STEPHENVILLE - The Tarleton women's volleyball team will start their 2011 campaign on Friday and Saturday when they head to the St. Mary's Invitational in San Antonio.

On Friday, the TexAnns will face Pace and Illinois-Springfield.  It will be the first time in program history that Tarleton has faced either of these teams. 

On Saturday, the TexAnns will meet up with former Lone Star Conference opponent in East Central and the host Lady Rattlers of St. Mary's.

For full tournament coverage, go to the St. Mary's Invitational website.

Here is a roster breakdown of the 2011 TexAnn volleyball team.

OUTSIDE HITTERS
    The TexAnns will use a deep rotation of outside hitters in this season's attacking strategy with two sophomore returners and four freshmen.
    Stacie Murrah (San Antonio, 1L) will be half of Tarleton's returning attack after playing in 113 games and all 33 matches as a freshman.  In 2010, Murrah compiled 197 kills, fourth most on the team, and 41 assists.
    She will join sophomore Flynn Harrell (Brownwood, 1L) as the veterans on the TexAnn attack.  Harrell saw a lot of time as a freshman, playing in 113 games and all 33 matches.  Once named offensive player of the week for the Lone Star Conference, Harrell finished second on the team with 281 kills for the season.  This is a notable feat considering the number of upperclassmen she had to compete against for playing time.
    Murrah and Harrell will join four freshman to make up Tarleton's offense in 2011.  Katie Covell (Lytle, RS) played in two games last season before redshirting.  She will join Tiana Bond (Mansfield, TR), Brittany Gordon (North Richland Hills, HS), and Ashley Rine (San Antonio, HS) as the incoming freshman.
    Rine and Murrah will predominately be right-side hitters with the rest of the attackers playing left and right.  Bond brings LSC experience after playing for two seasons at Midwestern State.  With a variety of players and options to go with, look for head coach Mary Schindler to mix up her attack and rotations this season.
    “Stacie and Ashley are both lefties, super hardworking, hit very solid balls and are polished players,” said Schindler.  “Flynn is very versatile and looks comfortable taking ownership of the starting role.  Tiana and Brittany are both experienced and good on defense.  All of our girls have great shot selections, passing abilities and defensive skills.”
    The combination of young talent and athletic ability will be sure to make Tarleton a formidable attacking force not only in 2011, but in years to come.

MIDDLE BLOCKERS
    From the middle blocking position, Tarleton will rely heavily on new talent with senior Breawn Waynes being the only returner for the TexAnns.
    Waynes (Mesquite, 1L) is entering her second season at Tarleton after appearing in 25 matches and 51 games in 2010.  She recorded 50 kills, seven assists and 22 digs in her role for the TexAnns last year.  Look for Waynes to see a lot more of the court in 2011 as she leads this young group of middle blockers.
    “Bre has speed, knowledge and penetrates well,” said Schindler.  “We are going to use her in six-rotation sets which will challenge her endurance, but we think her experience and skills will help her.”
    Nikki McNorton (Houston, TR) is a junior transfer from Blinn Junior College and comes to the TexAnns after a strong season for the Buccaneers.  McNorton led Blinn with 310 kills, and a .349 attacking percentage.  She was also No. 6 in the nation at the JC level in blocks with 201 total.  McNorton adds a dual-threat to Tarleton's rotation.
    “Nikki is a force in the middle,” said Schindler.  “She will be one of the biggest kids in the conference and once we get her adjusted and are able to utilize her in our system, she will be a handful.”
    Jasmyne Brown (Highlands, HS) is another physical specimen added to the TexAnns' roster.  At 6-0, Brown is a tall force for Tarleton in the middle.  She joins Audra Vaello (Houston, TR), a sophomore transfer from Wharton Junior College up front, as both look to make early contributions for the TexAnns.
    “Jasmyne has come a long way since them beginning of practices,” said Schindler.  “She has great drive, big hands, quickness and is going to be pushing for playing time.”
    “Audra is quick and deceptive since she isn't very tall,” said Schindler.  “But she has the ability to get touches on anything and has a great knowledge for the game.”

SETTERS
    The setter position is one that Coach Schindler has no qualms about heading into 2011.  Tarleton returns their top two setters from last season in Jessie Hartman and Danielle Barker.
    Hartman (San Antonio, 3L) is already the all-time career leader in assists with 2,419 over three years.  The senior captain will look to build on her 756 assist-season last year and distribute the ball to a young core of hitters in 2011.
    Joining Hartman in the middle is sophomore Danielle Barker (Amarillo, 1L), who got a lot of playing time last season in relief of Hartman.  She appeared in 112 games and 30 matches, while recording 454 assists.  Barker averaged 4.05 assists per game to go along with 17 service aces, 44 kills and 202 digs.
    “Jessie is definitely our vocal leader,” said Schindler.  “She's positive, always keeps everybody up and helps make her teammates confident.  Danielle is extremely smart and reads opposing blockers well.  She is great at setting up one-on-one's for her teammates.”
    The combination of Hartman and the Barker will be appetizing for outside hitters with their ability to distribute the ball around the court.  The TexAnns' strength will lie in their veteran setters' performances this season.  

LIBERO/DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST
    The libero position is one that has been dominated by Tarleton's most productive libero in school history, Shea McBrearty, over the past four seasons.  Now McBrearty joins the coaching staff to help guide sophomore Emily Klein as the heir apparent.  
    Klein (Amarillo, 1L) saw limited action last year playing behind McBrearty, but was able to appear in 40 games and 17 matches in 2010.  With big shoes to fill, Coach Schindler has made her confidence in Klein well known.  
    “She has worked hard, defends well and will funnel the ball to her teammates,” said Schindler.  “We are running everything through Emily.”
    Lacy Hodges (Gilmer, HS) is the other defensive specialist for the TexAnns, and will also try to grow into the role left absent by McBrearty.  Hodges is expected to transition to the middle back position where Schindler believes she will be most succesful.
    “Lacy is upbeat, works hard and her service is very strong,” said Schindler.  “She's adapted to reading the court from the middle back well.”
    The 2011 TexAnns will be familiar to fans in the fact that they rely heavily on a steadfast defense and dangerous outside attacking.  Expect Tarleton to be versatile offensively, with the ability to have six different players leading the team in kills any game.  Defensively, the TexAnns have gotten bigger and quicker and hope to fill the void left by last year's seniors.
    “We have a lot of good, talented young women and they are playing really well together,” said Schindler.  “I'm excited about the upcoming season.”

For more information regarding the 2011 Tarleton volleyball season, check out TarletonSports.com.