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Aug. 11, 2010

Head coach Jerritt Elliott
On the new faces on the team: This is always the fun time of the year. We have a lot of freshman, who are getting integrated with our program. They have been really responsive and have performed well in these two practices that we have had, so it is going to be a nice blend of some youth and experience.

On getting back out on the court: We are really excited. It is definitely a different team. We have a tremendous amount of talent, and they are all committed to one another. They stayed here all summer to work out, and they have looked really good in practice.

On senior Juliann Faucette's role on this squad: Juliann is a big time player and is obviously one of the best players in the country.  I think that she has embraced being in a leadership role and kind of being our marquee player, but we have also had some younger players step up that we have seen some big differences from already. It is going to be fun. She is not going to have to carry this team all by herself, that is for sure. She just needs to take care of her responsibilities and perform at the level she can in order to be successful.

Senior outside hitter Juliann Faucette
On her role as a leader: I think it has been built up. I think every year that they have given me a little more responsibility, and this year I really feel like I have a lot of responsibility as a senior and as a captain this year. I am really excited about it. This team looks really good, and I am excited to just lead them. This season should be really fun.

On the freshmen: Monday's first practice, we were all impressed with each and every one of them. I think that they all have a shot, which is really good for the rest of the team to push us. It is a really competitive environment.

Junior setter Michelle Kocher
On starting practice: All across the board, we are all really excited. Jerritt was just saying how we have good energy right now. We just want to try and maintain that because that is kind of how it always is the first couple days of practice. We are all really excited to be in the gym, play with each other and feel out how everything is going to be. Right now, we are just trying to figure out how all of the pieces are going to get put together. It has been fun.

On using the loss to Penn State last season as a motivator: It is pretty easy. We are reminded pretty often [of the loss], but at the same time, it is always going to leave that bitter taste. From the end of the season until now, it has always been in the back of our minds. It is kind of the same thing that happened when we lost to Stanford [in 2008]. It was extra motivation. We spent the whole summer here working out, making sure that we are prepared as ever to be ready for this season.

On this season's standards and goals: The standards are always the same--work hard, play well, have fun. Our goal is to win. Besides having fun, we just want to go out there and perform, represent for the Texas Longhorns the best we can, and hope to bring home a W.

Junior middle blocker Rachael Adams
On the new faces on this year's squad: They fit right in. I think that they just take after us in how dedicated we are, and we all push each other. They just fit right and follow our lead, but it is a lot of new faces. I thought it was going to be a little slow at first, but it has been nothing but perfect so far.

On senior captain Juliann Faucette: Today in practice, I was admiring her. She has grown up so much. She adds stability and focus to this team. If she left practice, you would notice it. She brings a calm, cool focus, but she will call you out if you are not doing your job.

On last year's loss to Penn State: It kind of hit hard at first, but I think that it has only made us more focused and more ready. I think that we have all learned from it, grown from it, and we are ready.