AAC 2023

[vballfreak808]

AAC 2023

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2023 Preseason Poll
(Aug. 21, 2023)

American Championship
1. SMU (7)
2. Rice (6)

East

Ranking	Team	Votes (1st Place)
1.	Memphis	72 (6)
2.	East Carolina	70 (5)
T-3.	Florida Atlantic	48 (1)
T-3.	Temple	48
5.	South Florida	37 (1)
6.	UAB	35
7.	Charlotte	33

West

Ranking	Team	Votes (1st Place)
1.	SMU	78 (7)
2.	Rice	76 (6)
3.	Wichita State	59
4.	North Texas	52
5.	Tulsa	30
6.	Tulane	24
7.	UTSA	21

2023 Preseason All-Conference Team

Preseason Player of the Year
Jamison Wheeler - Jr. - OH - SMU
Brylee Kelly - R-Sr. - OH - Wichita State

Student-Athlete	Year	Position	Team
Angeles Alderete	So.	OH	East Carolina
Bailey Houlihan	Sr.	L	Memphis
Sh'Diamond Holly	Sr.	MB	North Texas
Aryn Johnson	Jr.	OH	North Texas
Treyaunna Rush	Sr.	OPP	North Texas
Nia McCardell	Sr.	L/DS	Rice
Danyle Courtley	Sr.	OH	Rice
Sahara Maruska	Sr.	OH	Rice
Emilia Weske	Gr.	RS	Rice
Emma Clothier	Gr.	MB	SMU
Celia Cullen	Sr.	S	SMU
Jamison Wheeler	Jr.	OH	SMU
Kayley Cassaday	5th	OH	Tulsa
Natalie Foster	Jr.	MB/RS	Wichita State
Brylee Kelly	R-Sr.	OH	Wichita State

2022 Standings

Rank	Team	Record (Overall)	Record (Conf.)	2022 Preseason Rank	Final RPI
T-1.	UCF	28-2	19-1	1	17
T-1.	Houston	30-4	19-1	2	18
3.	SMU	22-10	15-5	5	59
4.	Wichita State	18-13	13-6	4	60
5.	Cincinnati	11-19	9-11	3	161
6.	Memphis	18-15	8-12	8	163
7.	East Carolina	12-20	7-13	9	193
8.	Tulsa	13-18	6-13	6	152
9.	South Florida	10-20	4-14	10	212
T-10.	Temple	10-21	4-16	11	229
T-10.	Tulane	9-22	4-16	7	245

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Players of the Week

Date	Offensive	Defensive	Release
Aug. 28	Taylor Davenport SR, OH, Temple	Nia McCardell SR, DS/L, Rice	Week 1
Sep. 4	Maria Clara Andrade SO, OH, USF	Carlia Northcross SO, MB, ECU	Week 2
Sep. 11	Kayley Cassaday GR, OH, Tulsa	Marta Pecalli JR, L, Tulsa	Week 3
Sep. 18	Kayley Cassaday GR, OH, Tulsa	Marta Pecalli JR, L, Tulsa	Week 4
Sep. 25	---	---	---
Oct. 2	---	---	---
Oct. 9	---	---	---
Oct. 16	---	---	---
Oct. 23	---	---	---
Oct. 30	---	---	---
Nov. 6	---	---	---
Nov. 13	---	---	---
Nov. 20	---	---	---

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Charlotte
*First-Year in AAC from C-USA

Website • Roster • Schedule • Stats • Instagram • Twitter

2022 Record: 11-16 Overall, 5-9 C-USA

2022 C-USA Finish: T-6th

Top Returners:

Jessica Ricks (OH)

Annika Wetterstrom (S)

Sophie Whalen (L)

Newcomers:

Danielle Jeffries (OH - Transfer - Cal State Fullerton)
Millai Madison (MB - Transfer - IUPUI)
Flor Wolkowyski (OH - Transfer - Hofstra)
Miyu Tsurumaki (DS/L - Transfer - Southern Idaho)
Taniyah Pruitt (MB)
Nina Parker (OH)

