Aug. 9, 2010

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - With 19 days remaining before taking on Jacksonville State in the 2010 season opener, head coach April Jauregui and the Memphis Tigers volleyball squad hit the hardwood for the first time today at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.

"Today was a good start to what will be a great season," Jauregui said. "It wasn't perfect but it was a good step forward toward what we want to achieve."

The Tigers ran through a series of drills focusing on blocking, defense and serving, before rounding out the session with a controlled scrimmage. Memphis struggled through the 2009 season, but return five letterwinners who contributed significantly a year ago. In addition, the club welcomed eight newcomers, including five four-year transfers and three true freshmen, to the program on Monday.

"We have a lot of hard work in front of us, but the returners and newcomers were already starting to mesh," stated Jauregui. "Preseason is about going full-speed ahead and I thought for day one, they handled it well."

Memphis will open the season versus Jacksonville State in the Belmont Invitational on Friday, August 27 at 6:30 p.m.