Always too soon, we’ve reached another season’s end and the last chance to see our seniors wearing the orange and white. This year we’ve only got one that’s been here for four years. So let’s dig through the archives and take a look back at Ellen Mullins before she took the court for Tennessee — high school and club, what was said about her, thoughts on her arrival at UT, and some old photos!

HS COACH JINX COCKERHAM: “She is the type of player who loves the contact, the competition, but not the glory. She never stops playing.”

PREPVOLLEYBALL: “A great leader who helps a team as much off the court as on it, Mullins is the kind of back row player who makes the spectacular look ordinary. Said one club coach: ‘While her defense is what is counted on the most at the high school level, her serve/receive passing is going to make her a star at the next level'”.

PATRICK: “We’re extremely excited to add another in-state player to our roster. 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.”

MULLINS: “I decided to come to the University of Tennessee to play volleyball because I’m from Nashville and it’s not too far away, and it’s always been a dream to be a Lady Vol. I’m the type of player who’s energetic and fun to be around and am aways in the middle of things. My role on the team is to be an energetic person, to fire everybody up, get everyone pumped up. My goal for the season is to win the SEC Championship.”

PATRICK: “Ellen is going to bring a tremendous amount of energy to our program. She is a very strong, skilled player who has set and hit in both club and high school. Although she will play more of a defensive specialist role here at Tennessee, her volleyball IQ is extremely high because she has played a number of positions. She is going to push for a lot of playing time early in her career and we will put her right in the mix for the libero position. Once she becomes comfortable with her defensive responsibilities she will be a tremendous asset for us.”