Players Lost:

Emani Foster (OH - Grad Transfer - North Carolina)

Amani McArthur (MB - Grad Transfer - Michigan State)

Alex Washington (OH - Grad)
Abby Krueger (OH - Grad)
Gabi Ortiz (DS/L - Transfer - Valdosta State)
Layla Hassell (MB)
Camilla Ferrari (OH)

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East Carolina

Website • Roster • Schedule • Stats • Instagram • Twitter

2022 Record: 12-20 Overall, 7-13 AAC

2022 AAC Finish: 7th

Top Returners:

Angeles Alderete (OH)

Izzy Marinelli (OH)
Kenzie Beckham (DS/L)

Newcomers:

Francesca McBride (OPP - Transfer - Mississippi State)
Lara Uyar (DS/L - Transfer - Wichita State)
Ekwe Anwah (MB)
Farah Farooq (MB)
Aulie Huff (OPP)
Elle Jackson (DS/L)
Emma Norris (OH)
Ellie Pate (OH)
Tuana Yuce (DS/L)

Players Lost:

Kellyn Trowse (OH - Grad)
Kianie Cummings (MB - Grad)
Shaylynn Hall (MB - Grad)
Sophia Kruczko (OPP - Transfer - Augusta)
Alex Singleton (DS/L)

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Florida Atlantic
*First-Year in AAC from C-USA

Website • Roster • Schedule • Stats • Instagram • Twitter

2022 Record: 13-13 Overall, 3-11 C-USA

2022 C-USA Finish: 10th

Top Returners:

Valeria Rosado (OH/RS)

Katelynn Robine (OH/RS)

Lauryn Green (MB)

Newcomers:

Ava Camacho (DS/L - Transfer - UTSA)
Romina Cornelio (OH - Transfer - Miami Dade College)
Madison Dyer (MB - Transfer - Sam Houston State)
Victoria Hensley (S - Transfer - Wofford)
Kaila Ru (MB - Transfer - Polk State College)
Ava Norris (DS/L)
Isabelle Northam (DS/L)

Players Lost:

Stephanie Young (S/RS - Grad)
Vanda Zimova (MB - Grad)
Camryn Vogler (DS/L - Grad)
Nikola Bartecka (MB)
Sonte Stewart (OH/RS - Transfer - Wyoming)
Klara Zarnovicka (OH/RS - Transfer - Syracuse)

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Memphis

Website • Roster • Schedule • Stats • Instagram • Twitter

2022 Record: 18-15 Overall, 8-12 AAC

2022 AAC Finish: 6th

Top Returners:

Jasmyn Tate (OH)

Loren Robertson (S)
Bailey Houlihan (DS/L)

Newcomers:

Clara Bednarek (MB/OPP - Transfer - Georgia State)
Reilly Briggs (OPP - Transfer - Northern Kentucky)
Eleftheria Baxa (OH/OPP)
Rylee Busse (DS/L)
Briea Craft (OPP)
Autumn Flynn (MB)
Jordan Heatherly (S)
Hannah Jones (OH)
Abigail Schlueter (DS/L)

Players Lost: 

Kate Bass (MB - Grad)
Gigi Crescenzo (OH - Grad)
Miaya Smith (MB - Grad)
Anna Hayes (OH - Grad)
Ella Collier (MB - Transfer - Georgia College & State)
Chelsea George (DS/L - Transfer - Louisiana)
Kayla Wilson (OH - Transfer - McNeese State)

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North Texas
*First-Year in AAC from C-USA

Website • Roster • Schedule • Stats • Instagram • Twitter

2022 Record: 16-15 Overall, 9-5 C-USA

2022 C-USA Finish: 4th

Top Returners:

Treyaunna Rush (OPP)
Sh'Diamond Holly (MB)
Aryn Johnson (OH)

Newcomers:

