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LIVINGSTON, Ala. —
Although the University of West
Alabama volleyball team began the
season slow, it was a solid finish
under first-year head coach Ron
Arenz and it shows promise to what
the future will hold next season.
“As a young team that had as many
new components we had this year, I
feel our girls improved as
volleyball players and matured as a
competitive unit at a fascinating
rate,” Arenz said. “Every girl
handled the obstacles and struggles
of our 10-week, 32-match season with
fortitude and determination. This
will definitely help us in the
future as we continue to improve our
standings in the GSC.”
The season began rocky for the
Tigers, playing their first 12
matches away from Pruitt Hall. Of
the 12 played on neutral sites, West
Alabama put together a 3-9 record.
The sluggish start began with six
straight losses, before winning
back-to-back matches against
Belhaven and Rhodes.
“I think we were just beginning to
hit our stride when our season came
to the end,” Arenz said. “Of our
nine wins, five came in the last
four weeks in the midst of the GSC
segment of the season against very
good teams. There is no substitute
to the experience we gained this
season.”
The Tigers picked up their only
conference win with a 3-1 victory
over UAH. West Alabama rolled
through the opening part of October
hot, winning three straight matches
– Huntingdon (3-0), New Haven (3-1)
and Bentley (3-1) and finished the
month by going 1-2, with a sweep
against Albany State.
Although West Alabama finished with
a 9-23 overall record and a 1-11 in
Gulf South Conference play, the
Tigers did have some accomplishments
along the way.
Sophomore defensive specialist
Jacquie Swan received Gulf South
Conference Defensive Player of the
Week honors (10/24/06) and sophomore
outside hitter Allison Nail was
selected to the All-GSC Second Team.
Nail also broke a school record for
kills in a match (29), breaking
Amanda Heaton’s mark of 28. Freshman
Giuliana De Francesco made her
presence felt immediately as she had
1,208 assists, including a
school-record 49 in a three-game
match against Southern Arkansas. She
also tied a school record in aces in
a four-game match with seven.
Freshman outside hitter/middle
blocker Jessica Crook also had a big
season, tying a school-record for
assist blocks with 10, sharing the
honor twice with Becky Stone.
The Tigers say goodbye to just two
seniors, Elizabeth Colley and Becky
Helms. Colley, who was named Co-Gulf
South Conference East Division
Freshman of the Year in 2003, had
134 kills, 77 block assists, 26
service aces, 26 digs and eight
assists.
West Alabama brings back a wealth of
talent as Arenz looks to build on a
team, which will look to compete in
the Gulf South Conference next
season. |
