First-Year Head Coach JJ Riley Welcomes Bobcat Spikers to Fall Drills
8/10/2015 5:32:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
“The biggest thing is setting the standard,” Riley said. “What is our gym going to look like every day? The volleyball is going to come, we’re going to get better as the year goes on. We have to figure out the sacrifices, commitment, work ethic and attitudes we expect on a daily basis. The most important thing is to get everyone on the same page.”
Hobbled with a bad knee from a dirt bike accident suffered on vacation, first-year head coach JJ Riley was feeling no pain as he welcomed 15 Bobcat volleyball players to the court for the first practice of fall camp, Monday morning in Shroyer Gym.
Riley, who became MSU's 10th head coach in January, boasts ten returning letterwinners, including five starters from last year's squad that went 7-21 overall. The former University of Utah assistant will rely heavily on two seniors during the preseason.
Middle blocker Natalee Godfrey earned second-team All-Big Sky Conference honors last season, after leading the league in hitting percentage. Riley will also count on outside hitter Eli Svisco, who returns as MSU's top offensive threat after pounding down 207 kills as a junior.
"I think we have a tremendous upside and time will tell," Riley said. "(Today) was a great sign of what these athletes want to do. They've been working hard, they're focused and they're committed and it was a great first day to build off of."
Riley will also look at five freshmen newcomers to push the Bobcat veterans, although his main concern is the group as a whole.
"The biggest thing is setting the standard," Riley said. "What is our gym going to look like every day? The volleyball is going to come, we're going to get better as the year goes on. We have to figure out the sacrifices, commitment, work ethic and attitudes we expect on a daily basis. The most important thing is to get everyone on the same page."
Riley will have three weeks to mold the Bobcat spikers prior to its season-opening match against Tulane at the Sam Houston Classic in Huntsville, Texas, Aug. 28.
Riley, who became MSU's 10th head coach in January, boasts ten returning letterwinners, including five starters from last year's squad that went 7-21 overall. The former University of Utah assistant will rely heavily on two seniors during the preseason.
Middle blocker Natalee Godfrey earned second-team All-Big Sky Conference honors last season, after leading the league in hitting percentage. Riley will also count on outside hitter Eli Svisco, who returns as MSU's top offensive threat after pounding down 207 kills as a junior.
"I think we have a tremendous upside and time will tell," Riley said. "(Today) was a great sign of what these athletes want to do. They've been working hard, they're focused and they're committed and it was a great first day to build off of."
Riley will also look at five freshmen newcomers to push the Bobcat veterans, although his main concern is the group as a whole.
"The biggest thing is setting the standard," Riley said. "What is our gym going to look like every day? The volleyball is going to come, we're going to get better as the year goes on. We have to figure out the sacrifices, commitment, work ethic and attitudes we expect on a daily basis. The most important thing is to get everyone on the same page."
Riley will have three weeks to mold the Bobcat spikers prior to its season-opening match against Tulane at the Sam Houston Classic in Huntsville, Texas, Aug. 28.
Players Mentioned
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Monday, November 15
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