Volleyball team begins new season Tuesday night

The Eastern Florida State College women's volleyball team has high expectations as they prepare to open the regular season Tuesday night.

 "Every goal I have set in practice they have not just exceeded, but smashed them," Eastern Florida State College volleyball coach Andrea Rasmussen said. "They have gone above and beyond even my wildest expectations, so it would be easy to sit here and say we want a winning record and to go to the state tournament but I just want to see us improving every match and playing our best volleyball in October."

With just three players returning from last year's squad that won 11 games, the players got together before the first practice to make sure they would be ready for a challenging schedule, which begins Tuesday night at No. 6 Polk State College.

 "The schedule will really give ourselves the opportunity to test out our lineup and test our level before the conference season starts so we will know where we stand and what we need to work on before conference starts," Rasmussen said.

Then they travel to Spartanburg, South Carolina for an invitational this weekend before the home opener Aug. 30 against St. John's River State College.

"We have talked a lot about team chemistry right from the beginning, our whole focus has been to come together as a team. We have to work as a unit," sophomore Megan Graefe said. "No matter if it is a drill, conditioning or game play it is never 'We can't do this, it is always let's get through this, get it done and get it done well.' "

It is that work ethic that has coach Rasmussen excited about the season ahead.

"I am focused on the small attainable goals and let the bigger goals take care of themselves."

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Michael Parsons, Manager, Athletic Communications

Office: 321-433-5700   Cell: 321-626-1419   Email: parsonsm@easternflorida.edu