Feb. 6, 2006

Cullowhee, N.C. - Eager to return to the court, the Western Carolina volleyball team and head coach Stephanie Dragan are in full stride during off-season training and conditioning. Devoid an assistant coach since early December, former Catamount standout Sara Komosinski has joined the coaching staff in a volunteer role during this off-season.

Spring conditioning began back on January 9, with individual training starting six days later (Jan. 19). Conditioning regiments included running and hitting the weight room, as well as a "jump program," which focuses on strength and timing of leaping at the net. Off-season team practices begin today (Feb. 6) with the team practicing and conditioning for approximately 20 hours a week.

"One-on-one training is very time consuming, but each player had 45 minutes with me in the gym twice a week," said Dragan. "I hope to develop each individual's skill and assist them in becoming better volleyball players during this off-season. We are also working on a better understanding of the game and learning new positions because with the influx of six new freshmen next fall, they could find themselves playing different places on the court."

Western will host an alumni match on Saturday, March 18th at 4:00 pm, as well as the Catamount Spring Fling the following weekend. The Catamounts will travel to Mercer on April 1, Gardner-Webb on April 1, and Wake Forest on April 15 to conclude the spring season.

Western's all-time leading blocker, Sara Komosinski, joins the coaching staff in a volunteer role.

Assisting Dragan this fall is a very recognizable face to those familiar with Western Carolina volleyball. Sara Komosinski, a 2004 graduate of WCU, has assumed a volunteer coach position with the team and will mainly help with recruiting and on court training. Komosinski, a 2002 first team All-Southern Conference selection, was a four-year starter for the Catamounts and ranks as WCU's all-time leader in blocks, amassing 450 during her career. The Muskegon, Mich., native also ranks third on Western's career kills (1,470) and career hitting percentage (.303) charts, and is fifth all-time in digs with 1,192. Komosinski also holds the third, sixth, and eighth-best, single-season block totals in the WCU record book.

"It is nice having Sara on the court," Dragan said. "She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the court. She delivers the same instruction in a different way than I do, and the team respects her because they know she is one of the most decorated athletes in our program's history. She wants to help take her alma mater back to the top of the SoCon."

Western Carolina is scheduled to open its 2006 season on the road in Oxford, Miss., on August 25-26. The Catamounts open their home slate Sept. 15-16, hosting the Catamount Clash V in the Ramsey Center.