Volleybal Begins Fall Practice Amid Uncertainty of 2020
8/13/2020 4:54:00 PM | General, Women's Volleyball
The Lipscomb volleyball team still has no schedule and no idea whether it will actually have a chance to play for its 7th ASUN Conference crown, much less another NCAA Tournament berth. Nonetheless, the Bisons have officially begun the 2020 campaign with their first practices of the fall.
The Bisons, who normally would have been on campus since July 1 in a normal year, got together as a team for the first time on Friday – just one of the many effects COVID-19 has played on the 2020-21 sports seasons.
But despite the fluid state of affairs surrounding collegiate athletics, Lipscomb head coach Brandon Rosenthal was happy to finally get back to work, even if that first day might not have been as enjoyable as it had been in the past.
"There has been such a rollercoaster of emotions for the staff and players this time around," Rosenthal said. "Up until about an hour before our first scheduled practice we were on a conference call and not even sure if we would be able to practice, but thankfully we got the go ahead.
"Because so many things are coming at us from so many directions, when I got home Friday I was completely exhausted. I don't know if I was necessarily able to even enjoy that first practice, but I distinctly remember getting home and thinking I just needed to go to bed and get it out of my mind. So I was in bed by 9:30."
Friday's practices were the first step in adjusting to a new normal as the Bisons comply to the safety protocols put in place to reduce risks related to COVID, but one of the biggest takeaways thus far has been the ability for the coaching staff to work with players more 1-on-1 than a team setting.
"Typically we don't have time to work individuals because we are rapidly trying to get the team ready to play," Rosenthal said. "We usually get about two weeks of practice and then game week is all prep. We never have the time to work one-on-one, but because we can't get into team work yet, we've been able to spend about 45 minutes or so working on specific skills with the players.
"It's hard, because in the back of my mind I definitely want to be playing, but this has given us an ample amount of individual time and the girls will benefit from it for sure."
Rosenthal enters his 18th season at the head of a program laden with veterans with four seniors and seven returning players who started matches in 2019.
Entering their final years, outside hitter Megan Kuper and middle blocker Sami Rubal return to lead the offensive attack.
Kuper dealt with injury most of the season and only played 19 matches, but the Olathe, Kansas product still managed to finish fourth on the squad in kills (191) and second in points (229.5). She also recorded six double-doubles, including four straight to end the year.
Rubal had a breakout campaign in 2019 from her middle position with 225 kills and 75 blocks, both total were second-best on the team.
Anchoring the backline of the Bisons defense will be libero Alyssa Zwolensky and defensive specialist Ashley Maher.
The former finished fifth in the ASUN Conference in digs per set (4.65) and sixth in total digs (488), but her 290 scoops in ASUN play was the second best number amongst the league. She recorded double-digit digs in 27-of-29 matches, including a career-high 29 against Stetson.
Maher made her mark on both sides of the net, leading the Bisons with 27 service aces while pulling in the third most digs (215) on the defensive side.
"This group of seniors is really, really special and they are hitting their stride," Rosenthal said. "AZ played by far her best volleyball in the month of November - not just good volleyball, but great volleyball. Sami made a very bold statement after our loss at Liberty and drew a line in the sand. I cautioned her that she was also talking about herself, but she fully understood that and really took off from that point.
"Kuper battled injury and we weren't even sure if she would get to play in the conference semifinals. Ashely was our most consistent player last year from start to finish. This group is so tight-knit and ready to go that it should be a lot of fun to see."
On the other end of the roster, the Bisons will rely on a youth movement with six newcomers, one sophomore and a redshirt freshman. Of the newcomers, five are true freshmen and one is a junior transfer from New Mexico.
Three freshmen – Brooke Phillips (redshirt), Delaney Dilfer and Ashleigh Albert – will be vying to fill the setter position left by Morgan Elmore.
Lanie Wagner, Logan Gish, Garrett Joiner, Bree Thompson and Kamryn Bacus will provide Rosenthal plenty of options on the outside, while Rachel Murphy (transfer) and Meg Mersman will team up in the middle alongside Rubal.
Freshman Delaney Smith will have the chance to work with Zwolensky and Maher in her first season in purple and gold.
"This group is extremely talented and we've got depth that we haven't had in a long time," Rosenthal said.
With everything being up in the air and no one really knowing what the future holds, Rosenthal must leave heavily on his coaching staff and support staff to make sure the protocols are being followed, the work is getting done and everyone from top to bottom is prepared when the time comes to play.
"The staff has been fantastic," Rosenthal said. "I've been impressed with the work behind the scenes from our nutrition, training and weight staffs to our coaching staff – Nate Thompson, Rachel Ferguson and Brittnay Estes. For me, I have to come up with different ways to make the same thing happen, so a lot of that is delegated onto them to help me get there.
