Nov. 19, 2003

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis Volleyball Head Coach Carrie Yerty announced that Ashley Liford from James Madison High School in San Antonio, Texas, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Tigers in 2003-04.

Liford comes to the Tigers with a number of prep accolades. She was a member of the USA Volleyball High Performance Youth program last summer, and was labeled as a player to watch by LoneStarVolleyball.com.

"Ashley has great jumping ability and is very athletic and who has very solid fundamental skills," Yerty said. "She has been a member of the high-performance selection team for two straight years and is one of the top players out of the state of Texas. We'll move her to an outside hitter spot, where she will immediately compete for playing time next season. We're thrilled to sign such an outstanding student as well as athlete."

She helped her senior squad to a 24-8 record in 2003 under Head Coach Renata Goebel, missing the playoffs by one match in the toughest division in Texas prep volleyball where four of the teams are ranked among the state's top 20. She is a three-year volleyball letterwinner, and was an all-district honorable mention as a junior. She was named the Southwest Tournament MVP as a senior and was also first team all-district. Liford served as the team captain her senior season. Also a two-year letterwinner in cross country and track, Liford qualified for the cross country regionals as a sophomore and participated in the triple jump and the 400-meter dash in track.

Off the court, Liford was a member of Honors Band, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), the National Honor Society and is listed in the Who's Who Among American High School Students. She plans on majoring in education at Memphis after turning down scholarship offers from Troy State, Winthrop and West Point. A solid scholastic athlete, Liford was a member of the Academic All-District teams her junior and senior seasons. She was also an academic all-state honoree in cross country as a senior and all-district as a junior in cross country.

"I choose the University of Memphis for several reasons," Liford said. "First is the academic excellence for which the University if known. Second is the great tradition in athletic endeavors, and finally, the professionalism and friendly atmosphere of not only the Tiger coaching staff, but by the university staff, students and local residents. I am extremely excited about becoming a Tiger, both on the court and in the classroom!"

The daughter of Edwin and Joella Allen and Steve Liford, the 6-0 hitter has played in the Alamo Club Volleyball Program since her 14s days. Her U15 team twice went to the Salt Lake City Nationals, and her 17s team qualified for the U.S. Junior Olympics in Atlanta. Liford's dad, Steve, played basketball for Truman State University (formerly known as Northeast Missouri State).

The Tigers earned a first-round bye via their fourth-place finish in the league standings at the end of the regular season. Memphis will face the winner of the No. 5 Tulane/No. 12 Saint Louis match at 6 p.m., Saturday. The winner of that match faces top seed Cincinnati, Sunday, at 7 p.m.