At the end of Wednesday's practice Amber Sutherland felt like ... well, Amber Sutherland.

And that's big news for the Colorado volleyball program.

CU's talented senior hitter -- after redshirting last season due to shoulder surgery -- appears to be returning to form just in time for what the Buffs believe will be a resurgence year for them in the Big 12.

Sutherland, who last played at the end of the 2006 campaign, returns to the floor today when CU opens the season against Troy at 3:30 p.m. at the Mississippi State Classic.

"It has definitely been a struggle. I've been working hard, rehabbing hard, just trying to get back into everything," Sutherland said after the intense six-on-six scrimmage session inside a balmy Balch Fieldhouse. "It's all mental right now. ... Honestly, today toward the end (of practice) was when I started feeling like my old self. I was swinging high, taking smart shots, passing well, playing good defense."

The Buffs are trying to bounce back from a woeful 2007 season that ended with a 6-22 record, including a 1-19 mark in the Big 12. It was the first time since 1986, the first year of varsity volleyball at CU, that the program finished a season with just six victories.

The loss of Sutherland before the season set an ominous tone. And things only got worse with other key players -- including Schylur Edelman, Lauren Schaefer and Kristin Martell -- also struggling with injuries.

Pi'i Aiu believes the Buffs have the talent and depth to return to the NCAA tournament, as long as the training staff isn't nearly as busy this fall as it was last season.

"The nice thing right now is we have competition all over the place," said Aiu, who is entering his 13th season as CU's head coach. He guided the program to nine consecutive NCAA Tournaments before the streak was snapped last year. "That's the best thing that has happened so far. When everybody on your team is playing well you get better in leaps and bounds."

In the middle, freshman Alex Penewell is pushing both Edelman and Schaefer for playing time. Megan Cyr, another freshman, has been competing with junior Kaitlyn Burkett at setter. Sophomore Rosie Steinhaus has been moved to the right side and has responded well at a position where CU is already solid with senior Alex Buth.

And on the outside, Christan Schaefer should be another powerful weapon to complement Sutherland.

"We've been focusing on team chemistry and helping each other out. Once I step on that court it's just going to be like (a) scrimmage. I just have to be confident in knowing what I can do and just try to control that," Sutherland said when asked if she would be nervous in her first game back from the serious injury. "We have a very talented freshmen class and it's good for them because we have five seniors this year. And it's good for us to be able to be role models for them and show them how CU volleyball is and what it's all about. They definitely bring a lot of diversity to our team and a lot of athleticism."

CU was picked to finish seventh in the Big 12 this season, just ahead of Oklahoma and Baylor. The coaching staff and players had different reactions to the preseason poll.

"Coming in seventh I was like, 'Ouch!' At the same time, our record wasn't the best last year," Sutherland said. "For the most part we're really healthy. We have 18 or 19 girls on our team, so we have a lot of depth at each position and it pushes us day in and day out. I don't think anyone is going to expect us to be as good as we are."

There is a major rule change in collegiate volleyball teams will have to adjust to in 2008. The first four games of a match will be scored to 25 instead of 30 (must win by two points) with the fifth game still being scored to 15.

Aiu doesn't understand why the change was necessary. Most teams wait nine months between the end of one season until the start of the next season, so why the rush to end the matches?

"We looked at most of our matches last year and it wouldn't have changed many matches. It changed a couple games, but we still lost five-game matches," Aiu said. "But I don't like it, to be honest with you, because I think there's going to be some matches where the crowd is going to come here for an hour. That I don't like. When people are looking for the entertainment value for their money they want a contest that's going to go an hour and a half minimum, or something like that."

The Buffs had to fly to Memphis and then drive about two and a half hours down to Starkville, Miss., for this tournament. CU will also play Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Saturday at 11 a.m. and host Mississippi State in the nightcap on Saturday at 6 p.m.

"We're going to have a lot of team bonding," Sutherland said. "We're all itching just to turn last season around completely. We don't want to lose one game this season, so we're really focused."

Soccer team

opens Big 12 play

The good news: Kate Russell has made a pretty smooth transition from Silver Creek High School star to CU starting midfielder.

The bad news: The freshman's first career goal, scored 10 minutes into the opener against Florida one week ago, is the only goal the Buffs have scored in two games this season.

CU is either going to need Russell to add to her total or for some other players to join the fun because the Big 12 season begins tonight against Texas Tech at 6 p.m. in Lubbock.

"The first two games, I think it's hard to come in and play with people you haven't played with before," Russell said after a recent practice. "We're definitely getting our opportunities, it's just a matter of putting them away. You can only have so many misses until things start going in. Hopefully things change this week."

The Buffs (0-1-1) were able to manage a tie against No. 20 Florida and lost to rival Denver 1-0 on Sunday. Tonight's game will be played at Texas Tech's brand new John Walker Soccer Complex.

On an artificial surface.

"I'm absolutely not looking forward to it because it's on turf," CU head coach Bill Hempen said. "I think it's a shame that they have to play on turf."

The Buffs practiced on the turf at the CU football practice fields instead of at Prentup Field during the week to get acclimated to the speed of the surface and the higher bounces of the ball.

Last season Texas Tech, which opened the 2008 season with a 4-0 home victory over Lamar, pulled off a 1-0 victory in Boulder.

"I think it will definitely help kind of set the mood for the rest of the season," Russell said of playing an early conference game. "I'm not used to playing such intense games back to back. Those first two games set a new pace for me. It's good to get those out of the way and then start conference play."

CU will return home to play San Francisco at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Prentup Field in either sole possession of first or last place in the Big 12.

On Sept. 19 against Gonzaga and Sept. 21 against Fresno State, the Buffs will be wearing pink jerseys at the CU Soccer Classic to help in the fight against breast cancer.

The jerseys will be auctioned off to support breast cancer research. Donation boxes will also be available at the gates of Prentup Field and fans are encouraged to wear pink. All proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast

Cancer Foundation. For

more information, visit www.CUBuffs.com/pink.

Harriers begin

CU's cross country teams will begin the season by hosting an open time trial on Saturday. The women's race is at 8:30 a.m. followed by the men's race at 9:15 a.m.

The event, which will not be a team scored meet but includes local squads from the Colorado School of Mines and Metro State, will be held at CU's Buffalo Ranch.