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There is always strength in numbers, and for the 2007 UT volleyball team, the team's strength and depth is indicated at all positions -- especially at the defensive specialist spot. Texas enters 2007 with its largest corps of defensive specialists in recent memory. The Longhorns boast five DS's -- three veterans and two freshmen -- forming one of the most formidable back rows in the country.

HEADLINES
· Senior Alyson Jennings returns for her fourth season wearing Texas' black libero jersey ... the senior has earned team MVP honors each of the past two seasons and enters the season ranked sixth all-time at Texas with 1,173 career digs ... was selected to train with the USA Volleyball A-2 squad in 2007.

· Sophomore Heather Kisner added strength to the Texas back row as a freshman, while junior Kiley Hall provided an explosive jump serve off the UT bench.

RETURNEES (3)
Alyson Jennings (#16, 5-9, Sr.-3L)
2006 team MVP who started all 31 matches as libero and was one of only three players to see action in all 116 games.

Kiley Hall (#11, 5-8, Jr.-2L)
In 2006, saw action in 30 of 31 matches, totaling 13 service aces (0.13 p/g) and adding 74 digs.

Heather Kisner (#19, 5-9, So.-1L)
A fixture in the Texas back row, seeing action in 28 matches and earning 19 starts as a freshman ... recorded 242 digs (2.37 p/g) and tied for third on the squad with 15 service aces.

NEWCOMERS (2)
Chelsey Klein (#9, 5-9, Fr.-HS)
Came to Texas in January 2007 to start her studies and will enter the season as a second semester freshman ... a two-time All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) First Team selection (2005, 2002).

Alexandra Lewis (#12, 5-9, Fr.-HS)
A local product from Austin's Bowie High School ... a three-time All-District 25-5A selection, earning First Team accolades in 2006 after claiming second team honors in 2004 and 2005.

ELLIOTT'S OUTLOOK: DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS
"Al (Alyson Jennings) is returning as a fourth-year starter at libero. She brings a lot of experience and competitiveness to the lineup and really holds down our serve/receive strategy. Alyson is a tremendous volleyball player and competitor. She had a great campaign with the USA A-2 Team this summer. She will have a major role in our serve/receive and defensive schemes.

Heather Kisner had a great freshman year last fall and she will be competing for the libero spot. If she's not at the libero position she will be one of our primary DS's. Again, she is another exceptional competitor with good ball control. Heather is a quality person who is fun to have in the lineup. She is a player who would run through a wall for any of her teammates.

Kiley Hall is another defensive specialist with an exceptional jump-serve, which is a nice asset coming off the bench for us. Her ball control and her serve/receive have improved every year. Kiley works hard and I'm sure she'll find a niche in our lineup. Alexandra Lewis is a new addition to our team, a local product. We're excited to have her in our program and we'll see how she develops and is able to push the other defensive specialists. Chelsey Klein came in to the program in January and I think she gained a lot of confidence from being here and really got to know the team. She had a good performance in the last spring match and she is another one who can contend for one of the starting spots on the defensive side."