Loredana Fouonji (MB - Transfer - Saint Martin's)
Coco Gillett (OH - Transfer - Louisiana)
Jayde Harris (OH - Transfer - Portland)
Kamryn Scroggins (S - Transfer - New Orleans)
Trinity Watts (OPP - Transfer - Liberty)
Kyra Dove (MB)
Riley Hemphill (OH)
Madisyn Jones (S)
Makayla Johnson (DS/L)
I'Onna Jones (MB)

Players Lost:

Taylor Litteken (MB - Grad)
Avery McCrillis (OPP - Grad)
Funmi Oladapo (MB - Grad)
Briana Bailey (MB)
Mariah Hesselgesser (MB)
Lauren Phillips (S)
Andrea Owens (OH - Transfer - Rhode Island)
Brielle Worley (OH - Transfer - UT Tyler)

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Rice

*First-Year in AAC from C-USA

VolleyTalk Team Thread

Website • Roster • Schedule • Stats • Instagram • Twitter

2022 Record: 27-4 Overall, 13-1 C-USA

2022 C-USA Finish: 2nd

Top Returners:

Nia McCardell (DS/L)

Danyle Courtley (OH)

Sahara Maruska (OH)

Newcomers:

Kaitlyn Knobbe (MB - Transfer - SMU)

Emilia Weske (OPP - Transfer - USC)
Stephanie Gutierrez (MB)
Campbell Love (DS/L)

Cindy Tchouangwa (OH)

Players Lost:

Ellie Bichelmeyer (OPP - Grad - Creighton)

Anota Adekunle (MB - Grad)

Carly Graham (S - Grad)

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SMU

VolleyTalk Team Thread

Website • Roster • Schedule • Stats • Instagram • Twitter

2022 Record: 22-10 Overall, 15-5 AAC

2022 AAC Finish: 3rd

Top Returners:

Jamison Wheeler (OH)

Celia Cullen (S)

Natalie Perdue (OH)

Newcomers:

Emma Clothier (MB - Transfer - Florida State)
Anllelivis Fernandez (OPP - Transfer - Miami Dade College)
Brooke Frazier (DS/L - Transfer - Texas A&M)
Lauren Ohlinger (OH - Transfer - Boise State)
Naya Shime (OH - Transfer - Wyoming)
Sina Uluave (DS/L - Transfer - Toledo)
Evan Glade (OH)
Hannah Whittingstall (MB)

Players Lost:

Jadyn Bauss (OH - Grad Transfer - Cincinnati)
London Austin-Roark (MB - Grad)
Marieke van der Mark (OPP - Grad)
Tatum Ticknor (DS/L - Grad)
Rachel Woulfe (OH - Grad)
Kristen Leland (DS/L)
BreyAnn Sands (DS/L)
Kaitlyn Knobbe (MB - Transfer - Rice)

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South Florida

Website • Roster • Schedule • Stats • Instagram • Twitter

2022 Record: 10-20 Overall, 4-14 AAC

2022 AAC Finish: 9th

Top Returners:

Marta Cvitkovic (OH)

Maria Ciara Andrade (OH)

Amanda DeWitt (OPP)

Newcomers:

Caroline Dykes (S - Transfer - East Tennessee State)
Niki Khoshatefeh (MB - Transfer - North Carolina)
Jalynn Brown (OH)
Lauren Lewis (MB)
Lia Schneider (DS/L)
Miya Thomas (DS/L)

Players Lost:

Ally Barnhart (MB - Grad)
Madison Bragan (S - Grad)
CC Clausen (DS/L - Grad)
Madisyn Lyons (OH - Grad)
Makayla Washington (MB - Grad)
Yasmin Shaw (MB)
Selin Kalkan (OH - Transfer - Stetson)

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Temple

Website • Roster • Schedule • Stats • Instagram • Twitter

2022 Record: 10-21 Overall, 4-14 AAC

2022 AAC Finish: T-10th

Top Returners:

Taylor Davenport (OH)
Jelena Prolic (OH)

Falanika Danielson (L)

Newcomers:

Avery Luoma (OPP - Transfer - Princeton)
Olivia Vance (MB - Transfer - Toledo)
Ava Blascziek (S)
Sofia Hardy (DS/L)
Olivia Hummel (OH)
Abby Jhun (DS/L)
Brooklyn Stearns (OPP)
Lexi Yoza (S)

