NORMAL, Ill. – The 2014 season got underway for the Illinois State volleyball team on Thursday, as the team held its first practice of the season.
A roster of 15 players, including six seniors, two All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team selections and the reigning MVC Libero of the Year, will look to build on last year's 19-13 campaign that ended with a five-set semifinal loss to Wichita State at the MVC Tournament.
Head coach Melissa Myers enters her seventh season at the helm with an overall record of 102-85. In preparation for a tough non-conference schedule, Myers has scheduled 22 practices before the team heads to Eugene, Oregon, for the season opener at the University of Oregon Tournament on Aug. 29.
"We have been preparing all spring and summer for this phase of the year," Myers said. "We need to fill in some gaps defensively, and bring more consistency offensively, so that's what we're going to focus on over the next few weeks of preseason training."
Junior outside hitter Ashley Rosch was an All-MVC First Team selection in 2013, just one year after she was named the MVC Freshman of the Year. Rosch is excited to start a new season.
"I'm ready to get back with the team and focus on the season," Rosch said. "We want to do big things this year."
ISU's non-conference schedule features three teams that qualified for the 2013 NCAA Tournament, in Central Arkansas, Missouri and Oregon. Missouri finished the season ranked No. 5 nationally. The Redbirds will play Central Arkansas, Xavier, Lipscomb and Columbia for the first time in program history.
ISU will open up its season Aug. 29, against Central Arkansas in Eugene, Oregon. The team's first action inside Redbird Arena will be Sept. 9, when it hosts Illinois-Chicago (UIC).
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