Aug. 4, 2006

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State volleyball kicks off its preseason training on Aug. 6 with 13 players reporting for camp, including 2005 All-OVC players Jamie Baumstark (Hermann, Mo.) and Jessica Koeper (Jackson, Mo.). The first set of practices is scheduled to begin on Aug. 8 and will continue until the Redhawks compete in their annual Alumni Match, held at Houck Fieldhouse on Aug. 19.

In addition to Baumstark and Koeper, second-year head coach Renata Nowacki also welcomes back starters Brittany Hastings (Wichita, Kan./Circle H.S.), Katrina Niemeyer (Germantown, Ill./Mater Dei) and Brenna Schlader (Columbia, Mo./Hickman) in addition to five newcomers entering their first year of NCAA Division I volleyball competition.

Southeast opens the 2006 season on Aug. 25-26 at the Ole Miss Invitational in Oxford, Miss. Teams scheduled to face the Redhawks are Pittsburgh, Arkansas-Little Rock, Western Carolina and the host Lady Rebels. The Arkansas Invitational (Sept. 1-2) and the Memphis Invitational (Sept. 8-9) are the other early season tournaments that Southeast will compete this year. The first home game of the season takes place on Sept. 20 against Bradley with a 7 p.m. start time at Houck.