COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - University of Colorado Colorado Springs Head Volleyball Coach Keith Barnett will open the 2012 fall season Monday morning with two practices at the UCCS Recreation Center. The Mountain Lions will begin with 14 student-athletes on the roster, including five seniors.

UCCS finished last season two matches out of the RMAC Tournament in the competitive East Division, a division that featured four teams ranked in the AVCA Top 25 national poll at one point in the season. The Mountain Lions put together one of the top defenses in the conference last season, led by the league's top blocker in senior Nikki Kinzer. She also ranked No. 16 in Division II last season blocks per set.

Barnett has posted winning seasons in each of his first three seasons and won his 50th match as a collegiate coach in the 2011 season finale against Chadron State. He's the fastest coach in program history to win 50 matches and needs eight wins to tie for second in UCCS career coaching victories.

The Mountain Lions will enjoy one full week of practices before the start of the school year on Aug. 20. UCCS opens the 2012 regular season at the Grand Canyon Invitational Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in Phoenix, Ariz.