Aug. 13, 2010

IRVING, Texas - University of Memphis sophomore outside hitter Altrese Hawkins was named to the 2010 All-C-USA Preseason Team the league announced.

"I am very proud of Altrese for the performance she had last season," said head coach April Jauregui. "That has set her apart as one of the top players in the league. She was worked extremely hard this spring and summer and I expect another great year."

The honor is the second of the preseason for Hawkins. She was tabbed an All-Preseason Second Team performer by COBRA Volleyball Magazine in July.

Hawkins, a native of Schaumburg, Ill., was named to the C-USA All-Freshman squad in 2009 after leading Memphis with 335 kills and a team-best .282 attack percentage. Those numbers also earned her recognition on COBRA Magazine's 2009 All-National Second Team.

The sixth Tiger freshman ever to reach 300 kills in a single season, Hawkins kills totals in 2009 rank fourth on Memphis' freshman kills list. She downed double figures in kills 18 times in her rookie campaign, including turning in a career-high 25-kill outing versus UT Martin.

Memphis opens the 2010 season on August 27, when it takes on Jacksonville State in the Belmont Invitational in Nashville, Tenn.

2010 ALL-C-USA PRESEASON TEAM & PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Name                School     Year     Pos.    Height   Hometown
Lucy Charuk         Houston    Jr.-RS   MB      6-2      Tswwassen, British Columbia
Elizabeth Fleming   Marshall   Sr.      S       5-10	  South Bend, Ind.
Altrese Hawkins     Memphis    So.      RS/OH   5-10     Schaumburg, Ill.
Tracey Lam          Rice       Sr.      L       5-6      San Francisco, Calif.
Ashleigh McCord     Rice       Jr.      OH      6-2      Wylie, Texas
Meredith Schamun    Rice       Sr.      S       5-11     Murrieta, Calif.
Jessica Adams       Tulsa      So.      L       5-9      Oklahoma City, Okla.
Tyler Henderson     Tulsa      So.      OH      5-10     Oklahoma City, Okla.
Hannah Stout        Tulsa      Sr.      MB      6-3      Bloomington, Ill.
Dana Powell         SMU        Jr.      OH      5-10     Tulsa, Okla.
Ashley Mell         USM        Jr.-RS   OH      6-3      Yorba Linda, Calif.
Kelsea Seymour      USM        Jr.      S       5-9      Long Beach, Calif.


Preseason Player of the Year: Tyler Henderson, Tulsa