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TOPEKA, Kan. -- The 2010 Washburn Lady Blues volleyball team returned to the court this week for their first practices as they prepare for the upcoming season. The Lady Blues were picked second in the MIAA preseason coaches poll and are ranked No. 6 in the AVCA preseason coaches poll. Washburn opens the season on September 3 and 4 at the St. Mary's Invitational in San Antonio, Texas.

To get you ready for the upcoming season we'll preview the Lady Blues. First up are the hitters.

The Lady Blues return nearly every hitter from the 2009 team. On the outside, Washburn returns sophomores Hillary Hughes and Jessica Kopp, along with juniors Courtney Wallman and Jennifer Kolarik. Former all-region player and and two time all-MIAA selection, senior Ashley Shepard suffered an off-season knee injury and will miss the beginning of the season as she works her way back.

Hughes finished fourth on the team with 248 kills and was fifth with 2.28 kills per set as a freshman.
Kopp came on strong at the end of her freshman campaign and finished with 140 kills, including a double-double performance in the NCAA regional semifinals.

Wallman finished 2009 with 61 kills, while Kolarik had 25, but also had 21 service aces, third best on the team. Both players should push for more time in 2010 along with newcomers Kelsey Lewis and Aubri Renshaw.

Lewis, a Topeka, native, was a first team all-city selection all four years in high school and was a three time all-conference choice. She was named city MVP and league MVP two times and helped Washburn Rural capture the State Championship as a senior.

Renshaw was a member of the 2009 Missouri All-Star team and was a first team all-conference, all-district and all-region selection following her senior year at Raymore-Peculiar High School.

Middle Hitters
Washburn returns three players in the middle that saw significant action in 2009. Leading the way is returning All-American Mollie Lacy. Lacy led the team with 380 kills, 2.99 kills per set and led the MIAA and finished fifth in NCAA-II with a .405 attack percentage, setting a single-season school record in the process. She was a first team all-MIAA, all-region and honorable mention all-American last year.

Sophomore Jessica Fey was fifth on the team with 211 kills as a first-year player and senior Kelci Wigger tallied 101 kills and 66 blocks during her junior campaign. McKayla Gowen will push for time as well after sitting out her first season as a redshirt.

Rightside Hitters
Junior all-region selection Breanna Lewis returns to head the rightside hitters. She was second on the team with 287 kills and had 77 blocks a season ago. Fey will most likely split time between the middle and rightside as she did during her freshman season.

Up next the liberos and setters.