Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Murray State Sports Information
Racer Volleyball Presses On In Second Week of Practice
8/17/2012 10:47:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
After almost two weeks of practice the Murray State volleyball appears to be on the right track and is looking to improve on its 8-23 mark form last season. After nine full days of practice to evaluate his squad, head coach David Schwepker appears very happy with what he has seen so far.
“The girls have been working really, really hard and that is what pre-season is all about,” said Schwepker. “They have been spending a lot of time together, working on their team bonding, which is also a huge part of pre-season. As far as playing, we are just trying to work through our system and there are still some kinks to work through.”
One week from today, the Racers will officially open their 2012 campaign at the IPFW Invitational in Fort Wayne, Ind., with the host school, IPFW. However, despite the tight timeline, Schwepker says that they are not focusing on individual opponents yet, but rather are still working on progressing as a team.
“Right now we are still working for us. Are we ready? Absolutely not. But everyone else is not ready as well, they are doing the same things we are doing, they have the same short amount of time as us to get things together. So that is what these early season tournaments are all about, we're not ready, they're not ready, but we all have to get going and that is the way it works out.”
After three games at the IPF tournament, Murray State will play six more road games before its home and OVC opener against Tennessee Tech on Sep. 21. Despite the large number of away games to open the season, Schwepker is not worried and understands that it is just part of collegiate volleyball.
“It does get grinding towards the end, but the reward is finally. we get to be in our gym. So it makes playing games in our gym, a little bit more special. However, that is how it goes," said Schwepker. In volleyball, you are on the road a lot and you have to learn how to play on the road. That is something we need to learn how to deal with in our conference, because half of the time you are on the road and half the time you are home, wwe just really need to be prepared.”
Earlier this week, the OVC published its annual preseason poll and the Racers were picked to finish eighth. In previous years, that would have left MSU outside of the play-off picture, but with the addition of Belmont and with SIU Edwardsville becoming a full Division I member, the OVC tournament expanded from six teams to eight teams for 2012. While Schwepker believes the Racers will finish higher than eighth, he was not surprised by the prediction.
“I would expect we would finish higher than eighth, but I think it was somewhat generous that we were picked at that spot. Right now we have a lot of work to do, but if we can get it together, we will see what happens.”
Murray State opens play for 2012 next Friday at IPFW at 6 p.m., followed by matches on Saturday with Kent State and Cleveland State and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
“The girls have been working really, really hard and that is what pre-season is all about,” said Schwepker. “They have been spending a lot of time together, working on their team bonding, which is also a huge part of pre-season. As far as playing, we are just trying to work through our system and there are still some kinks to work through.”
One week from today, the Racers will officially open their 2012 campaign at the IPFW Invitational in Fort Wayne, Ind., with the host school, IPFW. However, despite the tight timeline, Schwepker says that they are not focusing on individual opponents yet, but rather are still working on progressing as a team.
“Right now we are still working for us. Are we ready? Absolutely not. But everyone else is not ready as well, they are doing the same things we are doing, they have the same short amount of time as us to get things together. So that is what these early season tournaments are all about, we're not ready, they're not ready, but we all have to get going and that is the way it works out.”
After three games at the IPF tournament, Murray State will play six more road games before its home and OVC opener against Tennessee Tech on Sep. 21. Despite the large number of away games to open the season, Schwepker is not worried and understands that it is just part of collegiate volleyball.
“It does get grinding towards the end, but the reward is finally. we get to be in our gym. So it makes playing games in our gym, a little bit more special. However, that is how it goes," said Schwepker. In volleyball, you are on the road a lot and you have to learn how to play on the road. That is something we need to learn how to deal with in our conference, because half of the time you are on the road and half the time you are home, wwe just really need to be prepared.”
Earlier this week, the OVC published its annual preseason poll and the Racers were picked to finish eighth. In previous years, that would have left MSU outside of the play-off picture, but with the addition of Belmont and with SIU Edwardsville becoming a full Division I member, the OVC tournament expanded from six teams to eight teams for 2012. While Schwepker believes the Racers will finish higher than eighth, he was not surprised by the prediction.
“I would expect we would finish higher than eighth, but I think it was somewhat generous that we were picked at that spot. Right now we have a lot of work to do, but if we can get it together, we will see what happens.”
Murray State opens play for 2012 next Friday at IPFW at 6 p.m., followed by matches on Saturday with Kent State and Cleveland State and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
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