Bulldog Volleyball Kicks Off 2016 Preseason With First Practice
August 06, 2016 | Volleyball
Fresh off summer workouts and energized to capitalize off of last year's success, the Bulldogs reported for their first practice of the 2016 preseason, taking to the Sanderson Center for their first three-a-days of the year.
"It feels great to be back on the court. We couldn't wait to get back and it was honestly a great day of practices for us," second-year head coach David McFatrich said. "I was really proud of the effort, passion and energy our girls had out there. There are things we did well and things we need to improve on, but overall I was very impressed."
With Newell-Grissom playing home to registration for students moving onto campus this weekend, McFatrich and his squad called the Sanderson Center home on Saturday, beginning three sessions of practice at 9 a.m.
The Dogs ran through a number of drills, both new and old, while finishing off the day with their first scrimmage of the fall.
MSU will continue its preseason for the next nine days, with its final day of practice scheduled for Aug. 15.
McFatrich and the Bulldogs will look to keep the program trending upwards after an impressive 2015 season that saw MSU capture its first winning season since 2006. With a record of 17-15 (6-12 SEC), McFatrich finished with the best first-year record of any MSU coach in the program's 41-year history.
The 2016 edition of HailStateVB features 14 total players with four newcomers. MSU returns four starters (plus AVCA All-American libero Payton Harris) from last year's squad.
Veteran Talent…
MSU is well-represented by its upperclassmen, as the Bulldogs have five seniors taking the court this season. Evie Grace Singleton, who led the Bulldogs in kills, aces and points last season, leads the way for the senior class. Jazmyne Johnson, MSU's leading blocker in 2015, will head up State's defensive efforts. Cheyenne Spell returns as one of State's primary defensive specialists, while Chelsea Duhs and Bali Leffall-Young, the only two four-year seniors on the squad, look to continue building their already stellar legacy as Bulldogs.
Tack on a pair of talented juniors in Payton Harris (2014 AVCA All-American) and Jelena Vujcin (2015 All-WAC Second Team), and there's great reason for high hopes as State nears the 2016 season.
…But Don't Count Out The Young Guns
While there are a number of seniors and juniors in the Maroon and White, don't count out the freshmen and sophomores, as both groups are expected to make great contributions for the team this season. State's leading setter in 2015, Blossom Sato, leads the way for the sophomore class, which features Khris Carr, Savannah Cressman and Katie Nicholson. All three saw time in a number of matches last season.
The freshman class for the Bulldogs is expected to dominate on the court as well. Setter Riley Duzenack, who arrived in January, will look to capture significant time on the court this year, as does hard-hitting outside Emily Hill. Liv Benner, a middle blocker from Danville, Ind., will miss the start of the season due to an ACL injury suffered over the summer.
Don't Mess With Texas
Six of MSU's players on the 2016 squad hail from the great state of Texas, including Johnson, Harris and Spell. Along with the three 2015 starters, Nicholson and freshmen Duzenack and Hill will represent the Lone Star State.
Duhs Becoming A Master In The Classroom
Chelsea Duhs has been a dominating force for the Bulldogs since her arrival in 2013, reeling off one laser kill after another. As we enter the 2016 season, the California native is now just as, if not more dominant in the classroom. The senior is currently pursuing her Master's in Business Administration and recently finished off her first semester as a graduate student with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Looking Ahead…
The Bulldogs are now 21 days away from starting the 2016 season within the friendly confines of The Griss. MSU will host the Kansas Jayhawks on Friday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m., to kick off the season. The Bulldogs start off the year with one of their toughest tests in recent years, as the Jayhawks reached the semifinals of the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
State will also host Lamar (Saturday, Aug. 27 at noon), Eastern Washington (Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m.) and McNeese State (Sunday, Aug. 28 at 2 p.m.) to close out the opening weekend of the year.
For more information on Mississippi State volleyball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateVB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
