SAN ANGELO – Seven newcomers joined nine returners on Monday for the first day of Angelo State volleyball practice in the auxiliary gym of the Junell Center. The Belles opened their practice schedule with a 2.5 hour practice before a conditioning session ended the morning practice.
“There was a ton of energy in the gym,” said ASU head coach
Chuck Waddington, who is entering his fifth season with the Belles. “Everyone was eager to show the other players and the coaches how they've improved over the summer and what they can bring to the team. I was very pleased with everything that I saw from the entire team.”
ASU will follow a schedule throughout the first two weeks with practices starting at 8:30 a.m. and then a second session at 3 p.m. That schedule will fluctuate some with scrimmages, including this Thursday when the Belles will host Western Texas College at 10 a.m. The Belles are coming off a 31-6 record in 2011 and won their first NCAA Division II tournament match in 20 seasons.
Follow AngeloSports.com's reports at www.twitter.com/AngeloSports for updates and "Like" www.facebook.com/AngeloStateSports for videos and photo albums throughout the season.
|
Additional Quotes
Chuck Waddington // ASU head coach
On the team's goal for the first week of practice:
"The first few practices for us is about touches. We want to maximize the number of touches we get to try to and give us a feel for the ball. I use these first couple of days to see where we are at and what we need to adjust. It was a great day even though our ball control could use a little work. That's to be expected at this point and we'll get better at it. The effort level our players have will get us there."
On the seven new players who have joined the Belles:
"The young players really want to do their best right now to show the older players that they belong. They all want to be a big part of the program and have all the capability to do that. The upperclassmen see the enthusiasm of the younger player who come in here with unbridled excitement. They have some nervous energy that is good for the older players to feed off of."
On the importance of working on conditioning in practice:
"The second weekend of competition for us is in altitude against high-level teams. We have to be prepared physically so that we can go the long haul. We have to be in shape and that started this summer and is something that we're continuing throughout these practices. It is very important that as the season progresses and we are in the conference tournament and in regional tournaments that we are physically ready to play." |
