Aug. 7, 2009
2009 Samford Volleyball Schedule
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford University volleyball team reports to campus on Sunday and begins preparations for the fall on Monday. The reigning Southern Conference North Division Champions will begin practices twice a day as well as conditioning and weights on Thursday afternoon returning from a team retreat.
The Samford volleyball team heads into the 2009 campaign boasting eight returners, three who started and all of which saw minutes last season, on a squad who captured the program's first division title in school history in 2008. Second-year head coach Derek Schroeder anticipates this next season being just as successful because of that fact, but also because of the group of highly-touted freshmen joining the mix this season.
"It's going to be very difficult to match last year's success with this young team in 2009," Schroeder said. "We worked all spring to improve the standards by which we feel we should execute and our returning players will establish those for our incoming freshmen.
"Our freshmen are very battle-tested and will bring that competitive attitude to our gym. I see both factors combining to again develop a very special team dynamic. How far can that take us? I look forward to finding out."
As the Bulldogs enter their second season in the prestigious Southern Conference, Samford looks to match and exceed the previous year's accomplishments, which included the North division title. The first step to that is a tough preseason schedule which includes matches with four NCAA Tournament teams and a string of 11 straight preseason matches on the road.
"Scheduling was tough this year with a team that will be retooling at all three pin positions," Schroeder said. "We will return most of our serving and passing weapons but will replace both outsides and our right side in the starting lineup. Our hope is that starting at home in August and then playing a progressively stronger preseason schedule will help this young team find their identity and help our team dynamic blossom."
This year, only the top four teams will make the conference tournament due to cost containment measures. So, the Bulldogs will focus on making postseason play with this young team and improving every week so that they are playing their best ball of the season in late November.
"The future of Samforfd volleyball starts this year in 2009," Schroeder says. "This young, talented and determined team will set the foundation for our program in years to come. Our future recruiting looks very good so far but no matter how good it is the program can only grow as high as the foundation we establish this season will allow us."
