The University of Arkansas Blossoms volleyball team got the 2023 season underway with a home exhibition contest against NCAA Division I opponent, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Lady Golden Lions.
Blossoms fans got a first look at the 2023 team that includes six returning players with Senior Stasha Adams from Pearland, Texas, Sophomore Jasmine Welton from Tampa, Florida, Sophomore Allyson Gresham from Liberty City, Texas, Junior Abrielle Jordan from Cedar Hill, Texas, Junior Ariana Compean from Diboll, Texas, and Sophomore Holiday Ellis from Inglewood, California.
The team has grown from 14 players from the 2022 squad to 23 players for the 2023 season consisting of one senior, five juniors, three sophomores, and 15 freshmen.
Also returning to the Blossoms sideline will be head coach Katrina English who returns for her second season as the head coach.
English has added assistant Hunter Henry to the staff. Henry previously served as the assistant with the Memphis Junior Volleyball Association. Henry also spent time as a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee with the Lady Volunteers during the 2021 season in which the Lady Vols made it to the field of 32 in the National Title Tournament.
In the exhibition contest with UAPB, the Blossoms would take the first set by a score of 27-25, but the Golden Lions would come back to take the next two sets from the Blossoms 25-17, and 25-16, to take a 3-1 advantage.
The Blossoms would force a fifth set after taking the fourth set 25-18 but after a competitive start to the fifth and final set the Lady Golden Lions would pull away to take the set 15-10 to claim the match with a 3-2 margin.
The Blossoms will host an Alumni Scrimmage contest on Saturday, August 26, at Steelman Fieldhouse at 11 am before getting the season started on Friday, September 1, hosting the Blossom Invitational Tournament.
The two day event will begin on Friday, September 1, at 11 am with the Blossoms taking on Truman State University and returning to the court at 5 pm to face Northern State University.
On Saturday, September 2, the Blossoms will play Maryville University at 11 am and will return to face Christian Brothers at 5 pm.
