Volleyball reports for first practice

FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas volleyball team reported Thursday for the first practices of the 2007 season in Barnhill Arena. Three Lady Razorbacks begin their final season this week. Seniors Jessica Dorrell, Kelli Cole and Ashley Miller return to lead the 2007 team. Dorrell, an outside hitter from Aledo, Texas, is ready to get things started. "I definitely have a sense of urgency," said Dorrell. "Our outlook is very positive and I’m excited about all of the new faces. There is a lot of new talent to mix with the returners and I feel like we’re going to be a pretty good team. As a senior, I’m very conscious of everything that is going on around me this year." The seniors won’t bear the burden alone as a very talented junior class also returns for the 2007 season. Christina Lawrence and Caira Daughtery welcome back Nicole Martin who redshirted last season. All three have starting experience with Lawrence as an outside hitter and both Daugherty and Martin in the setter position and the trio will again be relied upon to lead the team. Transfer Yun "Karen" Tang joins the junior class. The 6-3 middle blocker from Beijing, China, transferred to Arkansas in January and begins her first preseason workouts this week. The sophomore class is the biggest on the court with five Lady’Backs in their second season. Lindsay Scanlan, who split the setting duties with Daugherty last year, returns along with Kristin Seaton, Catherine Fowler and Destiny Clark. Seaton is also returning after a redshirt season in 2006. Sophomore Lauren Fielding joins Arkansas this year after her freshman campaign at Centenary. Arkansas has a four-player freshman class but all are not new to the Lady’Backs. Newcomer Sarah Freudenrich and Heather Royal both started their academic careers at Arkansas in January, working out with the team in the spring. Phoebe Bautista and Hillary McCormick round out the freshman class. Practices for the Lady Razorbacks will continue in the two-a-day format until classes begin. This week, the Lady’Backs practice 1:30-4:30 p.m. and again from 6:30-9:00 p.m. The Lady’Backs will practice 9:30-12:00 p.m. and again from 3:00-6:00 p.m. most of next week. Practice is open to the public and fans are invited to attend. The 2007 season gets underway as the Lady’Backs host the Arkansas Clarion Inn Invitational Aug. 24-25, in Barnhill Arena. Tickets for that and all home events are on-sale now at the Razorback Ticket Office. Please call 877-LADYBACK or 57-LBACK for more information.