Lady'Back volleyball hosts first of two spring tournaments

Jump to spring schedule FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas volleyball team returns to the court this weekend hosting the first of two home tournaments as spring ball gets underway. Arkansas finished the 2005 season with a 21-12 record graduating a pair of seniors in middle blocker Karla Crose and setter Iva Docekalova. The four-tournament spring schedule gives head coach Chris Poole and the coaching staff a chance to evaluate the Lady Razorbacks in match-like settings before the start of the fall season in August. "It’s a great chance to see everyone play," said Poole. "We’ve really been working hard during the off-season and these tournaments are an opportunity to test what we’ve learned and evaluate where we still need to go." This weekend’s event features 10 different matches with five teams participating. Scheduled to play is Arkansas, the Arkansas alumni team, Kansas State, Missouri State and Oral Roberts. Play begins at 10:00 a.m. when the Alumni take on Kansas State on court one and Arkansas faces ORU on the second court. All matches are schedules for an hour time limit with a minimum of two games to 30 points. A third game will be started if time permits. Play continues throughout the day with matches scheduled at 10:00 a.m., 11:10 a.m., 1:20 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:40 p.m. Arkansas opens the day with ORU at 10:00 a.m., followed by a match with the Alumni at 11:10 a.m. The Lady’Backs take on Kansas State at 1:20 p.m., have a break and finish with Missouri State at 3:40 p.m. All matches take place in Barnhill Arena and are open to the public. Arkansas travels to the Kansas State Tournament in Manhattan, Kan., April 8, and returns home hosting a second spring tournament April 14. The Lady’Backs host the Alumni, Missouri and Tulsa. The Lady’Backs wrap up the spring with a trip to the Loyola Marymount Tournament in Los Angeles, Calif., April 22, taking on the host, LMU, along with CS-Northridge in pool play before breaking up into bracket play. For more information about Arkansas volleyball, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.