UCI women’s volleyball opens year in Montana

The UC Irvine women’s volleyball team’s season opener is right around the corner. The Anteaters open their 2007 schedule competing in the Montana Tournament at Missoula, Mont., Friday and Aug. 25.

UCI faces Montana this Friday at 6:00 p.m. On Aug. 25, the Anteaters meet Gonzaga at 9:00 a.m. and Canisius at 3:30 p.m.

Eighth-year coach Charlie Brande’s Anteaters were picked to finish third in the Big West Conference coaches’ preseason poll. The Anteaters, who concluded the 2006 season winning nine of their last 12 matches, return four All-Big West selections.

UCI is led by junior Lauren Kellerman, a 2006 All-Big West first-team honoree, who was second in the conference last year with a 4.21 kill average. Also returning is honorable-mention selection Kristin Kelley, who became just the fifth Anteater to reach 100 or more block assists in a season, totaling 107.

Taryn Robertson and McCall Miller were named to the ’06 Big West All-Freshman Team.

— From staff reports