The SMU women’s volleyball team has yet to play a game, but is already off to a strong start this season.

The Mustangs have added two more strong players in the offseason, Olivia Bailey and Maddie Lozano who are both transfers, to aid the team this upcoming year.

“We are excited to have two transfers join an already strong freshman class for 2012,” head coach Lisa Seifert said.

Bailey, a setter and native of Dallas, spent her last three seasons at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles where she ranked 10th all-time at the school with 2,340 assists, averaging 9.11 per set.

Bailey also raked in an impressive 494 digs and recorded 140 kills.

“Olivia [Bailey] should make an immediate impact in the setting position. She has three solid years of experience in a good program and has excelled against solid competition,” Seifert said.

Lozano, a current junior, comes to SMU after spending the last two years at Arizona at the net.

The 6-foot-1 middle blocker has had some strong experience of her own, playing 49 matches in which she had 71 kills and 72 blocks.

“Maddie [Lozano] is a great athlete who has experience playing in a great volleyball conference,” Seifert said. “I have very high expectations for both of these young ladies as they will challenge others for starting positions. They will bring experience and leadership to our program.”

Courtney Manning, a middle blocker for the Mustangs, has been named to the All-Conference USA preseason team.

Manning, a current senior, led the Mustangs last year with a single-season school record of 185 blocks, nearly 1.45 blocks per set, which made her 10th overall in the NCAA.

She enters her final season at SMU as the 11th all-time in Conference USA and third overall at SMU for blocks, with her 475 career blocks.

Manning also was strong on the offensive end, finishing with a team-high .307 hitting percentage, which includes an impressive 274 kills.

The Mustangs begin their season this Friday, Aug. 24, in Atlanta, Georgia, as they compete in the Georgia Tech Invite.