Gator Volleyball Notebook - August 9th, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 | Volleyball
The Florida volleyball team began its 2011 season on Tuesday by participating in its first two-a-day practices of the fall at the L. Gale Lemerand Center.
“All of us were seriously so excited to get back in the gym and (get to) practicing and get on with this season,” sophomore SEC All-Freshman setter Chanel Brown (Tempe, Ariz.) said. “We've been working hard and we just wanted to get back in there and compete and train together and it was just awesome, the sight of the whole team in the gym today.”
Senior AVCA Honorable Mention All-America selection Kristy Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) thinks that all 15 players having been enrolled in Summer B has not only helped team chemistry, but the team's preparedness for this season.
“Obviously, we're really fortunate,” Jaeckel said. “We know not very many programs around the country have that opportunity. So to have been playing with the four freshmen and getting to know them off the court, I think that's really going to help us. We've been practicing all summer by ourselves and on our own, and I think that's really going to help us, that we already have touches on the ball before we even start practice.”
Clearly, the Gators' hard work during the summer has paid off. Head coach Mary Wise was on Facebook keeping her followers updated about the great efforts of this year's Gators.
Her update after the first practice of 2011: “Highlights from this morning's practice: Kristy's defensive play to help her team win the 4 vs. 4 drill, and the offense from freshman and DS, Maddy Monserez!”
And in the afternoon, Wise was seriously impressed by a new face for the Orange and Blue: “Freshman Noami Santos-Lamb clocked a jump serve at 55 mph today. Not a bad start to a Gator career...”
