Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Volleyball Opens Preseason Practice
8/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 10, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM - The Wake Forest volleyball team opened preseason practice Sunday evening in Reynolds Gymnasium in preparation for the Deacon Invitational which Wake Forest will host on Aug. 29 and 30.
Fourth-year head coach Heather Kahl Holmes and 15 players began the day with a trip to Charlotte, N.C., for a team-building activity of whitewater rafting at the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
After a brief lunch, the team reconvened in Reynolds Gym around 5 pm for its first practice of the 2008 season. The session was light and mostly consisted of team scrimmages.
"Today was a great day," Kahl Holmes said. "Whitewater rafting was a great team bonding activity. We mixed the freshmen up with the upperclassmen so that they could get to know each other and it definitely involved a great deal of team work. It was a good way for them to get to know each before we put them on a court."
"With tonight's practice, we wanted them to scrimmage to get some of the kinks out and also have fun and relax," Kahl Holmes continued. "We also got to see where we need to start tomorrow's practice and what direction we need to take for the rest of the preseason. Overall, I see a lot of potential, but we knew that, with the players we recruited and the players that we have coming back. I'm excited. I think it's going to be a fun year."
The Deacs are looking to put an injury-riddled 2007 season behind them, and climb to the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Wake Forest returns nine letterwinners and all six starters, including its libero. Graduate student Natalie Mullikin will once again lead the team in 2008. She is a two-time All-ACC honoree, including earning first team honors in 2007.
Another key returnee for the Deacs is sophomore setter Kelsey Jones. Jones was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team last season and will once again run the offense.
Jones will have numerous options to choose from in senior right side hitter Ashley Homitz, outside hitters Kristen White, Kate Rodriguez and middle blocker Lauren McIntyre. The back row should also be strong for the Deacons as sophomore libero Megan Thornberry returns as well as defensive specialists Abby Miller and Sally Fischer.
Along with the addition of six talented freshmen, the Deacs and Kahl Holmes are excited about the upcoming season.
"I am excited for this season," said Kahl Holmes. "This is the most depth we have had at each position, and everyone is talented and competitive enough to contribute this year. After the frustration of injuries our team endured last fall, we are anxious to prove ourselves and are ready to compete at the highest level."
Wake Forest will open the season by hosting the Deacon Invitational on Friday, Aug. 29 and Saturday, Aug. 30. The Deacons will face Davidson at 7 pm on Friday and then take on Norfolk State at 12:30 pm and Winthrop at 7 pm on Saturday.
