Bearkats Two Weeks Away From Opener
8/17/2014 6:54:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
With less than two weeks to go before their 2014 schedule opens with the Sam Houston Invitational August 29 and 30, the Bearkat volleyball team continues to make progress.
The Kats open the year with matches against Louisiana-Monroe, Mississippi State, Bakersfield and Texas-Pan American in the annual Sam Houston tournament.
Eight players return from last year's squad that finished third in the Southland Conference race. Three new recruits bring new talent to the team.
Two-time All-Southland Conference outside hitter Deveney Wells-Gibson is the Bearkats' top returning offensive threat. The senior from San Antonio has totaled 949 kills and 111 blocks during her career.
Shelby Genung, a 5-11 middle blocker from Sugar Land, also is a returning starter. She ranked third on the 2013 squad in kills.
Sophomore Michelle Griffin from the The Woodlands looks to step into a starting role as the Bearkats' setter.
Breanna Homer, Krista Koopman and Sarah Guzman return as outside hitters and Carling Urban and Cherise Coleman look to see action as middle blockers. Claire Kilpatrick and Sarah Sherman also will contribute on the Bearkat backline.
Freshmen outside hitters Jordyn Vaughn and Brooke White and defensive specialist Sarah Cranek continue to make progress during preseason camp.
“We still have a long way to go to be ready for the start of the season,” head coach Brenda Gray said. “That's why we're working so hard. We need to get after it and go 110 percent all the time.”
The Bearkats own a string of seven consecutive Southland post-season tournament appearances and a 61-27 league record since 2008. The Bearkats won the 2012 Southland regular season title and have finished among the league's top three squads four of the last five years.
Season tickets for Sam Houston's home matches at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum are $30 each. Individual game tickets start at $5 and group ticket discounts are available with the purchase of 10 or more tickets.
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