University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Volleyball To Hold Black and Gold Scrimmage Saturday
8/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 17, 2011
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Golden Eagle volleyball fans can get an early preview of the 2011 volleyball team on Saturday, when the team hosts a Black and Gold scrimmage at 12 p.m., in Reed Green Coliseum. Admission is free to the public.
"We've been focusing on being a solid ball control team," second-year coach Abbey Sutherland said. "Serving and passing are our foundation. The players have set some realistic goals to help us stay on track and I am very happy with their focus and understanding of the overall game."
Southern Miss returns nine letterwinners, including all six starters from last year's team that finished fourth during the regular season with a 19-12 record overall and 12-8 in league play.
"The team has been working very hard and improving every day in the gym throughout preseason," Sutherland said. "I have emphasized the importance of being a hard working team. We know that it's essential to be mentally focused and push ourselves when we're tired, and this will prepare us for the long matches that are in our future. We are striving to be the stronger mental and physical team when matches go down to the wire."
Heading the list are seniors Ashley Mell (6-3, OH, Yorba Linda, Calif.), Kelsea Seymour (5-8, S, Long Beach, Calif.), Sarah Jane (SJ) Bowden (6-1, MB, Sioux City, Iowa), Lauren Sears (6-2, MB, Ashburn, Va.), Lisa Knecht (5-5, L, Metairie, La.) and Amelia Hendrickson (6-0, MB, Belle Chasse, La.) to go with juniors Halie Ecker (5-10, OH, Moline, Ill.), and Elizabeth Rinaudo (5-8, UTL, Mandeville, La.) and sophomore Shelby Schacher (5-10, OH, Lone Tree, Colo.). Sutherland added five newcomers, Jasmine Crowell (6-0, OH/MB, Gulf Breeze, Fla.), Kristen Fleming (5-9, S, Columbus, Ga.), Alex Pfefferle (5-5, L, New Orleans, La.), Emily Sears (5-11, OH, Ashburn, Va.), and Katie Steelman (5-11, OH, Panama City Beach, Fla.), .
Mell and Seymour earned first team all-conference accolades for the second straight season. Both also garnered AVCA All-American honorable mention as well as All-Midwest Region first team honors. Bowden and Sears return as the top blockers for the Eagles while Ecker finished second on the team in kills. Knecht returns as the top libero after recording a season-high 561 digs.
Mell and Seymour also received preseason all-conference honors as voted on by the 12 league coaches.
"We have solid leadership from our returners, and they are helping our five freshmen tremendously," said Sutherland. "The freshmen are learning a lot, and I'm proud of the progress that they've made. They will gain tremendous experience from this scrimmage."
Southern Miss opens the campaign by hosting Chattanooga, Northwestern State and Jackson State in the Southern Miss Invitational, Aug. 26-27. The tournament play begins on Friday with Chattanooga and Northwestern State at 12 p.m., followed by Jackson State and Northwestern State at 3 p.m., and the Golden Eagles against Chattanooga at 7 p.m. Saturday's action begins at 12 p.m. with Southern Miss and Northwestern State, followed by Chattanooga and Jackson State at 3 p.m., and concludes with Southern Miss and Jackson State at 7 p.m.
"There is a lot of competition for starting positions, and I expect some great volleyball on Saturday," Sutherland said. "Leaders will emerge from the scrimmage, and I am excited to see who stands out during crunch time."
