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 Head coach Stephanie Dragan directs traffic during a drill in Friday's first practice session. |
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Aug. 8, 2008
Catamount Volleyball Practice Photo Gallery
Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina Catamount volleyball team opened practice on Friday morning at the gymnasium at Camp Lab, also known as the Catamount Athletic Center. The squad worked out two hours in the morning in the first of three practices on the opening day.
Head coach Stephanie Dragan was very pleased with the way things went during the opening session on Friday.
"I am very excited about having the team back on campus, especially with the demeanor and condition in which they returned," said Dragan. "We had the highest pass-rate in our fitness test which shows me that the team was committed over the off-season and summer. Everyone came back in shape and ready to work hard."
Dragan and the Catamounts have six returning players that saw quality time on the court last season, including three juniors in Katie Hennessey, Amanda Kerr and Liz Rondone, and lone senior, Liz McLauchlin. An influx of six newcomers, including five freshmen and a junior transfer, will be called upon early to flesh out WCU's rotation.
Dragan added, "We have several days where we will practice three times a day to challenge our team and push ourselves in conditioning. We will also have what we call `alternative practices,' which is where we will due more team bonding type of activites."
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The Catamounts will endure three-a-day practices both Friday and Saturday before shortening the schedule until the middle of next week. The squad has yet to set a time for its annual Purple-and-Gold scrimmage.
Western Carolina opens its regular season on Friday, Aug. 29 as it plays Stephen F. Austin in Lexington, Ky., as an individual match before competing in the Kentucky Classic - hosted by the Kentucky Wildcats. The Catamounts will face Wisconsin, the host Wildcats and Pittsburgh in tourney play.
