Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks open preseason camp
8/11/2015 2:31:00 PM | Volleyball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh volleyball team began the 2015 season Monday with the Mountain Hawks' first official practice of preseason camp. The Mountain Hawks will be looking to build upon back-to-back 20-plus win seasons, including a historic 2014 campaign that saw Lehigh make a Patriot League Championship appearance and set a new program record for league wins. The Mountain Hawks open the 2015 campaign on August 28 at the JMU Classic.
"It's always exciting to start a new season," said head coach Bob Bertucci, the 2014 Patriot League Coach of the Year. "We have a lot of new faces with five freshmen coming in so it'll be interesting to see how the team dynamic will be different than last year. We'd like to build on last year's success and everyone seems very excited to be back."(8/11/2015) Volleyball Preseason Practice, 8/10/15
"It's really exciting to have everyone back together," said senior captain Amy Matula. "We had a lot of people doing internships and studying abroad this summer so it's nice to have everyone back together to see how hard we've all worked over the summer."
A group of five Mountain Hawk seniors will look to lead two juniors, six sophomores and five freshmen. Lehigh returns 2014 first team All-Patriot League performers in Matula and fellow senior Stephanie Slater, as well as the 2014 Patriot League Libero of the Year Mariah Brantley.
"One of our main focus points of preseason will be getting this new group together as a team," said Bertucci. "We also want to focus on seeing how the new players fit into a strong core group of players that we have coming back. We're excited to see what everyone will bring to the table and how our players can push themselves to become better and better their teammates."
"We really want to work on team chemistry throughout preseason," said Matula. "We've got five freshmen who are really going to add a lot to the team and we want to develop some consistency in how we play as a team."
The Mountain Hawks aim to return to the Patriot League Tournament for the fifth-straight year in 2015. Bertucci feels the league will be very competitive this season and that making it back to the championship match will take a lot of hard work.
"I'd like to see us back in that championship match, but I know it will be a challenge with the strength of the league," said Bertucci. "I want our players to define their goals for the season and really come together as a group to work towards those goals throughout preseason and as the season goes on."
The Mountain Hawks will play four tournaments to open the season before league play kicks off against Lafayette on Sept. 23.
Like Lehigh volleyball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates and team content throughout the season.
"It's always exciting to start a new season," said head coach Bob Bertucci, the 2014 Patriot League Coach of the Year. "We have a lot of new faces with five freshmen coming in so it'll be interesting to see how the team dynamic will be different than last year. We'd like to build on last year's success and everyone seems very excited to be back."
"It's really exciting to have everyone back together," said senior captain Amy Matula. "We had a lot of people doing internships and studying abroad this summer so it's nice to have everyone back together to see how hard we've all worked over the summer."
A group of five Mountain Hawk seniors will look to lead two juniors, six sophomores and five freshmen. Lehigh returns 2014 first team All-Patriot League performers in Matula and fellow senior Stephanie Slater, as well as the 2014 Patriot League Libero of the Year Mariah Brantley.
"One of our main focus points of preseason will be getting this new group together as a team," said Bertucci. "We also want to focus on seeing how the new players fit into a strong core group of players that we have coming back. We're excited to see what everyone will bring to the table and how our players can push themselves to become better and better their teammates."
"We really want to work on team chemistry throughout preseason," said Matula. "We've got five freshmen who are really going to add a lot to the team and we want to develop some consistency in how we play as a team."
The Mountain Hawks aim to return to the Patriot League Tournament for the fifth-straight year in 2015. Bertucci feels the league will be very competitive this season and that making it back to the championship match will take a lot of hard work.
"I'd like to see us back in that championship match, but I know it will be a challenge with the strength of the league," said Bertucci. "I want our players to define their goals for the season and really come together as a group to work towards those goals throughout preseason and as the season goes on."
The Mountain Hawks will play four tournaments to open the season before league play kicks off against Lafayette on Sept. 23.
Like Lehigh volleyball on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates and team content throughout the season.
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