Aug. 11, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford volleyball team began working towards the 2005 season Thursday evening. After the team reported, it went through two jump tests and a conditioning test.

The team begins practice with two workouts on Friday. The Bulldogs will practice at 1:45 p.m., and again at 6:30 p.m. in Seibert Hall.

"We have six freshmen coming in, and we are looking forward to seeing what they can do," Head Coach Michelle Durban said. "We are also looking to see how the returnees come back from what we did in the spring, and hoping we can build on that and continue where we left off."

Durban is in her second season as the head coach of the Bulldogs after spending the previous four seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama. Durban's first team posted a record of 5-21. However, this season the team welcomes six new players with the signing class ranked in the top 85 in the country by PrepVolleyball.com.

The Bulldogs open the 2005 regular season on August 27, when the team travels to Troy, Ala., to take part in the Trojan Spiketacular, hosted by Troy University. Samford will take on North Florida at 1:00 p.m., and Troy at 7:00 p.m. The first home match for the Bulldogs is scheduled for September 6 at 7:00 p.m. against UAB