Players Lost:

Peyton Boyd (OPP - Grad)
Nikki Saito (DS/L - Grad)
Kayla Spells (MB - Grad)
Leonie Freytag (OH - Transfer - Portland)

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Tulane

Website • Roster • Schedule • Stats • Instagram • Twitter

2022 Record: 9-22 Overall, 4-16 AAC

2022 AAC Finish: T-10th

Top Returner:

Amarachi Osuji (OH)

Newcomers:

Lauryn Burrows (DS/L - Transfer - Florida State)
Laura Fiabane (S - Transfer - Salt Lake Community College)
Savannah Perry (DS/L - Transfer - Colorado)
Orsula Staka (MB - Transfer - San Francisco)
Avery Burks (OH)
Riley Mansfield (MB)
Zoe Rachel (S)
Kaitlyn Thick (OH/RS)
Jordan White (MB)

Players Lost:

Jillian Dits (DS/L - Grad)
Kayla Kaiser (MB - Grad)
Melissa Kolurbasi (OH/RS - Grad)
Mackenzie Martin (OH - Grad)
Lizzy Stefanov (OH - Grad)
Kate Van Houten (S - Grad)
Sophia Ervanian (DS/L)
Skylar Bumpers (OH - Transfer - Mercer)

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Tulsa

Website • Roster • Schedule • Stats • Instagram • Twitter

2022 Record: 13-18 Overall, 6-13 AAC

2022 AAC Finish: 8th

Top Returners:

Kayley Cassaday (OH)
Bailey Rowe (OH)
Marta Pecalli (L)

Newcomers:

Beth Bayless (OH - Transfer - Oklahoma)
Zella Bennett (OPP - Transfer - Coffeyville CC)
Hailee Alexander (DS/L)

Players Lost: 

Aysu Dalogullari (OH - Grad Transfer - Southern Miss)
Maddie Flora (DS/L - Grad)

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UAB
*First-Year in AAC from C-USA

Website • Roster • Schedule • Stats • Instagram • Twitter

2022 Record: 12-15 Overall, 7-7 C-USA

2022 C-USA Finish: 5th

Top Returners:

Lidya Canturk (S)
Chloe Rodriguez (MB)

Newcomers:

Asli Celikkol (OH - Transfer - American)
Madison Page (MB - Transfer - West Virginia)
Brooklyn Allison (DS/L)
Jorda Crook (OPP)
Katia Nikolic (OH)
Mia Reese (OH)
Summer Snead (MB)

Players Lost: 

Alex Kells (OH - Grad)
Fernanda Maida (OH/RS - Grad)
Maia Rackel (OH - Grad)
Kennedy Hairston (MB)
Kayla Hardy (DS/L)
Grace Koper (S)
Avery Long (DS/L)
Kiana Mack (MB - Transfer - Kent State)
Erin Powers (DS/L - Transfer - Northern Iowa)

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UTSA
*First-Year in AAC from C-USA

Website • Roster • Schedule • Stats • Instagram • Twitter

2022 Record: 8-18 Overall, 3-11 C-USA

2022 C-USA Finish: 11th

Top Returners:

Cansu Günaydın (OH)
Alicia Coppedge (MB)
Katelyn Krienke (MB)

Newcomers:

Aliah Giroux (DS/L - Transfer - Southern Miss)
Mia Soerensen (OPP - Transfer - Kent State)
Ellie Turner (DS/L - Transfer - Blinn College)
Faye Wilbricht (OH - Transfer - Texas A&M)
Kai Bailey (MB)
Miranda Putnicki (MB)
Peyton Turner (DS/L)
Makenna Wiepert (S)

Players Lost: 

Hunter Coppola (OH - Grad)
Courtney Walters (S - Grad)
Mia Ybarra (DS/L - Grad)
Courtney Aulbaugh (DS/L - Transfer - Presbyterian College)
Ava Camacho (DS/L - Transfer - Florida Atlantic)
Kelsey Carpenter (OH - Transfer - West Texas A&M)
Amanda Ifeanyi (MB - Transfer - Howard)

