The Eastern Michigan's women's volleyball team prepares for another competitive season ahead of them with a fresh coaching staff and a successful season behind them
Finishing with a record of 18-13 in the 2014-15 season, the Eagles look to secure a record that will lead to a successful season as well as a successful conference tournament in the MAC with the help of its returning seniors.
“This season, EMU brings back a senior heavy team that has set goals to really train hard and get better as the season goes on,“ head coach Kimi Olson said. “The team goals lie in the postseason, so competing hard with our great preseason schedule and into the MAC season is imperative to allow peak performance for championship season.”
Olson comes to Eastern after spending 5 seasons as an assistant coach at the
“This team wants to win the division and have a great seed going into the conference tournament, “says Olson. “Our new staff brings a lot of energy into the practice gym everyday. We hope the transition of a more upbeat atmosphere and attention to detail that will help transform into better execution of skills and all around systems during match play.”
With the season opener in the Queen City Classic tournament against Northern Kentucky on Aug. 28, senior Corynne Smith has one expectation for the season, and that is to win a MAC Championship.
“It is important to stay focused and leave everything on the court every single time you step in the gym - practice or matches. In the MAC there are no nights off no matter who you are playing, so it becomes very important to be mentally prepared and ready to give 110 percent
“Being senior heavy, one of our challenges will be to learn and execute a new offense and defensive schemes,” Smith said. “We have the advantage of having a core group that is experienced and has played together for three years and this will help to make effective changes.”
Eastern Michigan will play the 2015-2016 season with a returning host of 6 seniors. Alyssa Davis, Dori Harrison, Kelsey Jones, Katie Krasowski, Stacey Perinar and Smith return for their final chance at a successful season.
The Eagles will begin their season on the road, competing in the Queen City Classic, playing the likes of Northern Kentucky University, University of Cincinnati and Xavier University from Aug. 28-29 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Eastern Michigan volleyball will take part in the IUPUI Jaguars Tournament, the Sycamore Classic and the Flyer Tournament through Sept. 19 before taking on Western Michigan University on Sept. 25 to open its MAC campaign.
The Eagles won’t play at home for the first time until Oct. 1 when it takes on Central Michigan University. To qualify for the MAC Tournament the Eagles will have to finish in the top 8 of the conference.
Last season the Eagles finished fourth in the MAC West standings, having just made it into the MAC Tournament as the eighth seed. Eastern Michigan was eliminated in the first round of the tournament by Kent State.
