Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
ECU volleyball team working hard
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — Stephanie Turner and Lizzy Bruin leaped high at the net, put their arms together and blocked a spike attempt by assistant coach Brett Johnston, who had been dominant in a recent practice. After Turner and Bruin exchanged high-fives, Turner faced Johnston, mocked a bodybuilding pose and laughed.
It was a light moment during a hard workout in the second session of two-a-days for the East Carolina volleyball team at Minges Coliseum. The players have been putting in several hours at the gym as they get ready for the Aug. 29 season opener at home against East Tennessee State, which kicks off the East Carolina Classic.
“I think we’re looking pretty good,” said Turner, a 5-9 junior attacker who is one of the best leapers and most athletic players in Conference USA. “We’re working really hard. It’s tiring, but we’re working through it as a team.
“On the court, we’re just aiming for that conference (championship). Every practice we come in, we work hard and that’s what we have in the back of our minds.”
Turner, whose 235 kills and 42 service aces were second best on the team last year, is looking to be one of the team leaders this year. The East Amherst, N.Y., native said the Pirates have high goals both on and off the court.
“We want to finish with a team GPA of 3.3 or better,” Turner said. “We were able to do that last year.”
ECU’s volleyball team had a cumulative GPA of 3.5 as every player earned above a 3.0 last year. All 12 ECU players earned individual recognition on the University’s Honor Roll, while seven were selected to either the Chancellor’s List (4.0 GPA) or the Dean’s List (3.5 or higher).
“On the court, we’re looking for that conference championship,” said Turner, who wants to earn all-conference honors.
The Pirates have most of their players back from last season with the exception of Kelley Wernert. But that loss is a huge one as Wernert had 627 kills last year and finished as the school’s all-time leader in that category.
Melissa Zentner, a 6-3 junior outside hitter, is looking to take over for Wernert.
“Since we lost Kelley last year, my personal goal is to step up and be the outside hitter,” Zentner said.
“I want to be dominating like Kelley was. Those are some big shoes to fill, but I’m hoping I can be the go-to girl on the outside.”
While several of the Pirates have looked good in practice, a couple have been sidelined at times because of injury.
“How is the team looking? That’s a good question,” said ECU coach Chris Rushing, who is 55-40 entering his fourth season. “We look like an infirmary.
“With that in mind, the girls are working really hard.”
Bruin, a 5-11 sophomore middle blocker, had shoulder surgery this summer. Britney Roper, a 6-3 redshirt freshman outside hitter, has been rehabbing after surgery of her own. A swollen knee kept Roper out of practice on Wednesday.
Despite those players, and others, rehabbing throughout the summer, Rushing has been encouraged by the team’s play.
“After the first couple days, I really didn’t know how it was going to begin,” Rushing said. “I knew of all the surgeries and the rehabbing and such.
“Then, me and my two new assistant coaches (Brett Johnston and Shannon Johnston, who are husband and wife), we went into the office after the first couple days and went, ‘you know what? I think we’re going to be okay.’”
With some players having to sit out certain practices, that makes it difficult on Rushing and on the players.
“I think it’s tough on the players and the coaches because everybody wants to win every single game,” Rushing said. “By having that many injuries, it just decreases the odds that you’re able to win.”
Rushing obviously wants his Pirates to win as many games as possible. However, he said as long as his players work at achieving four goals, he’s happy.
“In our society today, a lot of people say you’re not successful unless you win,” Rushing said. “We have some goals. The goal is to win a Conference USA championship, whether it’s regular season or being good enough by the end of the season to where we can win the tournament championship.
“I talked to the team about being successful. The four things that can help you be successful are ability, preparation, effort and your will. If we can come out of the gym every single day and we put forth all that stuff, then we are successful, whether we’ve won or not.”
Trish Monroe, a 5-6 defensive specialist, is the lone senior on this year’s team. She’ll be counted on to make sure her teammates are striving to reach those four goals.
Other key players on this year’s squad include junior setter Hannah Fenker (5-8) and sophomore setter Katie Koop (5-11) , who are battling for a starting spot.