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Wichita State

Website • Roster • Schedule • Stats • Instagram • Twitter

2022 Record: 18-13 Overall, 13-6 AAC

2022 AAC Finish: 4th

Top Returners:

Brylee Kelley (OH)
Natalie Foster (MB)
Sophia Rohling (OPP)

Newcomers:

Brooklyn Leggett (OH - Transfer - Colorado Mesa)
Barbara Koehler (OH - Transfer - Florida SouthWestern)
Gabi Maas (DS/L - Transfer - TCU)
Megan Reilly (OH - Transfer - Arizona State)
Izzi Strand (S - Transfer - UC San Diego)
Maddie Wilson (MB - Transfer - Idaho)
Reagan Anderson (DS/L)
Allie Paulsen (MB)
Haley Wolfe (MB)

Players Lost: 

Lily Liekweg (DS/L - Grad Transfer - Idaho State)
Kayce Litzau (S - Grad Transfer - Washington)
Addy Badley (MB)
Sophie Childs (OH/RS - Transfer - Texas State)
Hailey Plugge (S - Transfer - Sacramento State)
Lara Uyar (DS/L - Transfer - East Carolina)

[ay2013]

Only one team in the east division had a winning record last year - 6th place Memphis, meanwhile the West division has 3 AVCA top 100 teams in it, and the conference doesn't have a tournament to determine the auto bid....that doesn't seem very fair.

[mikegarrison]

Like a rocket?

[JJVb]

Wow. You go hard lol. Lots of work for this. Good effort. Looking forward to the Rice/SMU battle for the conference.

[volleydada4]

This is really well done. Thank you vballfreak808

[winesalot]

[vballfreak808]

Offensive Player of the Week
Taylor Davenport, Sr., OH, Temple
Davenport helped the Owls to a 3-0 opening weekend after putting together a phenomenal effort in the wins. The senior averaged 7.06 points and 6.33 kills per set while hitting a combined .333 on the weekend. She added four aces and four blocks to her line. She was named the Hilton Philadelphia Penn’s Landing Cherry & White Challenge MVP.

Defensive Player of the Week
Nia McCardell, Sr., L/DS, Rice
McCardell helped the 23rd-ranked Owls begin the season with a pair of wins, including a sweep over 22nd-ranked USC. It was just the second sweep of a conference opponent in program history. McCardell finished the week with 4.86 digs per set, including 16 digs in a 3-1 win over Southern Miss and 18 digs in the win over USC. She added three aces in the pair of victories, as well.

Weekly Honor Roll

Sophie Whalen, Sr., L, Charlotte
Whalen averaged 5.08 digs per set as she helped anchor the 49ers defense in route to a 3-0 start to the season. She collected her 1,000th career dig and was named the MVP of the Charlotte Invitational.

Kaila Ru, Jr., MB, Florida Atlantic
Ru helped guide the Owls to a pair of victories to start the season, as the junior middle averaged 3.89 points and 3.44 points per set, while hitting .580 in three matches.

Emilia Weske, Gr., RS, Rice
Weske led the Rice offense with 4.71 points and 4.00 kills per set in a pair of wins. She finished with 11 kills and 13 digs in the sweep of No. 22 USC.

Makenna Wiepert, Fr., S, UTSA
Wiepert stepped into her first collegiate weekend and averaged 11.0 assists per set as the Roadrunners went 3-0. She leads The American with 12 aces through the first weekend of play.

Kayley Cassaday, 5th, OH, Tulsa
Cassaday put on an offensive display for the Golden Hurricanes, averaging 5.29 points and 4.86 assists while hitting .296 across two matches. She finished with 17 kills and 15 digs in the 3-1 win over Michigan State.