"It's neat to be at a university, where even though we don't have all the answers, we are still going to give it a go and try it. I credit Lipscomb for trying something different. People are working hard right now all over the place and its fun to be a part of it."
The Bisons, who normally would have been on campus since July 1 in a normal year, got together as a team for the first time on Friday – just one of the many effects COVID-19 has played on the 2020-21 sports seasons.
But despite the fluid state of affairs surrounding collegiate athletics, Lipscomb head coach Brandon Rosenthal was happy to finally get back to work, even if that first day might not have been as enjoyable as it had been in the past.
"There has been such a rollercoaster of emotions for the staff and players this time around," Rosenthal said. "Up until about an hour before our first scheduled practice we were on a conference call and not even sure if we would be able to practice, but thankfully we got the go ahead.
"Because so many things are coming at us from so many directions, when I got home Friday I was completely exhausted. I don't know if I was necessarily able to even enjoy that first practice, but I distinctly remember getting home and thinking I just needed to go to bed and get it out of my mind. So I was in bed by 9:30."
Friday's practices were the first step in adjusting to a new normal as the Bisons comply to the safety protocols put in place to reduce risks related to COVID, but one of the biggest takeaways thus far has been the ability for the coaching staff to work with players more 1-on-1 than a team setting.
"Typically we don't have time to work individuals because we are rapidly trying to get the team ready to play," Rosenthal said. "We usually get about two weeks of practice and then game week is all prep. We never have the time to work one-on-one, but because we can't get into team work yet, we've been able to spend about 45 minutes or so working on specific skills with the players.
"It's hard, because in the back of my mind I definitely want to be playing, but this has given us an ample amount of individual time and the girls will benefit from it for sure."
Rosenthal enters his 18th season at the head of a program laden with veterans with four seniors and seven returning players who started matches in 2019.
Entering their final years, outside hitter Megan Kuper and middle blocker Sami Rubal return to lead the offensive attack.
Kuper dealt with injury most of the season and only played 19 matches, but the Olathe, Kansas product still managed to finish fourth on the squad in kills (191) and second in points (229.5). She also recorded six double-doubles, including four straight to end the year.
Rubal had a breakout campaign in 2019 from her middle position with 225 kills and 75 blocks, both total were second-best on the team.
Anchoring the backline of the Bisons defense will be libero Alyssa Zwolensky and defensive specialist Ashley Maher.
The former finished fifth in the ASUN Conference in digs per set (4.65) and sixth in total digs (488), but her 290 scoops in ASUN play was the second best number amongst the league. She recorded double-digit digs in 27-of-29 matches, including a career-high 29 against Stetson.
Maher made her mark on both sides of the net, leading the Bisons with 27 service aces while pulling in the third most digs (215) on the defensive side.
"This group of seniors is really, really special and they are hitting their stride," Rosenthal said. "AZ played by far her best volleyball in the month of November - not just good volleyball, but great volleyball. Sami made a very bold statement after our loss at Liberty and drew a line in the sand. I cautioned her that she was also talking about herself, but she fully understood that and really took off from that point.
"Kuper battled injury and we weren't even sure if she would get to play in the conference semifinals. Ashely was our most consistent player last year from start to finish. This group is so tight-knit and ready to go that it should be a lot of fun to see."
On the other end of the roster, the Bisons will rely on a youth movement with six newcomers, one sophomore and a redshirt freshman. Of the newcomers, five are true freshmen and one is a junior transfer from New Mexico.
Three freshmen – Brooke Phillips (redshirt), Delaney Dilfer and Ashleigh Albert – will be vying to fill the setter position left by Morgan Elmore.
Lanie Wagner, Logan Gish, Garrett Joiner, Bree Thompson and Kamryn Bacus will provide Rosenthal plenty of options on the outside, while Rachel Murphy (transfer) and Meg Mersman will team up in the middle alongside Rubal.
Freshman Delaney Smith will have the chance to work with Zwolensky and Maher in her first season in purple and gold.
"This group is extremely talented and we've got depth that we haven't had in a long time," Rosenthal said.
With everything being up in the air and no one really knowing what the future holds, Rosenthal must leave heavily on his coaching staff and support staff to make sure the protocols are being followed, the work is getting done and everyone from top to bottom is prepared when the time comes to play.
"The staff has been fantastic," Rosenthal said. "I've been impressed with the work behind the scenes from our nutrition, training and weight staffs to our coaching staff – Nate Thompson, Rachel Ferguson and Brittnay Estes. For me, I have to come up with different ways to make the same thing happen, so a lot of that is delegated onto them to help me get there.
"It's neat to be at a university, where even though we don't have all the answers, we are still going to give it a go and try it. I credit Lipscomb for trying something different. People are working hard right now all over the place and its fun to be a part of it."
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's VolleyballWednesday, June 17
Thursday, April 30
Thursday, April 02
Wednesday, March 04
