Aug. 9, 2005

Texas-Arlington volleyball head coach Diane Seymour welcomes four starters, including first-team preseason all-Southland Conference pick Ashley Van Antwerp to the first day of fall workouts WEdnesday morning.

The Mavericks will practice three times a day -- twice on-the-court and one aquatic -- to prepare for the Aug. 27 season-opener at the Texas A&M Invitational. The Mavs face Prairie View A&M at noon and 16th-ranked Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m.

"I am very excited about this season," said Seymour, "For me, last year was a whirlwind after starting just before the season. I am a lot more comfortable this year. We had a pretty good spring and a we had a great fall last year. We have added five new players and I think the girls are ready."

Van Antwerp was named first-team preseason after leading the Mavs in kills (468) and was second in digs with 396 as a junior. She was named to the 2005 Preseason All-SLC Team last week in a poll take by the league's coaches and sports information directors.

"Ashley has the potential to be the player of the year in the league if she has a good year and the team has a good year," said Seymour.

Joining Van Antwerp from the 2004 starting rotation are sophomores Torie Dacus and Morgan Rogers and fellow senior Melissa Marek.

Five newcomers will fill out the lineup -- freshmen Michelle Schwartz (Tomball, Texas), Megann Findley (Weatherford), Ally Wade (Richardson, Texas), Christy DeCaro (Southlake, Texas) and sophomore transfer Emily Nedderman (Grapevine, Texas/Wake Forest University).

UTA was picked third by the league's coaches and SIDs during the preseason poll last week. The Mavericks open their home schedule Sept. 9-10 at the Arlington Hilton/UTA Invitational. Wake Forest, Arkansas-Little Rock, Iowa and Texas-Pan American complete the field.

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