Aug. 12, 2003

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - - University of Memphis head volleyball coach Carrie Yerty and her Tiger team are just four days into their 2003 pre-season camp, but Yerty is already excited about what's to come for the 2003 Tigers.

"I'm excited about how in shape our returning veteran players are," Yerty said. "They're very fit and in great volleyball shape."

Yerty has six returning players from a 2002 squad that went 19-15. Seniors Brittany Barnett and Shella Neba lead the core of returning players for 2003, but have some help in leading the team with juniors Tiara Gilkey and Heather Watts also returning for 2003. Both Barnett and Watts played in and started every game last season, with Watts serving as the team's only setter in 2002. The team is also bolstered with the return of sophomores Kristin Hardee and Nancy Nellans.

But it's the Tiger newcomers that have pumped up the Tiger practices early on.

"Our newcomers came in an brought an unbelievable amount of energy that's been exciting and made it a lot of fun to be in the gym," Yerty said. "It's still too early to predict wins and losses, but I'm pleased with the way practice is going compared to where we've been in the past."

The Tigers have already worked on basic fundamentals and positional play and in just their fourth day into practices, are already working on team concepts.

"This group has meshed better than I had hoped," Yerty said. "They remind me a lot of the class of Emily Eichmann, Ginger Garrett and Amie Hamilton."

The comparison to the class of 2001 is a lofty one for the young Tigers, as that class spent considerable time rewriting the record book by the time they rolled through their seniors seasons. Hamilton became just the second-ever Tiger to earn All-Conference USA honors in 2001 and is among the school career leaders in service aces, assists and digs.

The Tiger veterans are dealing with two-a-day practices in addition to Friday's approaching final exams in the second session of summer school.

"I don't know how our veterans do it," Yerty said. "We have players like Heather who are taking two upper division courses and are still trying to focus on the preseason."

The Tigers will continue with two-a-days for the remainder of the week. University of Memphis fall classes begin on Monday, Aug. 25th and the Tigers leave Memphis Aug 28th to bus to Arkansas State for their first tournament of the season Aug. 29-30th. Memphis opens its 2003 schedule against Eastern Kentucky and UALR on the 29th and against UT Martin and Arkansas State on the 30th.