University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Rick Yeatts Photography
Volleyball Excited By Early Practices
8/12/2019 4:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
DENTON – Coming off a second-straight trip to a postseason tournament, North Texas volleyball begins final preparation for the 2019 season.
After a fifth-place finish in Conference USA in 2018, the Mean Green lost just two starters entering the 2019 season. With its core returning, North Texas took to the gym for its first full practice of the preseason on Saturday. Three of the team's five All-Conference selections return for the 2019 season.
"We're feeling good," Valerian said. "We've worked hard this summer. The first day is always a rush of excitement. It's time to implement what we've worked on. It's always interesting to a get a look at what we can do on the court."
Valerian, the team leader in kills last season, spent part of her summer training with the United States Collegiate National Team in Anaheim, CA. The junior outside hitter is primed for a big season after 495 kills in 2018. It was the 8th most kills in a single season by a North Texas player. Arguably the biggest question marks North Texas faces entering the 2019 season sit in the middle of the court. With setter Karley York out of the picture, the Mean Green are hoping that one of its newcomers steps up to fill the void of York's graduation. She finished her final season with 1,361 assists for a second-straight 1,000+ assist season.
She finished fourth in program history with 3,844 assists. Head coach Andrew Palileo believes he has brought in the proper support for his attackers.
"There's a lot of advantages to having summer ball now," Palileo said. "[Newcomers] have gotten a lot of reps over the summer and I think they are fitting in very well. The excitement of what they feel that our team can do will keep them excited and keep the energy high."
Early on in each new year, chemistry could be a hurdle to overcome within the first couple practices. But at the conclusion of practice one, the upperclassmen felt comfortable with the starting point of the team's chemistry. Junior Barbara Teakell was especially impressed. Teakell enjoyed the game-like energy that practice one showed.
"It really is amazing," Teakell said. "I think compared to the last two years our competitive spirit is the most it's ever been. It's because of our chemistry and how much we enjoy playing with each other, and really just being around each other."
North Texas' first game action comes against SMU on August 21 in a preseason exhibition. C-USA is set to release its preseason rankings and projected All-Conference selections this week.
"We feel strong," Palileo said. "We're excited about our starting point. Our foundation is good. It's just a matter of where we will progress from here."
After a fifth-place finish in Conference USA in 2018, the Mean Green lost just two starters entering the 2019 season. With its core returning, North Texas took to the gym for its first full practice of the preseason on Saturday. Three of the team's five All-Conference selections return for the 2019 season.
"We're feeling good," Valerian said. "We've worked hard this summer. The first day is always a rush of excitement. It's time to implement what we've worked on. It's always interesting to a get a look at what we can do on the court."
Valerian, the team leader in kills last season, spent part of her summer training with the United States Collegiate National Team in Anaheim, CA. The junior outside hitter is primed for a big season after 495 kills in 2018. It was the 8th most kills in a single season by a North Texas player. Arguably the biggest question marks North Texas faces entering the 2019 season sit in the middle of the court. With setter Karley York out of the picture, the Mean Green are hoping that one of its newcomers steps up to fill the void of York's graduation. She finished her final season with 1,361 assists for a second-straight 1,000+ assist season.
She finished fourth in program history with 3,844 assists. Head coach Andrew Palileo believes he has brought in the proper support for his attackers.
"There's a lot of advantages to having summer ball now," Palileo said. "[Newcomers] have gotten a lot of reps over the summer and I think they are fitting in very well. The excitement of what they feel that our team can do will keep them excited and keep the energy high."
Early on in each new year, chemistry could be a hurdle to overcome within the first couple practices. But at the conclusion of practice one, the upperclassmen felt comfortable with the starting point of the team's chemistry. Junior Barbara Teakell was especially impressed. Teakell enjoyed the game-like energy that practice one showed.
"It really is amazing," Teakell said. "I think compared to the last two years our competitive spirit is the most it's ever been. It's because of our chemistry and how much we enjoy playing with each other, and really just being around each other."
North Texas' first game action comes against SMU on August 21 in a preseason exhibition. C-USA is set to release its preseason rankings and projected All-Conference selections this week.
"We feel strong," Palileo said. "We're excited about our starting point. Our foundation is good. It's just a matter of where we will progress from here."
Players Mentioned
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