By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Tech volleyball team is continuing to work hard every day on the court. The Golden Eagles entered into day three of their preseason training on Friday, with the practice focusing on developing the liberos and defensive specialists.
"Preseason is going really good," Golden Eagle senior Kennedy Wade remarked. "We have a lot of new players this year, but everyone is catching on really well, I think. The upperclassmen are doing a great job of helping the new ones pick up the pace and helping them learn what college volleyball is all about."
"This first segment of preseason has really just been people getting used to each other and the new people learning our system," head coach Dave Zelenock said. "The old ones are shaking off some rust, but for the most part, they've been here playing all summer so the returners are mostly where they ended in the spring, so it's a good place."
The Tech team is comprised of five liberos/defensive specialists this season, including: senior Kennedy Wade, junior Allison Morrett, sophomores Kirsten Brugere and Jessica Oliver, and freshman Liz Bossong.
"We are really focused on fundamentals right now," Wade continued. "It's preseason so we are just trying to work on the technical part of it, but I think we are really flowing well with our defense and offense."
Wade suits up for her fourth and final season in the Purple and Gold after a solid junior season in which she totaled a team best 464 digs and recorded 10+ digs in 25 matches. In the 2015 year, Wade saw 120 sets over 31 matches and set a career-high 29 digs versus Belmont in the OVC Tournament.
"We don't have a lot of numbers right now, but Ken [Wade] is passing the best I've seen since I've been here, which is four years now," Zelenock continued. "It's kind of in age order with where the passing is at right now, but all of them are playing really hard defense. For us, the best passer wears the libero jersey. If we had to play today, Ken would be it, but we still have a week-and-a-half left so we will see where things go, but I'm sure that jersey will change hands a couple of times."
Morrett also returns to the Golden Eagle squad this year after seeing action in 81 sets over 20 matches last season. Morrett tallied 238 digs and 18 service aces on the year, while picking up a career-high 24 digs versus UT Martin on November 13.
"They all get better every single year," Zelenock said. "Jess has picked up a lot since spring, and has really cleaned up her errors. The pass-ranking this morning was in age order, which is kind of what was expected. You got kids coming in and learning and getting better every year, but it makes it really hard for young kids to get on the floor as we keep growing the program."
Another returner to the Tech team this season is St. Charles, Mo., native Brugere. Last season, Brugere saw 118 sets over 31 matches. She tallied 325 digs and 28 service aces while also gathering 10+ digs in 19 matches. Brugere also set a career-high 19 digs versus UNC Greensboro and a career-high four service aces versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Murfreesboro, Tenn., native Oliver suits back up in the Purple and Gold after not seeing much action her freshman season. Oliver took the court in 22 sets over 14 matches, totaling four digs and one service ace on the 2015 year.
A new face on the team this year is Bossong who hails from Murfreesboro, Tenn. Bossong joins the Golden Eagle lineup after three-year letterwinning career at Siegel High School. There, Bossong compiled an 86-14 career and 16-0 conference record. She posted a school-record 1,058 career digs and 108 career service aces. Bossong also posted a school-high 41 digs in a match, while also leading her team to three district and three state titles.
"She [Bossong] comes from a really good high school," Zelenock remarked. "She's a skilled kid, but she's working on adjusting to the speed right now. The serve-receive game in college is much harder than high school and club. She plays good defense and has really good instincts, but we are just getting her used to the speed from the serves right now."
Photos by Jim Dillon
