"Ann had a tremendous offseason and has come into the fall in excellent shape. She is a strong, powerful and quick player who has excellent passing and digging skills and a powerful serving ability. We're very excited about her improvement in all areas of her game. It's exciting to see someone improve so much. Her weakness before was probably her lack of consistency in passing. She has overcome that now and has put herself in position to be our libero or one of our main defensive specialists."

HIGH SCHOOL: Mullins picked up three varsity letters in volleyball at Father Ryan High School, serving as team captain for two seasons...Also received two letters in basketball...Earned all-region volleyball recognition as a sophomore, junior and senior...During that stretch, her team compiled a record of 147-40 (.786) and reached at least the state semifinals each year...Lost in the state title game during her junior season...Named regional MVP as a senior, adding to her haul with first-team all-state honors as a junior and senior...Holds her high school's career record for digs...Also competed with the Impact Volleyball Club, serving as team captain for four years...During that time, her squad qualified for Junior Nationals four consecutive years, finishing as the runner-up in 2002 and 2003.

PERSONAL: Mullins is majoring in child and family studies at UT...Has four sisters: Lynne, 21; Marie, 14; Ellen, 12; and Maggie, 7...Chose Tennessee over Alabama, Belmont and St. Andrews...Wanted to come to UT because of the volleyball program's great potential, solid academics and the good environment...Lists the highest ambition in her sport as winning an SEC Championship and NCAA Championship...Famous people she admires are Lance Armstrong and Annika Sorenstam...Athlete she has modeled herself after is Serena Williams...Mullins' biggest sports thrill has been playing in the Junior Olympic finals twice...Enjoys swimming and photography in her spare time...Former teammates of Mullins playing collegiate volleyball include Ashley Cox (Auburn), Lauren Greenwood (Northwestern), Emily Perilli (Virginia), Maggie Tucker (Belmont), Shannon Welch (Jacksonville) and Jess Woods (Miami University)...Her biggest sports influence was her mother, Sarah, who was a basketball player at FRHS...Father, Steve, attended UT from 1975-77...Ann Kathryn Mullins, the daughter of Steve and Sarah Mullins, was born on Aug. 30, 1985, in Nashville, Tenn.