Choices, choices. So many choices.

Erika Arthur was making them Monday afternoon, helping her teammates on the A&M Consolidated volleyball squad divide into teams to get more out of their work during open gym. Among the other decisions Arthur faces is whether to continue her volleyball career in college or focus strictly on academics.

Arthur has that kind of ability, and she leads a group of Lady Tigers that coach Cydryce McMillian believes is capable of overcoming the loss of last season's highly accomplished seniors.

High school volleyball teams will begin preseason workouts Monday. Consol must replace four starters off the team that was ranked in the Top 10 and reached the regional semifinals for the second consecutive year.

The Lady Tigers will build around middle blockers Arthur and Julia Westerbur along with setters Bailey Gillum and Casey Shomaker. Several players with limited varsity experience could inherit key roles, including Ashten Landry, Neely Edwards and Paulina Ramirez.

"I don't see a drop-off," McMillian said. "We have a lot of talent. They should walk into the gym with a feeling of confidence knowing that we have been successful in the past but knowing that they have their own journey to take now."

Arthur, who will be a three-year starter, should lead the way. Last season she led the Lady Tigers in hitting percentage, aces and blocks during district play despite playing on a team with a strong senior class. She also prepped for this year's leading role by serving as a team captain last season.

"I'm a little more comfortable in my role because last year I was a captain," Arthur said. "I need to bring everybody together and make sure we're on the same page so we can pick up where we left off last year.

"I'm going to make it a point to be outspoken and get everybody going. If it doesn't fit my personality, it's going to have to. As a senior, it's my responsibility."

McMillian won't ask Arthur to carry the team by herself. The coach believes the Lady Tigers have enough talent to share the load.

In addition to the returning letter winners, McMillian expects major contributions from 6-foot-3 junior Jaclyn Roddy and senior Shelly Hudspeth, who helped the JV go undefeated before joining the varsity during last season's playoff run.

"As many seniors as we lost, we still have a good group coming back," McMillian said. "The biggest thing is making them all jell together and feel comfortable together. We have the talent. We have the ability to dig. We have hitters. We have setters."

The 5-11 Arthur's exceptional athletic ability caught McMillian's attention early in her first season as Consol coach two years ago.

"I saw her during tryouts her sophomore year and went, 'Wow! We can train her to be a great volleyball athlete,'" McMillian said. "Over the years I feel like she's matured so much as a player."

Arthur carries a 4.2 grade point average and ranks in the top 8 percent of her class. She wants to study business in college, and she isn't sure whether she will accept a scholarship offer to play volleyball from schools such as North Texas, Sam Houston State, Delaware and Emory.

"Academics have always been big in my household," Arthur said. "I do have the option to go to school strictly for academics, or to go and play volleyball. It's really a tough decision. I'm trying to bide my time, but eventually I'm going to have to decide."

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NOTES -- Arthur stopped playing basketball and running track last year in order to concentrate on volleyball. She is thinking about playing basketball as a senior for new coach Karen Heintz. ... Arthur started volleyball in the seventh grade. Before that she played soccer, connected to that sport because her father is from Ghana. ... Consol again will play a challenging predistrict schedule, with tournaments in Duncanville, New Braunfels and Pearland. The Lady Tigers will scrimmage at Magnolia on Aug. 7. The regular season opener will be at home against College Park on Aug. 10.