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The Fort Hays State volleyball team heads to Commerce, Texas this weekend to open up the season at the Texas A&M-Commerce Tournament. On Friday, September 3 the Tigers will face Arkansas-Monticello and Tarleton State and Saturday they will play Southern Arkansas and host Texas A&M-Commerce. Head Coach Kurt Kohler opens his second season as coach of the Tigers with 16 newcomers on the roster. 

Tiger Notes: 

Lone Senior: Setter Whitney Liggett is the only senior on the 2010 roster. Liggett has played in all 101 matches since joining the Tigers in 2007. Last year she was the starter at setter after splitting time in 2008 with Whitney Hoffman. Last season, she led the team in assists with 819 and assists per set (6.66). In a 6-2 offensive scheme, look for freshman Hillery Sibole to also get reps at setter. 

Back to Hitter: After spending the 2009 season as the team's primary libero, junior Tracie Hileman is set to return to the outside hitter position. Hileman was an outside hitter in 2008 as a freshman and ranked second on the team in kills and kills per game. Last season as the libero, she led the team in digs (522) and digs per set (4.24). 

Set for Sophomore Campaign: Outside hitter Makayla McPhail looks to improve upon her freshman season of a year ago. McPhail played in 30 matches as an outside hitter, making 25 starts for the Tigers. She ranked third on the team in kills (211), kills per set (2.18), and total attempts (641). 

Two Transfers from Cloud: Coach Kohler added two junior college transfers to the roster this season, both coming from Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kan. Courtney Kroeger will compete for time at middle hitter after ranking second in NJCAA Division II in blocks per set in 2009. Kylie Stoppel is an outside hitter and she led the Thunderbirds in kills, kills per set, digs and digs per set last season. 

Back-to-Back Players of the Year: Kohler's first recruiting class features the last two 3A Volleyball Players of the Year as named by the Kansas Volleyball Association. Camille Hubert from Garden Plain, Kan. won the award as a junior in 2008 after leading her team to the state championship. She was unable to play her senior season due to injury. Makenzie Weinman of Phillipsburg, Kan. took home the award last season after her team finished as the class 3A runner-up. 

About the Opponents: 

Arkansas-Monticello: The Cotton Blossoms are coming off a 17-18 season in 2009…Coach Nicole Smith has led the program since its inception in 2005, accumulating a 72-90 record in 5 years…The team will be led by returning starters Vikki Crisco at setter and Stephanie Hatten at libero…This will be the first meeting between FHSU and Arkansas-Monticello, a member of the Gulf South Conference. 

Tarleton State: The TexAnns return 4 starters and 6 letterwinners off of the 2009 team that went 10-21…Head Coach Mary Schindler is beginning her sixth year as head coach, with a record of 75-79 so far…All-Lone Star Conference honorable mention returnees include senior libero Shea McBrearty and senior outside hitter Rachel Wolf…FHSU is 3-1 all-time against the TexAnns…Last meeting was Sept. 7, 2007 in Abilene, Texas with the Tigers winning 3-0. 

Southern Arkansas: Head Coach Steven Gream takes over a team that was 1-32 in 2009…Key returners for the Muleriders, a member of the Gulf South Conference, include senior middle hitter Maggie Glover and senior outside hitter Kaci Matthews…This is the first meeting between the two schools. 

Texas A&M-Commerce: Craig Case is beginning his first season as head coach of the Lions…The Lions were 25-10 in 2009…Key returners include senior outside hitter Naomi Mays, junior middle hitter Rachel Roberton and senior middle hitter Terra Ousley…FHSU won their only previous matchup against the Lions, a Lone Star Conference member, 3-1 on Sept. 8, 2007 in Abilene, Texas.