2010 Roster | 2010 Schedule | 2009 Statistics

ABILENE, Texas – For the past three seasons the McMurry Volleyball team has put itself in a position to be in the American Southwest Conference Tournament with a chance to contend for a title. In 2010, head coach Cammie Petree, senior middle blocker Terah Brown and the rest of the team want more.

Brown, along with Mandie Moore and Sarah Anding are all entering into their final seasons of four-year careers with the program and have tasted postseason play all three times. However, Brown said that she wants this season to be different.

“I'm excited that we were picked second, I think that it's very deserving, but I think that first would be deserving for us. I think we're just as good as Hardin-Simmons. I think that we have a lot of talent and they do as well,” Brown said. “When you're in that second-place position, you're kind of staring at first place's rear end. I want to be in the lead, and I want to get into the conference tournament going in as first place this year. I just really want this season to be different for my senior year.”

When Tuesday's ASC Preseason poll was announced, McMurry found itself projected to finish in second place behind cross-town rival Hardin-Simmons, and Brown was selected as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for the west division. Petree, like Brown, was pleased with vote but said she thought it could shake out differently throughout the season.

“I was excited about being voted only one step out of the top is not a bad place to be,” said Petree who is in her 15th season as head coach. “I think that we have plenty of time to change that.”

Brown anchors a core of three middle blockers that each earned all-conference honors last season. Junior Bailey Marcum and sophomore #M.J. Vickers# are back as well.

Brown led the team with 252 kills and 109 total blocks to earn all-division all-conference honors, she was a first-team all-ASC West selection, and was an honorable mention all-South Region selection by the AVCA.

Vickers led the team with a .292 hitting percentage, had 245 kills and 63 total blocks to earn first-team all-ASC West Division honors. Marcum had 203 kills and was second on the team in total blocks with 70 earning ASC West Division Newcomer of the Year honors.

“We've got some rock solid swings out of them but also the blocking. They are going to do a great job for us at the net, and I think we are going to let M.J. and Bailey play all the way around,” said Petree of her middle blocking trio. “We've got some newcomers that are a real force at the net as well. I'm just looking forward to finally getting out there and putting it all together to see where we stand at this point.”

Also returning is Anding, the senior libero, who has been a two-time all-conference award winner by the ASC. Last season, she led the team with 498 digs averaging 4.53 per set.

Petree also welcomes back veteran outside hitters Bennie Smith (soph.) and Moore, middle blocker Rachel Holmes (soph.), defensive specialist Carlie Fehl (soph.), and setter Tongy Scott (soph.).

McMurry's newcomers include two local products in middle blocker Kasi Conners, a freshman who played at Abilene High, and Lauren Hartridge returns home after playing one season at Lubbock Christian University after playing her high school ball at Cooper.

Tara Goodloe (freshman setter), Megain MIrau (freshman middle blocker), Chelsea Pierce (sophomore outside hitter), and Jasmine Qualls (freshman setter) round out Petree's newcomers for 2010.

McMurry begins its season Sept. 3 in San Antonio at the Trinity University River City Classic against Whitworth College at 1 p.m.