FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas volleyball team opened its preseason training Saturday morning with its first practice of the 2014 season. The Razorbacks reported to campus Friday for team meetings. The season begins Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. (CT) against Tennessee State on day one of the Arkansas Invitational at Barnhill Arena. The team will return to the court Saturday afternoon for their second practice of the day.
Fans will get their first look at this year’s team Aug. 17 when the Razorbacks host their annual Red-White scrimmage. The preseason event will begin at 4 p.m., following Football Fan Day. The scrimmage is free and open to the public. Season tickets for the 2014 campaign are currently on sale. Starting at $40, each season-ticket package includes a free team knit hat. For more information, call 1-800-982-4647 or visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
In addition to nine matchups against NCAA teams this season, the Razorbacks are set to play 16 home matches at Barnhill Arena including nine SEC dates. Six of Arkansas’ matches against NCAA Tournament teams—Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan and Texas A&M—will be played in Fayetteville.
The Razorbacks return 11 student-athletes from last year’s team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Arkansas enters the season off back-to-back NCAA appearances. Head coach Robert Pulliza is entering this seventh season at the helm of the program. Meredith Hays, a 2013 All-America Honorable Mention performer, is the lone senior on the 2014 roster.
Hays will share upperclassmen duties with juniors Monica Bollinger, Chanell Clark-Bibbs, Liz Fortado, Summer Morgan and Samantha Skinner. Clark-Bibbs and Skinner are transfers from Georgia Tech and UAB, respectively. Arkansas’ sophomore class features Barbara Dapic, Danielle Harbin, Corinne Gajcak, Breana Jones, Ana Sofia Jusino, Savannah Voelzke and Adrien Wohlschlaeger.
Arkansas’ freshman class includes redshirt Blakelee Dunagin and newcomers Sophie Bethke, Bailee Hankenson, Holly Hankenson, Shelby Harper, Krista Kolbinskie and Kori Ortiz. This year’s recruiting class earned Highest Honorable Mention accolades from PrepVolleyball.com.
For more information about Arkansas volleyball, follow @RazorbackVB on Twitter.