ISLANDER VOLLEYBALL TRAVELS TO AIR FORCE TOURNAMENT

The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islander volleyball(1-5) team travels this weekend to the Air Force Invitational on the campus of the Air Force Academy to take on a slate of four matches against North Carolina Central, Kent State, Florida Atlantic and host Air Force.

The tournament is the first time the Islanders will be back in action since hosting the Islander Holiday Inn-Emerald Beach Invitational this past weekend.

The Islanders not only have to deal with the other teams, but also with the threatening weather in the form of hurricane Ike in the Gulf of Mexico.

"The big thing is we have to make sure we maintain focus during the matches." said head coach Kimberly Martinez, "We are leaving early enough so it will not disrupt our travel but it will be a distraction for the team."

The Islanders start the tournament against North Carolina Central on Friday at 11 a.m. with a match against Florida Atlantic to follow in the afternoon at 3 p.m.

TAMUCC gets the early start again on Saturday, facing off against Kent State at 10 a.m. before closing out the tournament against host Air Force at 3 p.m.

"We are going to be facing some athletic teams in this tournament." said Martinez, "We feel we have improved the first two weeks of the season and we look for it to continue this weekend."

The Islanders return home from the tournament and receive an important week off before starting Southland Conference play against Texas State on Friday, September 26 and UT Arlington on Saturday September 27.

Both games will be held on campus at Moody Fieldhouse.