2008 Woodie Awards
MSU volleyball ready to take another step forward
by Josh Hebrink
Issue date: 8/28/08
Section: Womens Sports
The Minnesota State volleyball team is set for its journey to Colorado as it opens the 2008 season in a big way, with four matches scheduled in two days.
Leaving the success of 2007 behind, the Mavericks squad will make its debut in the Golden Oredigger Classic at 11 a.m. Friday against Mesa State (Colo.), followed by another matchup against Adams State (Colo.) at 5:30 p.m.
On Saturday the Mavericks will play two more matches, with the first scheduled for 3:30 p.m. against Western State (Colo.) and the second match against Chadron State (Neb.) at 7:30 p.m.
"Our main focus is to find out how our system is working and find our strengths and weaknesses," said Mavericks head coach Dennis Amundson, ready to put nearly three weeks of practice to the test.
The Mavericks will also be looking for senior Ashley Nachreiner to come out strong and prove her leadership early in the tournament.
"Ashley has worked hard in the offseason and she's ready to enjoy her final season," Amundson said.
Nachreiner, an outside hitter in her fourth year as a starter, led the team in kills last season. Statistics are not the primary concern going into the first four matches for her and the Mavericks, however.
"The most important goal is to find team chemistry and work together this early in the season," she said.
And without the advantage of scouting their opponents in the Golden Oredigger Classic, the Mavericks will have to rely on team chemistry to get them through each match.
"We haven't exchanged tapes with other teams or anything," Amundson said, "so the only scouting we'll be able to do is to watch the teams during their games."
Winona State and Wayne State, new foes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, will also participate in the fall volleyball classic but will not play the Mavericks during their time in Colorado.
As for MSU's opponents at the invite, they know exactly what to expect from the Mavericks: quality volleyball.
The American Volleyball Coaches Association pre-season poll ranked the Mavericks at No. 19 in the nation, two spots ahead of where MSU finished last season.
Pre-season polls are no where to be found in the minds of the Maverick volleyball squad, however.
"We don't look at those polls, we just go out there and play," Amundson said.
And MSU is ready to go to Colorado and do just that.
"Everyone is excited to start playing games again and see what we can do in the next couple of weekends," Nachreiner said.
Josh Hebrink is a Reporter staff writer
Leaving the success of 2007 behind, the Mavericks squad will make its debut in the Golden Oredigger Classic at 11 a.m. Friday against Mesa State (Colo.), followed by another matchup against Adams State (Colo.) at 5:30 p.m.
On Saturday the Mavericks will play two more matches, with the first scheduled for 3:30 p.m. against Western State (Colo.) and the second match against Chadron State (Neb.) at 7:30 p.m.
"Our main focus is to find out how our system is working and find our strengths and weaknesses," said Mavericks head coach Dennis Amundson, ready to put nearly three weeks of practice to the test.
The Mavericks will also be looking for senior Ashley Nachreiner to come out strong and prove her leadership early in the tournament.
"Ashley has worked hard in the offseason and she's ready to enjoy her final season," Amundson said.
Nachreiner, an outside hitter in her fourth year as a starter, led the team in kills last season. Statistics are not the primary concern going into the first four matches for her and the Mavericks, however.
"The most important goal is to find team chemistry and work together this early in the season," she said.
And without the advantage of scouting their opponents in the Golden Oredigger Classic, the Mavericks will have to rely on team chemistry to get them through each match.
"We haven't exchanged tapes with other teams or anything," Amundson said, "so the only scouting we'll be able to do is to watch the teams during their games."
Winona State and Wayne State, new foes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, will also participate in the fall volleyball classic but will not play the Mavericks during their time in Colorado.
As for MSU's opponents at the invite, they know exactly what to expect from the Mavericks: quality volleyball.
The American Volleyball Coaches Association pre-season poll ranked the Mavericks at No. 19 in the nation, two spots ahead of where MSU finished last season.
Pre-season polls are no where to be found in the minds of the Maverick volleyball squad, however.
"We don't look at those polls, we just go out there and play," Amundson said.
And MSU is ready to go to Colorado and do just that.
"Everyone is excited to start playing games again and see what we can do in the next couple of weekends," Nachreiner said.
Josh Hebrink is a Reporter staff writer
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