| Catching up with the Redbird Volleyball players |
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| Written by Frank Savaglio, Daily Vidette Reporter |
| Wednesday, 22 April 2009 18:00 |
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ISU volleyball head coach Melissa Myers joined the Redbird squad last season and led the team to an Missouri Valley Conference Tournament berth. Myers, equipped with her first year experience and first full offseason with the team, is hoping to build on the team's success in 2010. "Overall it's been a really good spring," Myers said. "We have key players recovering from surgery so our offensive numbers are probably lower than we'd normally like, but its been a very productive and encouraging spring. "We did a lot of general training with players that are healthy and able to practice this spring. We have given them a lot of opportunities to touch the ball and have developed some of their skills that maybe they didn't have before. Our goal going into this spring was to get stronger and develop more diversity." This offseason, the team added assistant coach B.J. Trame to join assistants Adriano de Souza and Margot Frederick. "We did not have that position in the fall," Myers explained. "We waited until January so that we could have a better selection process. We feel really good for what B.J. will bring to the table. "Primarily, he'll do a lot of recruiting, but he'll also be a great eye in the gym and be able to help us see where we need to get better." Myers also received good news in January, when she heard she was being inducted into the sports Hall of Fame by her alma mater Juniata College, for her achievements as a volleyball and track and field student-athlete. The Redbird head coach entered the Hall of Fame on her first year of eligibility, which she believes is just one of many honors that came from the award. "I feel very privileged to be nominated and selected into the hall of fame at Juniata," Myers explained. "It's a great college and I have had a great experience there. I am blessed to be able to have that opportunity to be able to do two sports. I owe Juniata a great deal for who I am and my education and the opportunities that I've had." Seniors Erin Lindsey and M.C. Richmond graduating this year will leave two open spots in the starting lineup. However, Myers has stated that no roster spots have been decided. Libero Kasey Mollerus and Peggy Riessen are two starters returning, but ISU will have a new setter and right side in the starting lineup next season. Despite not playing in any serious matches since the MVC Tournament, the Redbirds have been practicing and scrimmaging to prepare themselves for next season. "We have had a scrimmage and two tournaments," Myers said. "They were good for us and helped us see a different point across the net. We have seen some good teams and those teams have really helped prepare us. "I don't think that wins in the spring and losses in the spring mean very much, but they helped us get playing time against other opponents and hopefully help us learn some of our weaknesses." ISU will look to improve last season's mark of a 16-14 overall record and 9-9 record in the Valley. They became the only school in MVC history to qualify for all 27 conference tournaments last season. |
