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TWU VOLLEYBALL TEAM SET TO BEGIN 2007 SEASON
 DENTON, Texas (August 20) – The Texas Woman’s University volleyball team will open their 2007 campaign this week with an extended road trip.
The Pioneers have journeyed to Hilo, Hawaii, and will begin this season by taking part in the Hawaiian Style Classic hosted by the University of Hawaii-Hilo. TWU’s opening match is on Thursday, Aug. 23, versus Briar Cliff University from Sioux City, Iowa. On Friday, Aug. 24, the Pioneers will take on the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. The tournament wraps up on Saturday, Aug. 25, when TWU sees action in matches against Hawaii-Hilo, and Rollins College.
Upon returning from their tropical travels, the Pioneers will turn their attention to a pair of tournaments on their home court in Kitty Magee Arena. On Friday, Aug. 31, and Saturday, Sept. 1, TWU will host a five-team tourney featuring Southwest Baptist, Harding, UT- Permian Basin, and Missouri Southern. TWU will stay at home the following weekend - Friday, Sept. 7, and Saturday, Sept. 8 - and host another tournament with Arkansas Tech, Dallas Baptist, the University of Arkansas-Monticello, and Ouachita Baptist.
Following their non-conference tournament action, the Pioneers will focus on Lone Star Conference play. After using a North-South divisional alignment since the 1997 season, LSC volleyball teams will use a one-conference, single round-robin scheduling model in 2007. Each team will play a total of 12 league matches, one against each of other teams in the conference.
The LSC regular season title will be determined by conference matches with the champion and runner-up receiving trophies, while the postseason tournament will be expanded to an eight-team bracket, taking the top eight teams in the final conference standings. The tournament will be played Nov. 8-10 using the NCAA regional format and be hosted by the No. 1 seed. TWU will be looking to qualify for the LSC postseason volleyball tournament for the fifth year in a row.
The Pioneers’ 12 LSC matches this season are split evenly, six at home and six on the road. TWU will travel to face Midwestern State (Sept. 13), Cameron (Sept. 15), Texas A&M University-Kingsville (Sept. 27), Tarleton State (Sept. 29), Angelo State (Oct. 18), and Abilene Christian (Oct. 20).
At home, TWU will play Southeastern Oklahoma State (Sept. 22), West Texas A&M (Oct. 11), Eastern New Mexico (Oct. 13), Texas A&M University-Commerce (Oct. 25), Central Oklahoma (Nov. 1), and Southwestern Oklahoma State (Nov. 3).
Three non-conference matches will interrupt the Pioneers’ challenging conference schedule. TWU will play a home-and-home series versus Dallas Baptist (at home Oct. 2, on the road Oct. 23) and also travel to Southern Arkansas (Oct. 5).
One key to success for the Pioneers this season will be strong play on their home court. In 2006, TWU posted an 11-1 mark (5-1 in LSC play) in Magee Arena. Shelly Barberee, the Pioneers’ head coach, expects her club to be solid at home again in 2007.
“We know how important our home matches are,” said Barberee. “In order to have a successful season, you have to take care of your business on your home court. Winning your matches at home gives you confidence that’s necessary to go on the road and win.”
The TWU lineup this season will be built around three returning starters - senior defensive specialist Heather Marcus, junior middle blocker Kandis Schroeder (pictured above), and sophomore setter Jessica Crow. Marcus posted a TWU team-high 656 digs in 2006 and earned honorable mention All-Lone Star Conference recognition. Schroeder led the Pioneers in kills (371) and blocks (112) and was an All-Lone Star Conference second-team selection last season. Crow was TWU’s featured setter and tallied team-best totals in assists (919) and assists per game (9.99).
Junior outside hitter Katie King, junior right side hitter Sharon Schaffner, sophomore middle blocker Danielle Pegues, and senior outside hitter Kasye Richmond are the other returning letter winners this season.
Eight newcomers will be counted on to make immediate contributions this year. Junior setter Megan Loftis has transferred to TWU after two standout seasons at Blinn College. Freshman defensive specialist Abby Arledge will return to the court after redshirting last year. Setter Sydney Veitenheimer, outside hitter Alyson Harlan, middle blocker LyGene’ Traylor, outside hitter Kendra Coulson, and outside hitter Danielle Veitenheimer are all true freshmen who will be making their collegiate volleyball debuts for TWU. |
