8/24/2004 - Women's Volleyball
Volleyball Team Reaches the Midpoint of Fall Training
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- With just over one week of practice complete and one week to go prior to the season-opening match, Navy head coach Mike Schwob has been pleased with what he has seen out of his 2004 Navy volleyball team at the midpoint of the fall training period.
"It has been a good first week of practice," said Schwob. "We had great competition throughout our limited tryout period and that has carried over to the remainder of our practices.
"I have been very pleased with how our plebes have fit in to our routines and our system. I give our returning players a great deal of credit for how they have helped with the acclimation process of all the newcomers."
Two players in particular Schwob has singled out for their impacts during the opening week were senior team captain Katey Geary (San Jose, Calif.) and junior Ashley Musser (Industry, Pa.).
"I have been very impressed with how Katey is helping run the team," said Schwob. "It is both easy and difficult for her. It is easy in that over half of the team is returning, so they know what the daily expectations are for the team, but it is hard because we have eight plebes on the squad who are still in that adaptation period to the Naval Academy. She has done a good job of keeping them focused and is leading by example on the court.
"Ashley had shoulder surgery at the end of the spring season, but worked hard all summer to return to the level she had last season when she played all 100 games on the year and was named Second-Team All-Patriot League."
Over the next week, Schwob is expecting the team to continuing raising its level of competition.
"I expect heavy competition at every spot on the floor," said Schwob. "I want them to battle over the next week as they did through those few days of tryouts. We have competition going on at every spot in the lineup, as well as from each of the four classes. This will help raise our level and standard of play and will create a great deal of depth that we plan on utilizing all season."
Navy opens the 2004 season Sept. 1 in Macdonough Hall against Saint Francis (Pa.). First serve is slated for 6 p.m.
