Volleyball looking for a strong season in 2016

By Chuck Tidmore

Sports Information Assistant 

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon volleyball team opens its 2016 regular season on Friday and head coach Latonia Brady is excited where her team is at.

The Hawks feature 14 newcomers on this season's roster and Coach Brady believes her team will be at its strongest, come time for USA South Athletic Conference play in October.  

"We had our Red-Grey scrimmage on Monday and we learned just how young we were," Brady said. "We were doing good things but at the same time we understand that running our offense will take a lot more work. We run a high-tempo offense and we aren't ready for that just yet.

"Our setters are new and some of our hitters are freshmen, so it's a lot of responsibility on them and we will try to keep it simple this weekend. Once we get to the meat of our conference schedule in October, we will be strong. These next two weekends will be great for us."

Huntingdon closed its 2015 season, winning nine of its final 13 matches. After winning one conference match in its first two seasons in the USA South, the Hawks won five conference matches in 2015, but Coach Brady thinks it could have been more.

 "We lost several matches in five sets last year because of errors, so we need to try to eliminate as many of those as possible," Brady said. "It has been our biggest focus this preseason. We were near the top of every major statistical category in the conferenc, but also led the conference in errors, so we are working hard to eliminate that.

"Our three veteran hitters have been working so hard to play the way we want them to play and have been keeping the ball in the court."

Huntingdon will open the regular season against Pensacola Christian and Sewanee on Friday and Middle Georgia State and Boyce on Saturday. Coach Brady is looking to use this weekend as a learning tool for her girls.

"We want show these girls how to scout and study their opponent," Brady said. "We watch a lot of film and scout throughout the season, so these next two weekends will be a good learning opportunity for the younger girls."

Brady said that seniors Kalen Morgan and Audrianna Hargitt as well as junior Bria Rochelle have shown great leadership this fall. While captains haven't been named, Brady mentioned those three have done everything without being asked.

"The younger girls have appreciated their leadership," Brady said. "Kalen, Bria and Audrianna are three wonderful women. When you have three of your best players putting others before themselves, it stands out. The other girls love it and I can't ask for anything else out of them."

Brady also mentioned Alexis Creasman and Shelby Young as freshmen who will make an immediate impact this season.

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