FORT WORTH -- Brenda Gray, head volleyball coach at Sam Houston State since 1984, became only the 28th active coach in NCAA Division I women's volleyball to post 500 victories during her career Saturday when the Bearkats defeated Alcorn State at the TCU Invitational.

Gray now holds a 500-338 career record in her 24 seasons at Sam Houston State. She is one of only 42 active coaches with more than 400 victories.

During her career at Sam Houston, Gray has produced two NCAA All-Americans, seven NCAA All-Region players, and 29 All-Conference performers.

Andy Banachowski of UCLA leads all active NCAA Division I women's volleyball coaches in victories with 1,037. Gray's name now joins a list that includes Dave Shoji, Hawaii 926; Russ Rose, Penn St. 891; Debby Colberg, Sacramento St. 799; Mike Hebert, Minnesota 793; Kathy Gregory, UC-Santa Barbara 784; Janice Kruger, Maryland, 715; Mick Haley, Southern California, 680; Sue Gozansky, UC-Riverside 667; Karen Chisum, Texas State-San Marcos 631; Bill Walton, Houston 626; Bob Bertucci, Temple 616; John Dunning, Stanford 613; Jim Stone, Ohio St. 607; Brian Gimmillaro, Long Beach St. 605; Betty Austin, Alabama A&M 604; Mary Wise, Florida 603; Jill Hirschlinger, New Hampshire 600; Judy Green, Alabama 583; Scott Luster, Bradley 579; Debbie Hill, William & Mary 552; Joe Sagula, North Carolina 547; Veronica Hammersmith, West Virginia 540; Glenn Nelson, Princeton 539; Chris Poole, Arkansas 538; Carolyn Condit, Miami (Ohio) 512; and Debbie Brown, Notre Dame 509.

Gray will have the opportunity for victory number 501 Wednesday when Sam Houston State begins a five-match home stand at Johnson Coliseum. The Bearkats play host to Texas-Pan American Wednesday at 7 p.m. Sam Houston begins Southland Conference action Friday at 7 p.m. with Central Arkansas.

Senior outside hitter Cynthia Yarotsky was the driving force for the Bearkats in the victory over Alcorn State Saturday, leadnig the team with nine kills.

Sam Houston State finished third at the TCU Horned Frog Invitational, falling to tournament champion TCU and Gonzaga.

Yarotsky led the Bearkats in kills in each match with 7 against TCU, 9 in the win over Alcorn State, and 15 in the four-game loss to runner-up Gonzaga in the Bearkats' other two matches.