Better Late Than Never! Volleyball Starts Season this Weekend: Season Preview
Women's Volleyball
February 03, 2021
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – After being delayed for over six-months, first year head coach Dr. Ken Murczek (Mer-sik) finally gets to see what his club can do on the court as the Lady Owls travel to Simpson University in Redding, California on Friday at 6:00 pm at the James M. Grant Center.
"The team has done a tremendous job of staying the course and trying to improve both on and off the court," said Murczek. "We are incredibly excited to put the jersey on and display all of the hard work the group has been committed to since last year."
2020-21 Season Preview
The 2020-21 Owls return 15 players overall including 6 starters from a team that went 15-15 overall and 8-12 in Cascade Conference play in 2019. Tech has one lone senior on this year's team,
Ireland Bennett, who we interview at the end of this preview.
Coach Murczek gives us a breakdown:
Setters: The freshman duo of
Brooke Cassidy and
Lindsey Beck have been doing a terrific job of running the Owl offensive this past fall. Sophomore
Courtney Isom has returned this past week to the daily training regimen with the team after being injured, so we will have three setters that are all capable of running a solid offense.
Middles: Middles
Melody Edwards,
Ashley Ripplinger, and
Amanda Edwards return from last season and are led by senior
Ireland Bennett. They have been working to create offense both in front and behind our setter along with their ability to block the ball.
Liberos: The backrow players all return and have been competing vigorously along with improving their defensive range, serving aggressiveness, and serve receive. I anticipate
Lindsey Sampson,
Aubrey Kievit, and
Ally Volk all to make an impact this season.
Outside Hitters: We have five players that have been playing both on the left and right side that continue to make progress with their shot selection. A big goal for this group has been to reduce their errors and increase their ability to terminate the ball. All five of the players return from last year and I hope that experience will help propel our pin attacking this season. The left and right side attack will be anchored by juniors
Nicole Reyes and
Faith Houck-Wylie.
One on One with Tech's only senior Ireland Bennett (#4 in Photo by Kelly Caleb)
5-11 from Sparks, Nevada - Her parents are Tammi Bennett and Kevin Bennett she is a Echocardiography major.
Q1. It's been a long "off" season. How have you and your teammates handled the adversity?
- It has been a crazy off-season, which has kept all of us on our toes! We have all been keeping a very positive mindset and working as hard as we can even if we weren't able to be in a gym at times. We have just been making sure that if they told us we can play tomorrow we are ready to go and compete.
Q2. Senior year! How is it being the only one?
- These past 4 years have gone by so fast, and I can't believe my time is ending! Being the only senior has been a lot of hard work because I wanted to set an example for my teammates to make sure you leave the program better than you have found it. This has been one of my primary goals and focuses that have been driving me to help our program achieve our team goals for the season as well as setting an example for what we want our team culture to look like moving forward!
Q3. Looking back at your OIT career, what has stood out the most?
- Being able to compete as an OIT athlete as well as being the captain of this team for the past 2 and a half years has been an absolute honor. The thing that has stood out to me the most is how incredible the culture changes have been throughout the years; it just keeps getting better!! Also, not to mention how amazing every single one of my teammates has been all the seasons I have played; they are people that will be in my life for the rest of it.
Q4. What advice would you give to incoming players or athletes?
- If I had any advice to give it would be to cherish and work hard every moment because it goes by fast. Have the mindset that you get to be a college athlete and that you will miss all the hard workouts, practices, and games that come your way!
Thank you!
-Ireland
