Lady Vols Add Another Tenn. Native

     KNOXVILLE – Already with one of the top signing classes in the nation for 2010 in the fold, the University of Tennessee volleyball program has added yet another highly regarded player to its roster for the upcoming season, as Nashville native Ellen Mullins has signed a financial aid offer to play for the Lady Volunteers, UT Head Coach Rob
Patrick announced last Thursday.
    "First of all, we're extremely excited to add another in-state player to our roster," Patrick said. "Ellen is a tremendous all-around athlete who has played the game from a very young age. Because she has played every position on the court except for middle blocker, she understands how to play the game the right way. We are thrilled to be adding her to the Lady Vol family.
    ”She is a very vocal player that will bring a tremendous amount of energy into the gym and has the ability to play very early in her career at Tennessee."
    A 5-6 libero/defensive specialist, Mullins spent her prep career at Father Ryan High School in Nashville where she became the first player in school history to start every match for four consecutive seasons while leading the Lady Irish to the state championships each year and earning team MVP honors in both 2008 and 2009.
    Mullins is quite familiar with the University of Tennessee as her father, Steve, attended school in Knoxville from 1975-79, while her sister, Ann, was a member of the Lady Vol volleyball team in both 2003 and 2004 before transferring to Lipscomb where she was named Atlantic
Sun Libero of the Year in 2005 and earned first team all-conference honors in 2006. She also has a sister, Marie, who is currently a setter for Austin Peay.
    A four-time all-state and all-region performer, Mullins has earned numerous honors from PrepVolleyball.com, claiming "Highest Honorable Mention" All-American status and being named to the Senior Top 150 list in 2009. She was also a part of the web site's "Defensive Dandies" list from 2006-09.
    A finalist for the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year last season, Mullins was previously named the "Libero of the Year' by The Tennessean in 2007 and was a four-time All-Midstate honoree by the newspaper from 2006-09 as well. She was also a standout in the classroom at Father Ryan High School where she claimed a spot on the honor roll each semester for four years.
    Mullins participated on the Nashville One and Impact Volleyball Club teams during her prep years as well. She helped the Nashville One squad qualify for the USA Volleyball (USAV) Junior Olympics in April of 2009, while Impact VBC earned a spot at the national tournament each year from 2003-08, winning the competition in both 2006 and 2008.
    Mullins will join a talented freshman class for the Lady Vols, which also includes Knoxville native and setter Kylann Scheidt who has already enrolled in classes at Tennessee and participated in spring practice. UT signed outside hitters Kelsey Robinson and Carly Sahagian, both from Bartlett, Ill., earlier this fall as well.