Volleyball eager for new season, looks to improve
Holly Williams
Issue date: 7/12/05 Section: Sports
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For a pre-season warm-up, the team recently played at an Open National Championship Tournament in Colorado with the Victors Volleyball Club. There, they worked on team bonding.
The women have also been involved in a summer strength-training program. This includes working out twice a week at UM-D's Wellness Center and once a week in the gym doing circuit training with Coach Al Edwards.
On July 31, the team will backpack to Lake Placid for a week-long team building experience. At the end of August, the team will go to Chicago to train at the Great Lakes Center with Rick Butler, a coach well-known within the volleyball community.
For the upcoming season, the team will be looking at a roster of between 14 and 16 players. This will include returning players, about three to four freshmen, and one or two transfer students.
"Last season, we finished third in the WHAC (Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference)," Head Coach Mike Gibson said when asked what he hopes to accomplish this season. "This year, one of our goals will be to improve on that finish."
Amy Rathsburg, a junior and defensive specialist, has high hopes this can happen.
"I just know this upcoming season is going to be the best by far," Rathsburg said. "We are going to accomplish things that weren't even feasible in the previous years."
She goes on to state: "We have a great group of girls and for once we have the want and the confidence to have an incredible season. Everyone is in the same boat and we all want to succeed."
Yolanda Koszela, a senior and the team's captain, also has high expectations.
"I believe this year's team is going to be one of the strongest and most experienced teams that the university has had in past years," Koszela said. "We are looking at a very athletic team this year that has high potential."
When talking about competing with nationally-ranked teams, such as Madonna and Cornerstone, both ladies say the team has the ability and confidence to win.
"We know this year that we can beat Madonna and we can beat Cornerstone," Rathsburg said. "All we need now is the chance do it."
With this attitude, the season is looking bright for the team. The women have been working and hope that it will help them in the long run to accomplish their goals.
There will be walk-on tryouts for anyone interested in playing on Tuesday July 26 from 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the UM-D Fieldhouse. It is open to all students enrolled in the Fall term.