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Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor volleyball team tips off the 2010 season on Wednesday with the Cru looking for a return to the American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament. UMHB has narrowly missed a berth in each of the past two seasons with the Cru being eliminated from contention on the final day of the regular season. The Cru will build around a core of nine returners this year, including three starters from last season.
Libero Erin Maenius (Sr., San Antonio) is the top returner and the only senior on the roster for the Cru. Maenius led the ASC with 582 digs last season and is a three-time ASC All-East Division selection. Maenius was also the ASC East Division Preseason Defensive Player of the Year this year and will be counted on to be a team leader on and off the court. Maenius will have back row help from returning defensive specialists Jasmine Austin (Jr., Scott, LA) and Elise Butler (So., Mesquite). Austin averaged 1.74 digs per game last year and Butler averaged 2.13 digs. Alexis Tharp (Jr., Mesquite) is the most experienced returner at setter. Tharp was second on the team with 192 assists last season. Michelle Walker (So., Conroe) also saw limited time at setter last year and she should compete for a larger role this year.
The hitting attack will be led by a deep group of returners. MB Tina Miller (So., Copperas Cove) earned ASC All-East Division honors after leading the Cru with 322 kills. She also added 84 total blocks. MB Sara Hayward (Jr., Nacogdoches) had a team-best 94 blocks and chipped in 137 kills. OH Kaydie Cochran (So., The Woodlands) made a major impact as a freshman, playing her way into the starting line-up and finishing right behind Miller with 248 kills. Cochran also added 367 digs. RS Lisa Morgan (Jr., Killeen) was a part-time starter and she posted 31 kills and 47 digs for the Cru. Hayward and Miller have both been slowed by injuries early in the fall, but hope to be ready when the season starts. OH Nicolette Wiesman (Jr., Cuero) also returns after sitting out the last two seasons with injury. She could play her way into a starting role and add another hitting option for the Cru this season.
Several newcomers will also have a chance to make immediate contributions. UMHB will enter the 2010 season with 18 players on the roster, the biggest squad ever under head coach Kecia Davis. There are three newcomers who will challenge for Tharp for the starting setter spot. Anissa Garcia (Jr., Brownsville) is a transfer from Hill College. She is an experienced and talented player who earned Academic All-Americans honors at Hill. Savannah Payne (Fr., Whitney) and Lindsay Leissner (Fr., Bay City) are both gifted freshmen who could also earn time. MB Morgan Baker (Fr., Richmond) will compete for a spot in the rotation on the front line for the Cru. RS/MB Heather Harbaugh (Fr., Wills Point) is a versatile young player who could see time at both of those positions and will also be counted on to provide depth. OH Kimberly Smidovec (Fr., Columbus) and OH Jasmine Harris (Jr., Frisco) are also expected to contribute right away this season. Smidovec was named TGCA All-Start at Columbus High School and Harris played two years of junior college volleyball and will also add experience to the front court.
“We are fired up to finally start playing as we go to face Southwestern at their place,” Cru head coach Kecia Davis said. “They are nationally ranked so that is a big challenge for us. I am just anxious to see how we get down there and handle that and face some competition.”
The Cru opens the 2010 season on Wednesday with a tri-match at Southwestern University in Georgetown. UMHB will face Schreiner University and Southwestern University to open the year. The Cru will then travel to Irving to play in the University of Dallas Invitational on Friday and Saturday. UMHB returns home for a tri-match with Victoria College and Concordia Texas at the Mayborn Campus Center next Tuesday, September 7th. That tri-match will wrap up a season-opening run of eight matches in seven days for the Cru.