Volleyball Holds First Set of Practices on Thursday
8/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 5, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The volleyball team began its 2010 season with a set of practices Thursday in the CAVE. The Crimson Tide opened its first of 11 preseason practice days at 7 a.m. followed by its second session of the day at 3 p.m. focusing on defense and ball control.
"Aside from working on the skills, today was really about helping our newcomers learn about what is expected here," Alabama head coach Judy Green said. "The returners did a great job this summer helping our freshmen to be more prepared heading into today. I think they handled it very well. The goal was to get a lot of touches and get a feel for the chemistry of the group. I am very encouraged by what we saw."
The Tide's 2010 roster consists of eight returning players in seniors Mary Catherine Aune, Calli Johnson, Alyssa Meuth and Kayla Schmidt, junior Stephanie Riley, and sophomores Kelsey Anderson, Kayla Fitterer and Leigh Moyer. Joining the returnees are five freshmen including Molly Ahrens, Shelbi Goode and Morgan Hendrix, who are all from Texas, Georgia native Kelsey Melito and Colorado's Brianne Vande Griend.
"I enjoyed watching the team compete today," Green added. "It is very healthy for them to have competition with each other early on. I think that level of competitiveness is going to grow more and more as they get familiar with each other. Everyone really had a good feeling leaving the gym."
Alabama plays its first match of the season on Aug. 27 when it travels to Iowa City for the Hawkeye Challenge. The Tide will take on Iowa in its first of three matches at the tournament on the opening night at 7 p.m. Alabama then faces Green Bay on Aug. 28 at 4:30 p.m. and wraps up play with Southern Illinois on Aug. 29 at 11:30 a.m. The Tide also has a series of events planned for Sunday, Aug. 8 as it will sign autographs at Gate 5 of Bryant-Denny Stadium from 1-2 p.m. and will host its Fan Day later in the evening at 6 p.m. in the CAVE.
