Volleyball opens fall practice

By Brandon Lee

Assistant Sports Information Director

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – With a little more than a week until the season opener, the Huntingdon volleyball team is five days into preseason practice.

After finishing second in the Great South Athletic Conference in 2012, the Lady Hawks are preparing for the upcoming season and their first year in the USA South Athletic Conference.

"I'm pleasantly surprised," said head volleyball coach Amy Patterson, who has three starters returning from last season. "We've got a larger number of girls than we had last year with 19. I think we're coming in ahead in certain areas from where we were last year."

Patterson's squad will feature 14 newcomers and five returners, including two seniors, one junior, five sophomores and 11 freshmen.

"Just them stepping on the court and communicating, knowing certain things and having some players that play year round is good," Patterson said. "We've got a little bit more experience and knowledge, so right now we're starting to finally see what things we need to tweak and work on going forward."

The Lady Hawks will continue practice during the next week before hitting the court for the first competition on Aug. 30 in the Huntingdon College Jubilee.