ABILENE, Texas – The McMurry University volleyball team will take the wraps off of its 2014 edition this coming Friday and Saturday at the Austin College Invitational in Sherman, Texas. On Friday, the War Hawks will open with Centenary (4 p.m.) and then take on host Austin College (8 p.m.), while Saturday's slate has match-ups versus Rust College (Noon) and Dallas Christian (4 p.m.).
 
McM returns a total of seven players from last year's roster to challenge its 27-game schedule this season. 19th-year head coach Cammie Petree (317-213) will also welcome six newcomers and one player who missed all of 2013 with an injury, to round out her roster.
 
McMurry's team went 19-18 overall in 2013 and won its second-consecutive National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Region championship. The squad also advanced to the NCCAA national tournament for a second-straight year, as well.
 
Petree will field a youthful lineup in search of the program's eight-consecutive winning season. McMurry's roster features just one returning senior (Kayla Hines) and one senior – in academic terms (Cheyenne Boyd) – playing her first year of volleyball. Petree's team has five juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen.
 
Hines, an outside hitter, is a team leader both statistically and in the classroom. Hines played in 133 of a possible 144 sets last year, appearing in 36 of 37 matches. She was second on the team at 1.98 kills per set, while sporting a .188 attack percentage. She also averaged 1.38 digs and amassed 22 aces, along with 32 blocks.
 
Hines was also named to the Heartland Conference's All-Scholastic Team and was an NCCAA Scholar-Athlete. Hines, a fourth-year player for McM, is majoring in psychology with a minor in Christian ministry.
 
Junior outside hitter Kelsey Harkins is back for her third season with Petree, after playing in 132 sets in 2013. Harkins had nice all-around stats, chipping in 1.91 kills and 2.63 digs per set. She was also third on the team with 33 serve aces and topped McM in serve receptions at .969 percent. She was a Heartland Conference All-Scholastic Team member, as well.
 
Catherine Heath, a 6'0" junior right-side hitter, is also in her third campaign for McM. In 113 sets last year, Heath collected 1.49 k.p.s. and had 42 total blocks.
 
Other returnees who saw sporadic action last season include sophomore setter/defensive specialist Madison Fatheree, junior left-side/outside hitter Jessica Cory, 6'0" sophomore middle blocker Katy Headrick and 6'0" junior middle blocker/right-side hitter Audrey Sanders. 6'1" sophomore Lauren Heathcote, a right-side hitter/middle blocker combo, missed all of 2013 with a severe ankle injury, but looks ready to go in 2014.
 
Fatheree and Headrick were both Heartland All-Scholastic honorees, as well.
 
Newcomers to Petree's fold are freshmen Taylor London (OH), twin sisters McKenzie (S) and McKaila (DS) Shefler and Jessica Tennis (S). The senior Boyd and junior transfer Morgan Thomas (Cisco College) will both be making their McM debut this season, as well.
 
McMurry will have its work cut out for it, with a challenging roll of games that represent a cross section of levels of competition. After this weekend's Austin College Invitational, the War Hawks travel to the Henderson State Classic to face NCAA II foes HSU, Fort Hays State, Southeastern Oklahoma State and the University of Central Oklahoma. McM also plays in the Schreiner Tournament (Oct. 31-Nov.1).
 
McMurry plays its first home bout on Sept. 16 (6 p.m.) versus the University of Dallas. In all, the War Hawks have nine home matches.