[vballfreak808]

Offensive Player of the Week
Kayley Cassaday, Gr., OH, Tulsa
Cassaday moved into the conference lead in kills, points, kills per set and points per set after leading Tulsa to a 3-0 week. The graduate student averaged 7 points per set and 6.60 kills per set while hitting .355. She finished with 23 kills in a 3-0 win over UT Arlington and 25 kills in a 3-1 win over Central Arkansas.

Defensive Player of the Week
Marta Pecalli, Jr., L, Tulsa
Pecalli anchored the Tulsa defense to a 3-0 week. The junior libero averaged 5.8 digs per set, finishing with 16 or more digs in each match. In the 3-0 win over Oral Roberts, Pecalli finished with 23 digs. She also was perfect on service receptions for the weekend, while having two aces on the offensive side.

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Weekly Honor Roll

Carlia Northcross, So., MB, East Carolina
Northcross led the Pirates to a 3-0 week, finishing with 1.4 blocks per set, including nine blocks in the 3-1 win over Alabama State.

Kaitlyn Knobbe, Jr., MB, Rice
Knobbe averaged 3.31 points per set and 2.38 kills per set while hitting .485 on the week to help the Owls pick up a pair of wins.

Satasha Kostelecky, 5th, MB, Rice
Kostelecky was a force at the net, averaging 1.78 blocks per set across three matches, including seven blocks in matches against Houston Christian and FGCU.

Emma Clothier, Gr., MB, SMU
Clothier helped lead the Mustangs to their highest ranked win in program history, finishing with 13 kills and seven blocks, while hitting .550 against No. 14 Baylor.

Lauryn Burrows, Gr., L, Tulane
Burrows finished with 20 or more digs in two of the three matches played, finishing the week with 5.91 digs per set.

[vballfreak808]

Nov 8, 2023 19:26:03 GMT -5 slicknick said:

I've watched this conference some and SMU is definitely the class of the conference and should get the NCAA automatic bid.  After that, Rice & Wichita St. are next.  Any opinion on whether either of these teams get in the NCAA tournament?  Tulsa started out hot beating Mich. St. and Ole Miss, but have fell apart lately, no offense (minus Kayley Cassaday).  E. Carolina, USF, UNT, FAU all competitive at times but completely inconsistent. Thoughts???

IMO I think it's a 40% chance that Rice gets in. They are very much on the far end of the bubble. Best wins are USC, K-State but loses to Louisiana & FAU.

Wichita State is most likely out their recent losses to FAU & North Texas.

I do think overall the competition in the AAC is good this year. The conference does graduate some good players and SMU will head to the ACC next season so it'll be interesting how this conference improves

[slicknick]

Anyone have any idea why a conference with 14 teams doesn't have an All-Freshman team??? A way to recognize and encourage the younger players and maybe 12 players on second team rather than 8. Just a thought with a conference that is so big.

[vbjustice]

Nov 28, 2023 18:38:50 GMT -5 slicknick said:

Anyone have any idea why a conference with 14 teams doesn't have an All-Freshman team??? A way to recognize and encourage the younger players and maybe 12 players on second team rather than 8. Just a thought with a conference that is so big.

because it is the AAC. Expect nothing more.

[slicknick]

Well I guess you have had some experience with this conference, but they really go skimpy on the awards (including weekly awards) when they spend a fair amount on travel. A little bit of recognition would go a long way for schools, recruits and players.

[hammer]

Nov 28, 2023 19:20:44 GMT -5 vbjustice said:

Nov 28, 2023 18:38:50 GMT -5 slicknick said:

Anyone have any idea why a conference with 14 teams doesn't have an All-Freshman team??? A way to recognize and encourage the younger players and maybe 12 players on second team rather than 8. Just a thought with a conference that is so big.

because it is the AAC. Expect nothing more.

A very minimalist vibe -- less is more.

[JJVb]

What are the awards? No one posted them here.

[Cruz'n]

Nov 28, 2023 20:45:38 GMT -5 hammer said:

Nov 28, 2023 19:20:44 GMT -5 vbjustice said:

because it is the AAC. Expect nothing more.

A very minimalist vibe -- less is more.

Sort of like In & Out Burger.

Um, excuse me, that's my tummy growling.