Lady'Backs host Alumni Saturday

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas volleyball team gets its first taste of competition Saturday hosting an Alumni Match in Barnhill Arena at 1:30 p.m. The Lady Razorbacks began fall workouts with two-a-day practices Aug. 9, and this will be head coach Chris Poole’s first look at his team in a match situation. "It’s exciting to be back," said Poole. "I can hardly stand the summers anymore. We’re entering the season with some question marks and I’m anxious to see how far we’ve progressed in the first weeks of practice. We’ve lost both of our setters from a year ago but have some really talented youngster coming in to fill that position." Sophomore Caira Daugherty along with freshmen Lindsay Scanlan and Ivana Suput will all vie for setting time for Arkansas this fall. Daugherty is a second-year player but saw most of her court time last year as a defensive specialist. Scanlan and Suput are untested at the collegiate level but both bring quality high school and club experience to the team. Arkansas will be paced by seniors Amy Allison, Kele Brewer and Denitza Koleva this year. The trio accounted for more than half of the offense last year and will again be asked to carry a heavy load. "We’re going to depend heavily on our seniors this year," said Poole. "Jessica (Dorrell) is also a big part of that. She is jumping really well right now and is playing well." Arkansas will also rely on the defense of junior libero Ashley Miller. The Vacaville, Calif., native has re-written the Lady Razorback dig record books and is again expected to shore up the defense for the Lady’Backs. The Lady’Backs have had a slow start to the preseason with minor injuries sidelining players. Sophomore all-Southeastern Conference freshmen team member Christina Lawrence will miss three weeks after meniscus surgery and sophomore Kristin Seaton was lost for the season due to a summer accident. Others like seniors Allison, Brewer and Koleva have been slowed by minor things but nothing that will keep them out of the lineup. "This match should be a great tune-up for us – a measuring stick," said Poole. "I’m excited to get underway." Arkansas travels to the Oklahoma Invitational Aug. 25-26, to officially open the 2007 season. For more information and tickets please call the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or log on to LADYBACKS.COM.