“Hannah is setting really good,” Rushing said. “Hannah has played back row for us, and she’s been a setter for us and she’s been an outside hitter for us. Right now she’s competing really hard for the setting spot.”
Though they may be newcomers, Rushing expects freshman Amanda Lutzow (5-10 outside hitter) and junior transfer Bobby Jo Stall (5-10 middle blocker) to contribute immediately.
“Amanda has been doing a very, very good job,” Rushing said. “She has a good arm; she’s smart (and) she’s got great ball control passing and digging.”
Bruin, who came on strong for the Pirates at the end of last season, is hoping to contribute much more this year.
“My personal goal is to get healthy and stay healthy,” Bruin said. “I just want to work hard and get my confidence back.
“The shoulder is doing really good, actually. I think I’m going to be completely ready by the start of the season.”
The Pirates will need to be healthy as they face another tough slate in conference play this year.
“The teams at the top of the conference are now the teams that have the most foreign kids,” Rushing said. “Tulsa is going to be incredible. UAB is going to be good.”
Rushing has steered clear of recruiting foreign players.
“I’ve never gone out and recruited a foreign kid,” Rushing said. “Maybe I need to in the future. I don’t know. I take pride in beating some of these teams with the American kids.
“I’m not sure it will ever come to that, me having to win so badly that I have to go out and get those players, but I played college volleyball with foreign kids and they were some of my best friends that I still keep in contact with. I’m not against foreign players whatsoever. They’re just really good. It’s tough to beat them. They just have so much experience.”
The Pirates, which also include junior outside hitter Katie Prast, redshirt sophomore middle blocker Erica Banning, sophomore defensive specialist Kylie Gilmore, redshirt freshman defensive specialist Nicole Jones, freshman middle blocker Kelly Derby and freshman middle blocker Briana Fleener, seem to have a strong bond.
“We all like each other a lot so we have good chemistry,” Bruin said. “That helps.”
Rushing is hoping that bond will help the team on the court this year.
“We have good team chemistry,” Rushing said. “This is a great group of girls. They have a strong desire to win and to play hard.”
It was a light moment during a hard workout in the second session of two-a-days for the East Carolina volleyball team at Minges Coliseum. The players have been putting in several hours at the gym as they get ready for the Aug. 29 season opener at home against East Tennessee State, which kicks off the East Carolina Classic.
“I think we’re looking pretty good,” said Turner, a 5-9 junior attacker who is one of the best leapers and most athletic players in Conference USA. “We’re working really hard. It’s tiring, but we’re working through it as a team.
“On the court, we’re just aiming for that conference (championship). Every practice we come in, we work hard and that’s what we have in the back of our minds.”
Turner, whose 235 kills and 42 service aces were second best on the team last year, is looking to be one of the team leaders this year. The East Amherst, N.Y., native said the Pirates have high goals both on and off the court.
“We want to finish with a team GPA of 3.3 or better,” Turner said. “We were able to do that last year.”
ECU’s volleyball team had a cumulative GPA of 3.5 as every player earned above a 3.0 last year. All 12 ECU players earned individual recognition on the University’s Honor Roll, while seven were selected to either the Chancellor’s List (4.0 GPA) or the Dean’s List (3.5 or higher).
“On the court, we’re looking for that conference championship,” said Turner, who wants to earn all-conference honors.
The Pirates have most of their players back from last season with the exception of Kelley Wernert. But that loss is a huge one as Wernert had 627 kills last year and finished as the school’s all-time leader in that category.
Melissa Zentner, a 6-3 junior outside hitter, is looking to take over for Wernert.
“Since we lost Kelley last year, my personal goal is to step up and be the outside hitter,” Zentner said.
“I want to be dominating like Kelley was. Those are some big shoes to fill, but I’m hoping I can be the go-to girl on the outside.”
While several of the Pirates have looked good in practice, a couple have been sidelined at times because of injury.
