BEAUMONT, Texas - Reporting to campus for the first time after an offseason that featured significant change, Lamar University's volleyball team began its 2018 journey Tuesday with the first official practice of the year.

"This upcoming year we will have a veteran team mixed with some newcomers that will make a big impact," said interim head coach Michelle Kuester. "The team is coming back hungry and excited for a new year. They have been great about buying into the new system and putting in extra work to make the improvements we need to see for the fall. I think Lamar fans can expect to see a more fiery and competitive team than what they have seen in the past."

Dubbed Lamar's ninth head coach in program history after the conclusion of the 2017 season, Kuester has been busy installing a new system and a new coaching staff, including former head of player development for New Mexico State Chelsea Rose, who will function as the recruiting coordinator for Kuester and as an assistant coach. Kuester also brought back former Cardinal standout Amy Hollowell as a graduate assistant.

The 2018 returnees include over 75 percent of LU's points from last season and Honorable Mention All-Southland Conference member Tomar Thomas, as well as over 70 percent of its blocks from a year ago. The eight returnees are included below:

 

#	Name	Pos.	Height	Year	Hometown	Previous School
3	Zahria Scott	DS/L	5-3	Sr.	Houston, Texas	Cypress Falls HS
7	Ivette Dim	OH/MB	6-2	Sr.	Houston, Texas	Alief Hastings HS
13	Murielle Hlavac	OH	5-8	Sr.	Mansfield, Texas	Lake Ridge HS
14	Monica Strohschein	OH	5-9	Sr.	Reno, Nev.	Wooster HS
15	Tomar Thomas	OH/MB	6-1	Sr.	Houston, Texas	Cypress Lake HS
5	Erin Pequeno	DS/L	5-4	R-Jr.	Baytown, Texas	Goose Creek Memorial HS
6	Dannisha House	MB	6-1	Jr.	Houston, Texas	Fort Bend Hightower HS
1	Bre'Ala Box	MB	5-10	So.	Arlington, Texas	Nimitz HS

A full half of the 2018 squad will be new to the Cards this season though, including five freshmen, a sophomore transfer from South Dakota State, and two junior college transfers, including a former member of the Tahitian national team. Their list follows below:

 

#	Name	Pos.	Height	Year	Hometown	Previous School
8	Nina Pevic	OH/RS	5-8	Jr.	Umag, Croatia	Hutchinson Community College
9	Moerani Maire	S	5-9	Jr.	French Island of Tahiti	San Jacinto Junior College
16	Brie-Anna Armstrong	OH	5-9	So.	San Antonio, Texas	South Dakota State University
2	Abigale Nash	OH	5-9	Fr.	Tucson, Ariz.	Sahuaro HS
4	Mercedes Danrich	OH	6-0	Fr.	Beaumont, Texas	Ozen HS
11	Kinsy Haschke	OH	5-10	Fr.	Mont Belvieu, Texas	Barbers Hill HS
12	Alyssa Legette	L/DS	5-2	Fr.	Round Rock, Texas	Stony Point HS
21	Kyla Rogers	S	5-8	Fr.	Grand Prairie, Texas	South Grand Prairie HS

The 2018 volleyball season starts in just 17 days in the Jax State Invitational, hosted by Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Ala., on August 24 and 25.

Season tickets and individual game tickets are available for sale now online by clicking here, on the phone at 409-880-1715, or at the Lamar Cardinals ticket office located in the Montagne Center.