Huskies Hit The Court With Five New Faces
August 09, 2016 | Volleyball
SEATTLE – A new-look Husky squad walked onto the purple volleyball-specific Taraflex court today in Alaska Airlines Arena, coming together for the first time to start its 2016 journey. Washington Volleyball had five new faces to mix with seven veterans, making for the largest group of newcomers for the team since 2012, and making today's first practice all about teaching for Head Coach Keegan Cook and his staff.
Losing six seniors off the 2015 Pac-12 co-Championship squad was obviously going to result in a fresh look for the Dawgs, but the coaches and returners quickly set the tone and had things looking like a typical Washington practice in no time.
"I loved it," said Coach Cook. "I love that we're getting to teach a lot. Almost half our team is new and so it's fun teaching them just how to move and how to communicate, and how we do things in practice. It's always fun to get to know new people and see what they can do. There's a lot of natural excitement that comes from that."
The five new Dawgs included senior transfer Kameron McLain, and freshmen Kara Bajema, Shayne McPherson, Avie Niece, and Cailin Onosko, with the freshmen showing little of the nerves that they must have been feeling inside.
"They went for it," Cook said of the freshmen. "There still is a lot to learn. They're only going to get better here and become more like the players I know they can be. When you come into a new situation you tend to play it a little bit safe, so I'm looking forward to seeing them grow over the next few weeks."
Two of the veteran returners, Carly DeHoog and Courtney Schwan, were impressed with how their new teammates dove right in.
"I think you always are going to be a little nervous, but they didn't show it. I thought they got after it well," DeHoog said. "We brushed up on the fundamentals of our skills, and the freshmen and Kam just have that extra challenge of picking up on the way practice runs and language from the coaches, but it was a good first practice I thought."
DeHoog and Schwan are now part of a big junior class that finds itself as the veterans on the team for the first time, with the onus on them to lead in the locker room and on the court. All-Pac-12 honorable mentions Tia Scambray, Crissy Jones, and Bailey Tanner all were vocal and steady presences today and Jade Finau had some of her typical hustle plays, sacrificing herself to extend rallies on the first day of the season.
Cook was pleased with the way the upperclassmen carried themselves. "I thought they took a good first step in terms of leadership, but they've got to continue that. This is a big year for them in terms of taking responsibility for the direction of the program."
Schwan agreed that as a third year player, "we know what's going on, we know where to be and when to be there, and we've got to make sure the whole team is on the same page. That just comes with experience, and we have that now."
"We know what Washington Volleyball is supposed to look like," said DeHoog, "What it's supposed to feel like in a practice, and how it's supposed to be executed, so it's our job to present and show what it means to be in the Washington gym."
Losing six seniors off the 2015 Pac-12 co-Championship squad was obviously going to result in a fresh look for the Dawgs, but the coaches and returners quickly set the tone and had things looking like a typical Washington practice in no time.
"I loved it," said Coach Cook. "I love that we're getting to teach a lot. Almost half our team is new and so it's fun teaching them just how to move and how to communicate, and how we do things in practice. It's always fun to get to know new people and see what they can do. There's a lot of natural excitement that comes from that."
The five new Dawgs included senior transfer Kameron McLain, and freshmen Kara Bajema, Shayne McPherson, Avie Niece, and Cailin Onosko, with the freshmen showing little of the nerves that they must have been feeling inside.
"They went for it," Cook said of the freshmen. "There still is a lot to learn. They're only going to get better here and become more like the players I know they can be. When you come into a new situation you tend to play it a little bit safe, so I'm looking forward to seeing them grow over the next few weeks."
Two of the veteran returners, Carly DeHoog and Courtney Schwan, were impressed with how their new teammates dove right in.
"I think you always are going to be a little nervous, but they didn't show it. I thought they got after it well," DeHoog said. "We brushed up on the fundamentals of our skills, and the freshmen and Kam just have that extra challenge of picking up on the way practice runs and language from the coaches, but it was a good first practice I thought."
DeHoog and Schwan are now part of a big junior class that finds itself as the veterans on the team for the first time, with the onus on them to lead in the locker room and on the court. All-Pac-12 honorable mentions Tia Scambray, Crissy Jones, and Bailey Tanner all were vocal and steady presences today and Jade Finau had some of her typical hustle plays, sacrificing herself to extend rallies on the first day of the season.
Cook was pleased with the way the upperclassmen carried themselves. "I thought they took a good first step in terms of leadership, but they've got to continue that. This is a big year for them in terms of taking responsibility for the direction of the program."
Schwan agreed that as a third year player, "we know what's going on, we know where to be and when to be there, and we've got to make sure the whole team is on the same page. That just comes with experience, and we have that now."
"We know what Washington Volleyball is supposed to look like," said DeHoog, "What it's supposed to feel like in a practice, and how it's supposed to be executed, so it's our job to present and show what it means to be in the Washington gym."
Players Mentioned
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