Florida Volleyball Notebook: Aug. 11
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 | Volleyball
AUDIO: Coach Wise podcast discussing the team's setters (MP3). Florida head volleyball coach Mary Wise on Monday said it was the team's plan to fasten its seatbelts and move full-speed ahead during its 2009 training camp. On Tuesday, it was evident that her players – especially the team's setting corps – took that to heart.
Two of the Gators' three setters are new to the program – including transfer junior Brynja Rodgers (Iowa City, Iowa) and freshman Sundai Weston (Naples, Fla.) – and that would leave one thinking that, especially with the team's 6-2 offense, it would take some time to adjust.
Wise on Tuesday said that it's just the opposite with her setters, as improvements in offensive timing became evident during the team's first two-a-day practices.
"Last night, we introduced the nomenclature and the tempo of our play sets but today, we really got better at the timing," Wise said. "In our three setters, two of them are brand new and I thought they made great progress in learning how to set the different players at the tempo we need."
Sophomore right-side/setter Kelly Murphy (Wilmington, Ill.), the 2008 AVCA National Freshman of the Year, is the team's lone returning setter and Wise commented about how the multi-faceted player has taken her setting abilities to the next level.
"I love the work-ethic of all three of our setters, but I am particularly impressed with how much better Kelly is," Wise said. "Her setting was something that we emphasized greatly in the spring. That's the scary thing – as good as her attacking was last year, her setting skills are equally as good right now."
The team will hold two practices on Wednesday as well.
The University of Florida is home to the 2009 NCAA Volleyball Regional. To order 2009 regular season and NCAA Regional tickets, log on to www.GatorZone.com/tickets. Follow Florida Volleyball on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GatorZoneVB and Coach Mary Wise on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GatorMary.
REMINDER: FAN DAY – AUGUST 23 Florida volleyball will host its annual Fan Day and Orange & Blue Scrimmage on Sunday, Aug. 23 in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Gates open at 12:30 p.m. and autographs with players and student-athletes begin at 1 p.m. The intra-squad scrimmage will take place at approximately 2 p.m.
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