Aug. 22, 2001

WACO, Texas - Less than two weeks before the beginning of the 2001 season, Baylor volleyball learned Wednesday that junior outside hitter Lisa Smith will be forced to miss the entire season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. Smith is in her first season with the Baylor program after transferring to the school from Blinn County College in January.

"It's an unfortunate situation," Baylor head coach Brian Hosfeld said. "The main thing is that we hate to see someone have to go through something like this. We feel bad for Lisa, but we are confident that she will be able to come back from this. The fortunate thing is that it happened early enough that she will not lose a season of eligibility."

A second-team junior college all-America selection last season at Blinn, Smith sustained the injury Aug. 16 during the Bears' final practice of their two-week training session in Japan. It is expected that she will receive a medical redshirt for the 2001 season.

"This is a blow to our team," Hosfeld said. "But it's adversity, and every team has to overcome some amount of adversity. The majority of our senior class has been through this before with Kirsten Berg missing most of the 1998 season, but that does not make it any easier. I'm confident, though, in our team's ability to get through this and find ways to make things happen."

Baylor will open its season next weekend at the Nokia Sugar Bowl Tournament, hosted by Tulane University in New Orleans, La. However, fans can get their first look at the 2001 edition of the volleyball Bears at 7:30 p.m. Saturday as Baylor holds its annual Green and Gold Scrimmage at the Ferrell Center.