By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—Not only is it almost time for the school year to being, but it is also the time when the fall sports preseason practices are starting in full force. The Tennessee Tech volleyball team took to the floor for their first full team practice on Wednesday where they started the day out with fitness testing at Overall Field before moving into the Hooper Eblen Center for practice on the court.
"We just finished fitness testing, and it's the first year since I've been here that we all passed," remarked senior Golden Eagle Sharon Anderson. "That really just hyped us up to start out strong and make for a positive preseason. I think we are all just really excited to get back into the gym together with six new people, are really excited to see what this new team can do."
Day one's theme for the Tennessee Tech team was ball control, looking specifically at the setters to help control the pace of play.
"We are just working on being consistent for our hitters and to get them in the best situations so they can be successful and score," continued Anderson.
"Today is a ball control practice," remarked Coach Zelenock. "We are working on establishing our standards and teaching the new ones how we do things. Most of them know because they have been around our program and a lot of clubs and are doing things similar to what we are, so it's not going to be as big of a challenge."
Looking closer at the team, there are three Golden Eagles who will be working as setters on the Tennessee Tech squad this season: senior Sharon Anderson, sophomore Susan Jeziorowski, and freshman Lexi Kingree.
"Right now we have no idea who our setter is going to be," continued Coach Zelenock. "Whoever wins out the spot will really determine how we run things on the court."
Anderson returns to the Tech squad after a solid junior season seeing action in 114 sets over 30 matches. The Burr Ridge, Ill., native set a career-high 61 assists and 22 digs versus UT Martin in the 2015 season, while notching 15 double-doubles on the year. Anderson completed her junior season tallying 1,087 assists, 307 digs, and 28 service aces.
"Sharon is not really about physical stuff that much anymore," said Zelenock. "She's a very good technical setter, and she's a good leader. Yea, we wish she could be a bigger blocker, but for her, it's just tuning up how she runs the offense."
Also returning to the Golden Eagle team is Green Lake, Wis., native Jeziorowski. Jeziorowski didn't see much action in the 2015 season only playing in 18 sets over 10 matches, however, has made great strides over the spring and is expected to do big things coming into the 2016 season.
"Susie didn't play much last year, but she had a big spring when Sharon was out and she ran everything," continued Zelenock. "She still has some work to do on the technical side, but she runs the team really well and everyone responds to her well. The team is really good when she's delivering when she sets."
Finally, a new face in the lineup this year is Kingree. The 6-2, Johns Creek, Ga., native joins the Tennessee Tech team after a stellar career at Chattahooche High School. There, Kingree was a four-year letterwinner who compiled 717 assists, 348 kills, and 264 blocks by the end of her career.
"Lexi is a question mark right now," stated Zelenock. "She's a converted setter, so we are waiting to see where she goes with that after only playing in the position for two years. To beat out two Chicago kids who have been playing at a high level their whole life is going to be a big task for her freshman year, but I think her athleticism will be huge for us down the road."
