Nov. 7, 2007

Texas A&M International University will open Heartland Conference Tournament play on Friday against UT-Permian Basin at Bill Greehey Arena on the St. Mary's University campus in San Antonio. First serve is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The Dustdevils are seeded fourth and UTPB first in the tournament.

Second seeded Incarnate Word and third seeded St. Edward's will play the tournament's first semifinal match at noon. The two winners will play in the conference championship match on Saturday night at 7 p.m.

Heartland Conference Tournament notes ...

Texas A&M International University (7-7 Heartland) qualified for the conference tournament by winning three of its last four Heartland matches. The late-season surge began with a 3-0 road win at St. Mary's on Oct. 20.

Junior Nicole Gipson ranks as one of the premier players in the Heartland Conference. She leads the conference with a .338 hitting percentage while ranking in the top-five with a 1.04 blocks per game average. Gipson has recorded double-figures in kills in 22 matches, with 20 or more kills in four matches. With one season remaining in her career, she already ranks as the Dustdevil career leader in kills (792) and blocks (454).

Junior Madison Mojica has set a TAMIU single-season record with 534 digs this season. She has recorded double-figure dig totals in 28 of 31 matches, including 16 straight matches entering the Heartland Conference Tournament. Mojica registered a school match record 42 digs in a five-game match against Southwestern on Oct. 2. She is the TAMIU career leader in digs (1,101) while ranking third with 111 career service aces.

Newcomer Ladys Montaño has recorded double-figure kill totals in 29 of 30 matches played this season. The junior transfer from Arizona Western College ranks in the top-10 in the Heartland Conference individual rankings with a 3.74 kills per game average. Montaño has recorded a season-high 23 kills in two matches this season, both times against Heartland Conference opponents.