“How is the team looking? That’s a good question,” said ECU coach Chris Rushing, who is 55-40 entering his fourth season. “We look like an infirmary.
“With that in mind, the girls are working really hard.”
Bruin, a 5-11 sophomore middle blocker, had shoulder surgery this summer. Britney Roper, a 6-3 redshirt freshman outside hitter, has been rehabbing after surgery of her own. A swollen knee kept Roper out of practice on Wednesday.
Despite those players, and others, rehabbing throughout the summer, Rushing has been encouraged by the team’s play.
“After the first couple days, I really didn’t know how it was going to begin,” Rushing said. “I knew of all the surgeries and the rehabbing and such.
“Then, me and my two new assistant coaches (Brett Johnston and Shannon Johnston, who are husband and wife), we went into the office after the first couple days and went, ‘you know what? I think we’re going to be okay.’”
With some players having to sit out certain practices, that makes it difficult on Rushing and on the players.
“I think it’s tough on the players and the coaches because everybody wants to win every single game,” Rushing said. “By having that many injuries, it just decreases the odds that you’re able to win.”
Rushing obviously wants his Pirates to win as many games as possible. However, he said as long as his players work at achieving four goals, he’s happy.
“In our society today, a lot of people say you’re not successful unless you win,” Rushing said. “We have some goals. The goal is to win a Conference USA championship, whether it’s regular season or being good enough by the end of the season to where we can win the tournament championship.
“I talked to the team about being successful. The four things that can help you be successful are ability, preparation, effort and your will. If we can come out of the gym every single day and we put forth all that stuff, then we are successful, whether we’ve won or not.”
Trish Monroe, a 5-6 defensive specialist, is the lone senior on this year’s team. She’ll be counted on to make sure her teammates are striving to reach those four goals.
Other key players on this year’s squad include junior setter Hannah Fenker (5-8) and sophomore setter Katie Koop (5-11) , who are battling for a starting spot.
“Hannah is setting really good,” Rushing said. “Hannah has played back row for us, and she’s been a setter for us and she’s been an outside hitter for us. Right now she’s competing really hard for the setting spot.”
Though they may be newcomers, Rushing expects freshman Amanda Lutzow (5-10 outside hitter) and junior transfer Bobby Jo Stall (5-10 middle blocker) to contribute immediately.
“Amanda has been doing a very, very good job,” Rushing said. “She has a good arm; she’s smart (and) she’s got great ball control passing and digging.”
Bruin, who came on strong for the Pirates at the end of last season, is hoping to contribute much more this year.
“My personal goal is to get healthy and stay healthy,” Bruin said. “I just want to work hard and get my confidence back.
“The shoulder is doing really good, actually. I think I’m going to be completely ready by the start of the season.”
The Pirates will need to be healthy as they face another tough slate in conference play this year.
“The teams at the top of the conference are now the teams that have the most foreign kids,” Rushing said. “Tulsa is going to be incredible. UAB is going to be good.”
Rushing has steered clear of recruiting foreign players.
“I’ve never gone out and recruited a foreign kid,” Rushing said. “Maybe I need to in the future. I don’t know. I take pride in beating some of these teams with the American kids.
“I’m not sure it will ever come to that, me having to win so badly that I have to go out and get those players, but I played college volleyball with foreign kids and they were some of my best friends that I still keep in contact with. I’m not against foreign players whatsoever. They’re just really good. It’s tough to beat them. They just have so much experience.”
The Pirates, which also include junior outside hitter Katie Prast, redshirt sophomore middle blocker Erica Banning, sophomore defensive specialist Kylie Gilmore, redshirt freshman defensive specialist Nicole Jones, freshman middle blocker Kelly Derby and freshman middle blocker Briana Fleener, seem to have a strong bond.
“We all like each other a lot so we have good chemistry,” Bruin said. “That helps.”
Rushing is hoping that bond will help the team on the court this year.
“We have good team chemistry,” Rushing said. “This is a great group of girls. They have a strong desire to win and to play hard.”
 |
||
| Quiet Bryant makes noise on field for ECU |
