Wake Forest Athletics
Q&A With Head Volleyball Coach Heather Kahl
8/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 24, 2005
Winston-Salem, N.C. - Heather Kahl, an assistant coach at Wake Forest for the past five seasons, was named head volleyball coach on July 29.
Kahl recently sat down and talked about the upcoming season and the transition from being an assistant coach to head coach.
You took over as head coach after five years as an assistant. Describe the transition within the same program.
The transition has been an exciting and challenging one. It has been great to see the players adapting to my style of coaching and training. They believe in me and my staff believes in them wholeheartedly.
What are the positive aspects of Wake Forest's athletic organization as a whole?
One of the most positive aspects of the Wake Forest Athletic Department is the assistance and encouragement all the way from the players, to the coaches and onto the support staff. They care about the welfare of the student-athletes, both on and off the court. There is a great sense of tradition and pride at Wake Forest. I am honored to be part of the Wake Forest family.
What has been your most enjoyable experience as a volleyball coach?
I could not name just one. Without question, I love stepping into the gym and watching the players dedication and hard work pay off. You can sense their desire to get better each and everyday.
What are the team's strengths and weaknesses?
One of our team's strengths is our middle position. We have four very talented middles fighting for a spot on the court. Everyday they are challenging each other and making one another better. Our setter is a veteran on the team and her leadership and consistency will be a key for our offensive success.
What weaknesses will you concentrate on this season?
We have focused on our defensive skills. Defense is played from the heart, so we are challenging our players to break out of their comfort zone and play balls they might have thought were unplayable. Relentless pursuit!
What were some aspects of the squad that you wanted to improve heading into the season and what was the biggest improvement of the team since last season?
Some areas we needed to improve on this season was our ball control. If we can take care of our side of the net, and run our offense, we will be tough to stop. The game has changed so much through the last five years. The game is played 80% out of system, so if we can capitalize on the out of system plays, we will be successful.
What are some of the new techniques and alternative workouts that you implemented this fall?
My assistant coach, Chad Willis, and I have implemented what we call "three-a-days." We condition and lift in the mornings, followed by a position practice. We then come back in the afternoon and work on more individual skill breakdowns by position. We end the day with a third session, combining everything we worked on that day in some team drills/scrimmages. We will group these workouts into one session once school starts. We will continue to condition throughout the season. Our physical strength and endurance will be an important part of our success at the end of the season.
Which individual players impressed you the most and who showed the most improvement from last fall?
All of our returning players have stepped it up a notch, not only their play on the court, but their entire intensity level. Christy Williams and Erin Borhart will be called upon to lead the team. They have been starters for two years and have what it takes to push us in the right direction. Our freshmen have not missed a beat. They came in mentally and physically prepared for the challenges of the preseason. They are working very, very hard.
Talk about your 2005 recruiting class and how it will impact the team next season.
Our 2005 class is one of the strongest recruiting classes since I joined the program five years ago. All of them come to us with strong backgrounds in volleyball. They each have experience at an elite level. Shannan Homan played for one of the top five junior club programs in the country. Ashley Homitz trained with the A-2 National Team for the summer. Natalie Mullikin comes to us from a top 10 program in the country. Mary Margaret Langston had the opportunity to play under former Olympian, Rita Crocket, down in Tallahassee for her club team.
Talk about the 2005 schedule. Things are a bit different this season, not only with the addition of Boston College, but there is no ACC Tournament this year.
Our 2005 schedule is a challenging one. In the first three weeks, we face some tough teams that reached the NCAA Tournament. We will need some momentum going into the ACC regular season. With no ACC tournament this year, it makes for a long season. There is 10 weeks of conference play, 22 matches total. Winning at home is essential, so our road trips will be key to our success. We must remain focused and competitive on the road. There are no easy wins in the ACC. Every match will be a fight to the end.
What is your goal for the 2005 season?
My goal is to help them get better everyday. I hope to take care of the details on and off the court, be disciplined and enjoy the entire process. If our players take care of business in practice, then things should fall into place during the matches. We will compete for an ACC title.
Is there anything you want Wake Forest fans to know about the volleyball team?
I want people to realize how hard this team has worked this preseason and how proud they should be to wear the black and gold uniform. They are an incredible group of athletes, who take the utmost pride in representing Wake Forest University. They are an exciting team to watch. I hope everyone comes out and supports the team in our newly renovated home court, Reynolds Gymnasium.
