ADA – East Central University, which launched its first volleyball program back in the fall, will now take a new exciting step by participating in the First Lone Star Conference Spring Sand Volleyball Tournament on Saturday at the Lone Star Courts in Coppell, Texas.

            The one-day tournament, which begins at 10 a.m.,  will feature five LSC schools – Abilene Christian, Angelo State, Midwestern State, Eastern New Mexico and ECU, making up 20 two-person teams.

            The Lady Tigers will have four tandems as Jacqueline Sparks and Emily Holombek will team up together as well as Holly Hicks-Shayla May, Chelsea Whitmire-Malorie Bolton and Sarah Henry-Megan Kimak.

            Recently, the NCAA voted to implement sand volleyball as a competitive sport at the Division I and II levels, potentially with the 2010-11 school year.

            “This is a great opportunity to have some of our players participate in this sport and get some exposure to it,” said ECU head volleyball coach Dave Thorn.

            Saturday’s play will begin under a round-robin pool play format, followed by a championship tournament later in the day.