EPPS' CAL STATE L.A. CAREER
FRESHMAN (2001): Redshirt season for CSULA coach Bill Lawler...REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2002): Starting middle blocker...named second team All-California Collegiate Athletic Association...second-best hitting percentage (.347) in the CCAA...posted 70 block assists, 10th-best in school history...hit .733 (11-0-15), versus Seattle Pacific, second on school's all-time match hitting percentage list...recorded 13 double-kills matches with career-high of 17 kills...SOPHOMORE (2003): Selected first team All-CCAA...eighth in CCAA in total blocks (96) and 11th in hitting percentage (.298)...named AVCA National Player of the Week and CCAA Player of the Week (Oct. 26) after notching 31 kills, hitting .636 and getting 9 blocks in pair of league wins...season's 78 block assists and 96 total blocks rank seventh in CSULA single season history...career-best 24 kills against Cal Poly Pomona...JUNIOR (2004): Named American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Honorable Mention All-America...averaged 4.18 kills and 0.95 blocks per game...hitting percentage of .387 set school single-season record...447 kills ranks fourth-best single season and 102 total blocks stands fifth-best season in CSULA single season history...in school career records, 277 total blocks is third-best and 239 block assists is second-best...also earned first-team All-CCAA and first-team All-Pacific Region honors...team's record was 17-12...made 10th NCAA Tournament appearance in the last 13 years...named to AVCA All-Region and Daktronics All-Region teams.
EPPS HIGH SCHOOL CAREER
Accumulated seven letters at Tulare Union High School...four as a middle blocker for volleyball coach Patrick Hamilton...two letters under track coach Guy Fowler...one letter in basketball...three-time scholar-athlete honoree...SOPHOMORE year voted most improved for volleyball...as a JUNIOR led Union High to an East Yosemite League volleyball title...received all-league honorable mention...voted team's best offensive player...during SENIOR year named all-league first team...voted team MVP...repeated as team best offensive player.
PERSONAL
Born Te'Ara Caprice Epps December 9, 1982, at Tulare, Calif...father Willard is Battalion chief for the Tulare City Fire Department...mother Debra is a customer service representative for a bank...one brother, Myron (12/4/79) played basketball at San Diego State...cousin Alfred Jackson played in NFL for Rams...majoring in sociology at WSU.
