller (6-2) of Katy -- and outside hitter/defensive specialist Tori Mellinger (5-10) of Dallas.

"The Aggies have loaded up on the outside in recent years, making the addition of middles Adams, Kastmo and Miller so crucial to the cause," PrepVolleyball.com ranking coordinator John Tawa wrote. "Two of the three could start right away.

"Miller is the most highly regarded of the three. No. 51 in the Senior Aces, Miller is a great athlete with strong blocking instincts and the ability to terminate with speed and power behind the setter.

"Kastmo has great size and an above average jump that allow her to play way above the net. Adams is an athletic, aggressive competitor who takes a back seat to no one.

"Mellinger, a late commitment and the only one who doesn't play middle, could flourish in the back row. A strong server, she is one of the best passers in the country in her class and has a winning personality."

The class will make its Aggie debut Aug. 28 against Iona in the opening match of the Texas A&M Invitational.