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August 28, 2008
The 2008 edition
of the Millsaps College Women’s Volleyball
team looks to open the eyes of many opponents this year. Returning
a good core of the team, the Majors expect a combination of hustle
and heart to push their play and improve upon a 17-25 mark in the
2007 season.
Head coach
Jaime Burns returns to the program after a three-year hiatus
and 20-11 record
as the head coach in 2004, and will utilize
a young and energetic team to implement new and innovative plays.
There is much excitement around this year’s squad who will
make some major noise this season.
“I am very excited about what this team is going to be able
to do this season,” Burns said. “There is a lot of
potential on the team. The only goal the team has this season is
to win and they are going to do whatever they can both inside and
outside of the gym to get to that point. They are working very
hard at practice.”
Leading the
hitting core for the team is senior outside hitter and co-captain
Sarah
Exley who was ranked third on the team in
2007 with 215 kills. “I look to Sarah to bring consistency
and leadership, two qualities that we will need to succeed on the
court.”
Sophomore Kate
Hall looks to continue her stellar first year play for the team
after
leading the team in ’07 with 390 kills.
Hall was also third on the team with 54 aces. “I am very
excited about Kate, she has really worked hard this spring and
summer on the middle position and it is showing at practices.”
Anchoring the setter position this year are two sophomores who
know how to spread out their offensive players. The first will
be sophomore Hailey Miranda, who led the Majors last season in
assists with 906 and ranked third on the team with 345 digs. Coach
Burns will also tab sophomore Mallory Clark to set many offensive
plays this season. Clark was second on the team with 283 assists,
and also added 285 digs for the Majors a year ago.
“Mallory and Hailey will be a big key to our offensive success.
They are both sophomores and still have a lot to learn, but I am
very impressed with the progress they have made with the new plays – and
being able to run them.”
Also returning for the Majors in 2008 are three defensive players
in Dixie Krauss, Amanda Cain and Erica
Cook, who combined for a
total of 830 digs during the 2007 season. Sophomore OH Victoria
Romano rounds out the list of returners after a productive first
season.
Coach Burns also looks to three very talented freshmen in Maggie
Tumminello, Holland Dunham, and Chelsea
Harrison to make an impact
this season. The team will also look forward to the return of sophomore
hitter Heather Keenan who is recovering from ACL surgery.
“It’s nice to have a core solid group that has been
there and has been through it before. We have a big group of sophomores
that have come up together so they will be the main core of the
team. Our freshman class is just only going to add to our team,
I’m expecting for all three of my freshmen to contribute
and see time on the floor. They will only add more depth and energy
to our team.”
The 2008 schedule opens with a road tournament at Rhodes College
in Memphis, Tenn. They will then return home for the Millsaps Invitational
on Sept. 5 and 6 when they play host to Spring Hill, Reinhardt
and East Texas Baptist. The Millsaps Invitational will also feature
a local matchup vs. Belhaven College on Sept. 6 at 2 p.m.
The 2008 SCAC
schedule opens on Sept. 19 in Sherman, Texas, with the talented
Southwestern
University Lady Pirates – 1 of
4 SCAC Crossover Tournaments on the year.
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