Toyota Classic comes to Gampel

Last season, the women's volleyball team finished with the most wins the program has earned since 2001. The team is looking to continue to improve in 2009. With five returning starters, a successful season is within their grasp.

Holly Strauss-O'Brien will return for her fifth year as head coach, aided by Assistant Head Coaches Tim O'Brien and Eddie Stawinski. In 2008, Strauss-O'Brien led the team to a 10-4 in-conference record, and an overall record of 21-11. Associate Athletic Director and Program Administrator Vaughn Williams says that Strauss-O'Brien has "resurrected the UConn program with vision, energy, commitment and passion."

A trio of three star seniors, Jessica Isaac, Chauntay Mickens, and Devon Farrell, hope to lead the squad to their fourth-consecutive Big East tournament. Mickens was an All-Big East second team selection in 2008.

"She [Mickens] has the ability to be a major terminator for us this season, and we need her to be efficient consistently and aggressively," Coach Strauss-O'Brien said.

The team's new setter is expected to be sophomore transfer, Samantha Arriaran. Freshman recruits Keeley Abram, Cayla Broadwater, Kelsey Maving, and Mattison Quayle will compete this season for playing time in order to accompany the returning players.

"Our program is full of change...an exciting change," says O'Brien.

UConn volleyball has been selected seventh in the Big East preseason coach's pool and has suffered four early season losses.

"There is no doubt that this program is headed in the right direction," Williams said, despite initial setbacks.

This weekend, the team hopes to gain their first win of the season at the UConn Toyota Classic.

In their second game, the team will take on Long Island at 7:30 pm. in Gampel Pavilion. The tournament continues on Saturday, September 5 with a double-header for UConn. First up are the New Hampshire University Wildcats at 12:30 p.m., followed by the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs at 7:30 pm. After this home tournament, the Huskies will travel to Ohio for the Dayton tournament, followed by a trip to Massachusetts for the Boston College tournament to kick off Big East play against rival Notre Dame. Last year, the UConn squad lost a grueling first-round match to the Fighting Irish in the Big East Tournament.

The team will be facing Big East opponents on the road all throughout the month of November just before the start of the 2009 Big East Tournament, which will take place this year in Louisville, Kentucky.

With familiar faces in the line-up and highly anticipated additions, the volleyball team is geared up for a promising season.