SAN ANTONIO (Aug. 20, 2010) -- Our Lady of the Lake University's (OLLU) volleyball team is set to begin its preseason schedule on Monday morning in a scrimmage match against Lee College. The Saints will take on the Lady Rebels from Baytown at 9 a.m. in Mabee Gymnasium. On Aug. 25 at 4:30 p.m., the Saints will play scrimmage matches against local Catholic universities, St. Mary's University and the University of the Incarnate Word, and on Saturday, the squad will head out to Trinity University for a tri-match that also includes Schreiner University.

"Even though during our first week we play scrimmages, we hope the OLLU community comes out to see us play," said Mark Lee, OLLU head volleyball coach. "We should be very competitive, especially against our local universities, all of whom are NCAA teams." St. Mary's and UIW are Division II, while Trinity and Schreiner are Division III.

The Saints have improved considerably in each of their last three years since the debut of its intercollegiate volleyball team. In 2007, the Saints finished with a record of 6-18, and in 2008, they progressed to 13-17 with a No.3 ranking in the Association of Independent Institutions. The squad lost in the finals of the conference tournament falling to the No. 1-ranked team. Last year, the Saints entered the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) and finished with 16-13 overall and 11-6 conference records. They earned a berth in the conference tournament as the fifth seed, and lost to the eventual champion, University of Texas at Brownsville.

This year, the Saints will be without 2009 all-conference player Robyn Bush, who graduated last May, but Coach Lee indicated the addition of seven new team members should improve their chances of another post-season schedule.

Returning all-conference players Liza Rodriguez and Elyse Escobar, senior standouts Kelsey Johnson, Sarah Lindsay and Lauren Eveler (pictured at left), as well as Jennifer Herrera, Norma Fraga and Desirea Aguilar will provide the depth and leadership needed for a successful term.

The Saints have also supplemented the team with three transfers, three freshmen and a former Saints basketball player. Of the seven new squad members, two are over six-feet tall and two are over 5'10".

"Our squad brings height, strength and experience; I look forward to seeing what they can do out on the court," Coach Lee said.

Jessica Chavez joins the team after a successful stint with the El Paso Sunspots. The 5'7" freshman will vie for a spot on the team as a setter. Freshman Victoria Maese, also from El Paso, will compete as a middle blocker and outside hitter. She is 5'10". Marquisha Matthews, a Seguin, Texas, native, is 5'11. While a senior at Seguin High School, she was selected to the all-state team and all-district first team, and she was named to the San Antonio Super Team. The freshman is an outside hitter/middle blocker.

Transfer student Patricia Underwood is a 6'1" right side/outside hitter from Plano, Texas. She attended Brookhaven College in Farmers Branch, Texas, which recently won its second consecutive national title for the NJCAA Division III. Underwood was ranked with one of the top hitting percentages and blocks in the nation. At Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, Underwood played on the varsity team from 2004-2008 in TAPPS 6A, won a state title in 2004 and regional and district titles in 2004-2006. She was named second team all-district in 2007 and honorable mention all-district in 2006.

Other transfer students joining the Saints this year are Isela Flores, a 5'8" junior from McAllen, Texas, Texas A&M University - Kingsville and Samantha Salazar, a 5'3' junior from Odessa, Texas, Midland College.

Tasha Yancey, a 6'1 OLLU student, played for the Saints women's basketball team last year. She is a transfer student from Texas A&M International University in Laredo.

The University of Texas at Brownsville will be the team to beat this year. As the reigning RRAC champs, the team is ranked No. 8 in the 2010 Tachikara - NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll. The Scorpions return six players and add seven international players to their squad.

"We should also be very competitive against Wiley, Texas Wesleyan, Southwestern Assemblies of God, Bacone and Huston-Tillotson," Coach Lee said. "All of our conference competitors have made good improvements in the off-season."

Our Lady of the Lake University will feature four-year student-athletes for the first time ever. Eveler, Johnson (No. 7 at far right) and Lindsay (No. 24 at right) were members of the inaugural volleyball team from 2007 that along with men's soccer, kicked off intercollegiate athletics at the University. The three seniors enter the new year with an excellent academic history throughout their freshmen, sophomore and junior years, as well as successful individual accomplishments on the court.

Career Stats:

Johnson said, "I am very excited to enter my final season after playing and being captain of the team all four years. It is my duty to be a leader, and to help my teammates on and off the court. Coach Lee has taught me so much not only on the court but off the court, and it gives me great pride to say that I played under him for four years. Plus, I'm so proud to be graduating from OLLU."

The volleyball team had one of the highest GPAs of all Saints teams. "I am very proud of our women. They know the importance of academics, and they do a good job of balancing sports and their studies," said Coach Lee.

Coach Lee hopes to see Saints fans come out to support the Saints this year. "We had a great turnout last season, especially from fellow athletes, students, faculty and staff. When our fans come out this year, they will enjoy seeing a much-improved team and a very exciting match."