With more than one-third of the Virginia volleyball lineup new to Grounds, coach Lee Maes has clearly had a busy preseason.
"Preseason's been great," Maes said. "We've been excited to get our new team together."
His "new" team includes a recruiting class ranked No. 9 in the nation. With five freshmen and one transfer student, sophomore setter Beth Wildermuth, Maes' recruiting class has improved from its No. 15 ranking from the previous season.
"One of the things we've addressed with our recruiting is depth and talent," Maes said, referring in part to the fact that there are 15 players on the roster, up from 12 last season.
Another major change in the roster has been the addition of new assistant coach Jenny Andrew. The four-time letterwinner at the University of Texas signed on to the team when Maes' former assistant, Jill Kramer, accepted the head coaching position at West Virginia right before the preseason.
"Jenny communicates very well, and because of her experience, can relate to our players very well," Maes said.
Even as the team has welcomed several new faces, it has strived to maintain the cohesiveness and chemistry among the players - something that has been a particular source of pride for Maes.\n"I think preseason has been a lot about not only volleyball but a lot about making that connection and chemistry within the team," senior middle hitter Sydney Hill said.
The squad, for instance, has focused on group building-activities, including the hand delivery of season tickets to members of the Charlottesville community.
"We stress relationships in our program," Maes said. "We foster that as much as possible throughout the entire year."
Moreover, the squad has done what it can to make sure it can hit the ground running this season.
"We have these team goals; it's great to know that we are all unified, and long-term, we are all working toward the same thing," senior defensive specialist A.J. Cushman said.
Even for the three seniors anchoring the lineup, these goals could allow them to achieve a good number of "firsts" in a season usually highlighted by a lot of "lasts."
"It's my last everything, but it can be a lot of firsts, too, like first time beating Duke [for everyone on this team], first time winning an ACC Championship and first time going to NCAAs," Hill said.\nWith all the new players joining the team, the seniors' presence has made a tremendous difference to the players acclimating to the program.
"They've done a wonderful job being role models in taking care of the first-years," Maes said.
Another potential emerging leader is junior outside hitter Simone Asque. Last year's preseason and postseason all-ACC member has been named to the 2010 preseason All-ACC team yet again.\n"I think it's positive pressure," Asque said. "But I thrive on pressure, and I like having that push."
Asque and the rest of the Cavaliers will take on Valparaiso, their first challengers of the season, Friday in the Temple Invitational in Philadelphia.
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