Aug. 24, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis volleyball team will go through its lone pre-season dress rehearsal when it holds the annual Blue/Gray Scrimmage, Wed., Aug. 26 at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Match time is set for 7 p.m.

The 2009 season gets underway this weekend. The Tigers will host Arkansas State, Evansville and SEMO in the Memphis Invitational in the 2009 season-opening weekend. Memphis will get its season underway on Fri., Aug. 28 when it takes on Evansville at 7 p.m.

With one of the program's most competitive schedules in recent years, Memphis returns an experienced core group of nine letterwinners that contributed significantly in the 2008 campaign. That group consists of four seniors and four juniors. The Tigers will be led by the defense of junior middle blocker Emily Underwood and junior libero Christine Bach. A 2008 second team All-C-USA selection, Underwood led the league and finished the year ranked seventh in the nation in blocking. A three-time C-USA Libero of the Week honoree, Bach led the conference in service aces and finished second in digs per game. Sophomore Carolyn Baker, a 2008 C-USA All-Freshman pick, returns after a solid rookie campaign. Baker became the first Tiger All-Freshman member since Brittany Barnett made the All-rookie team in 2000.

The Tigers went 17-14 and captured the program's eight-straight .500 or better finish in April Jauregui's first year as head coach.