Volleyballas also gettin ready to do their thing
Griz volleyball practice probably didn't garner the same amount of anticipated spectators as yesterday's football practice but the ladies were in the gym, putting in their time. No one was there to get a look at garnered transfers and potential-filled freshman but there's still excitement, even if it's just from the team itself.The Missoulian has a basic look at what to expect from this team and their thoughts on the upcoming season:
The University of Montana volleyball team had its first practice of the season on Wednesday and hopes to build on its success from last season when it went to the Big Sky Conference tournament for the first time since 2000.For those of you focused solely on the football field, give volleyball a chance. Try going to just a couple games. I went to one last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's exciting. Just about every play ends in a exciting moment of confrontation. Everything builds up into a Baron Davis-esque crescendo. Trust me, it's fun.
A lot of the players think that last year's tournament appearance can be a stepping stone for future success.
“I think it really helped our confidence,” said UM junior Jade Roskam. “I think it really helped our mental game getting past the block of not being there so many years in a row. It's something we've experienced now.”
Last year the Griz went 12-15 and finished fourth in the conference at 9-7. They open their season Aug. 24 by hosting the Ruby's Montana Invitational. Conference play starts Sept. 13 when Montana travels to Northern Colorado.
The Griz return five starters and eight letterwinners from last year's team. The returning starters are seniors Shelley Boyd and Jessica Petersen, juniors Micaela Parker and Roskam and sophomore Taryn Wright.
Boyd said having so many returning starters is crucial to making a run at the conference title.
“It helps a ton,” said Boyd, who is a team captain. “Team chemistry is a huge part of volleyball. Having five out of the six people out on the court having all that experience, it definitely adds a lot of confidence. We've all played with each other. We know how each of us play, so it's a lot easier to play together.”
