Liberty Volleyball Opens Preseason Practice
8/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The Liberty volleyball team has opened its fall training camp, gearing up for the 2014 campaign. Liberty Flames Sports Network's Nick Pierce caught up with the Lady Flames during their first day of practice, on Thursday.
Prior to Liberty's afternoon practice, Pierce interviewed 11th-year head coach Shane Pinder and redshirt junior outside hitter Caroline Douglas. The interviews touched on a variety of topics, including a brief look back at 2013, and a preview for the upcoming 2014 fall season.
Last year, the Lady Flames bounced back from a tough start, posting a 10-4 record over the last 14 matches to finish 11-18, including 9-5 in Big South play. Liberty advanced to the Big South semifinal for the seventh year in a row before being edged by eventual champion, Radford, 3-2. Douglas, the 2012 Big South Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, helped fuel the Lady Flames' second-half surge after returning from injury.
The Lady Flames feature a trio of returning starters from 2013, in Douglas, senior libero Gabrielle Shipe and sophomore middle blocker Nzea McQuitery. This season's roster is comprised of 18 players, including eight newcomers (six freshmen, two transfers). Jade Vorster, a two-time All-Big West middle blocker who transferred from Hawai'i, highlights the incoming class of newcomers.
Liberty will be in action during the annual Blue-White Scrimmage, which takes place on Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. The Lady Flames take on San Jose State on Aug. 29 in Elon, N.C., to open the season.
