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SENIOR VOLLEYBALL GROUP PICTURE

Women's Volleyball Mark McGee

Volleyball Finally Opens 2021 Season This Weekend

Friday, January 22
Time: 6:00 p.m.  
Location: Alumni Memorial Gymnasium | Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Links: CUSA.TV | Live Stats


Sunday, January 24
Time: 1:00 p.m.  
Location: Allen Arena | Nashville, Tenn.
Links: ESPN+ | Live Stats


So tired, tired of waiting
Tired of waiting for you.
  • "Tired of Waiting" sung by The Kinks

Lipscomb coach Brandon Rosenthal doesn't have a theme for this year's season, but this old rock song certainly sums up what he and his players are thinking.  The season can't begin soon enough for them.

It has been more than 420 days since the Lipscomb volleyball team has made a kill shot in anger. The team has endured the cancellation of the fall schedule, two 14-day COVID-19 quarantines, the uncertainty of playing this spring and what the schedule would look like.

"We have been through so much already going back to late July to early August," Rosenthal said. "It has become less about the theme and more about just the opportunity. We have talked endlessly about perspective. At this point our girls are just ready to play.
"It is about trusting what we have done. Obviously, we have never had this kind of time for preparation. That time and preparation was stressful, but here we are."

This weekend the Bisons, barring any late developments, will open their season Friday night against Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro.  It is the season opener for both teams. The start time is 6 p.m.

Sunday the two teams will meet for a rematch at Allen Arena at 1 p.m.

"We have to get through another COVID-19 test, but we are enjoying the prospect of playing," Rosenthal said. "I don't want to sound grim, but we have been through so much."

EXPERIENCED DEPTH
Rosenthal stresses this year's team is the deepest he has coached during his time at Lipscomb. Considering the number of successful teams he has developed in the past it is a bold statement.

"This is an experienced group," Rosenthal said. "We have both ends of it. We have a ton of experience on the upper end, but we have a large freshman class. It is an interesting dynamic."

Through all the chaos and uncertainty one aspect of the team has prevailed – an aggressive approach to the game.

"We have an opportunity with this team to really dictate the style of play we want," Rosenthal said. "If we are going to be successful it is going to be because we are extremely aggressive on defense and very sound and disciplined on the transition from defense to offense. We are going to put a ton of pressure on you with our serve.

"Offensively and defensively this team has a ton of weapons. There are a lot of different things we can do."

Rosenthal has a lot of experience returning led by preseason All-ASUN selection Megan Kuper, but he admits the starting lineup may look different with each match, especially early in the season. 

One question mark is the setter position. Freshmen Delaney Dilfer and Ashleigh Albert along with redshirt freshman Brooke Phillips, are all vying for the position.

"We have to give them time and give them space," Rosenthal said. "It is about my management and my expectations for them."

COMING BACK STRONG
The Bisons participated in six days of practice after the second quarantine before leaving for Thanksgiving break. There were questions about what the team would do with the time, but Rosenthal knew it would be an opportunity for the Bisons to get better.

"We had an incredible week of practice," Rosenthal said. "By the time they came back January 2 they still had a taste of those six days and what was possible.

"The first two weeks in January were the first time we had played 6-on-6 in a long time. We didn't have to dial it up. They were all excited to be back."

Kuper, who will play right side, and outside hitter Lanie Wagner are the team captains. They will lead the Bisons against a young Blue Raider team.

"They only have three of four players who have playing time," Rosenthal said, "There are a lot of freshmen on their roster, so it is hard to scheme and game plan. As always, we are going to be much more focused on ourselves.

"I think our goal every year is to be ready to go with the first match. If we can limit our errors early, we can dictate the action and apply pressure. That is the goal. We want to impose our will on them." 
 



 
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Players Mentioned

Megan Kuper

#1 Megan Kuper

OH
6' 0"
Senior
Brooke Phillips

#8 Brooke Phillips

S
5' 9"
Redshirt Freshman
Lanie Wagner

#18 Lanie Wagner

OH
6' 1"
Junior
Delaney Dilfer

#16 Delaney Dilfer

S
5' 9"
Freshman
Ashleigh Albert

#10 Ashleigh Albert

S
5' 7"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Megan Kuper

#1 Megan Kuper

6' 0"
Senior
OH
Brooke Phillips

#8 Brooke Phillips

5' 9"
Redshirt Freshman
S
Lanie Wagner

#18 Lanie Wagner

6' 1"
Junior
OH
Delaney Dilfer

#16 Delaney Dilfer

5' 9"
Freshman
S
Ashleigh Albert

#10 Ashleigh Albert

5' 7"
Freshman
S
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