Excitement And Optimism Reign As 2002 OU Volleyball Team Reports :: With six newcomers reporting, Head Coach Kalani Mahi sees depth as new weapon.

	">Printer-Friendly Format ">E-mail this article Head Coach Kalani Mahi welcomed 6 newcomers to the 2002 Volleyball team

Excitement And Optimism Reign As 2002 OU Volleyball Team Reports

With six newcomers reporting, Head Coach Kalani Mahi sees depth as new weapon.

Norman, Okla.-

Aug. 9, 2002

After struggling last season the Oklahoma Volleyball team is ready to look towards the future. With six newcomers reporting for two-a-days on Thursday, the Sooners will not only be youthful but deep for the first time in awhile.

" After last fall we realized that it was time for some changes. Not overhauling the program but a commitment to change for the better. I am very excited about this team, we are looking forward to the season with fresh enthusiasm." Said Head Coach Kalani Mahi. "A lot of the ladies stayed around this summer and made the commitment both athletically and academically. We really came together as a team, and from that leaders have emerged ready to move this program in the right direction."

Last season the Sooners battled inconsistency and injuries all season long and the results showed in their record of 3-30. In fact, they ended the season with just 8 players on the roster. Things are different this year as the Sooners can claim depth as a strength with 13 players on the roster.

"We have a great mix of newcomers (1 junior transfer, 2 red shirt freshmen, and 2 incoming freshmen), that have provided the team with energy and enthusiasm, " said Mahi.

Not only is the roster changing for the Sooners this season but the collegiate game is making a dramatic change as well. This year the NCAA Rules Committee voted to add the libero position to the women's game, as they did with the men's game two years ago. The libero is a defensive specialist, who plays solely on the back line and can rotate in and out every possession.

"We recruited Tara Birkinbine (Geneva, Illinois) as a our libero and she has already done great things for us over the summer and today as we began two-a-days," said Mahi. "Tara played on one of the best club teams in the country and that experience is the reason we have all the confidence in the world that she can come in as a freshmen and handle the starting duty at libero."

Joining Birkinbine in the freshmen class are Jennifer Mosso ( Mesquite, Texas) and Jennifer Adams (Livermore, Calif.). Jennifer Adams was a key contributor for the Forefront Volleyball Club, based in Northern California, which finished in the top 16 nationally last season.

"Jennifer Mosso has been a nice surprise since she was the only athlete we recruited who hasn't played club ball. Originally we expected her to red shirt, but at the rate she is learning and developing now she may find her way onto our fulltime roster, " said Mahi. "Jennifer Adams has competed against the best in her age group for many years now and she is ready to take on the Big XII. She has great speed and leaping ability which could find her time in the middle."

Beyond the incoming freshmen the Sooner staff is welcoming a coulple redshirt freshmen back. One of those ladies is Sheena Werling (Tiffin, Ohio), who suffered an injury prior to last season and was forced to redshirt.

"She is one of the top two athletes on the squad. She's a hard worker with lots of energy and a positive attitude. Although she is young I expect her to be one the team leaders, '' said Mahi.

Leann Chen, from Regina in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, redshirted last season but is expected to compete with Jessica Barney, the Sooner starting setter last season.

Rounding out the newcomers to the OU Volleyball program is junior transfer Yvette Villanueva from Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. Villanueva was injured early in the season last year for UIW and received a medical redshirt. She comes to OU with two remaining years of elgibility.

"Yvette has been doing some awesome stuff so far, in really just a day of practices. Even though she played at a smaller school last year (UIW is NAIA) she is probably the best all around athlete of the newcomers. She has solid skills and plays with the confidence of a veteran." Said Mahi.

Returning players report tomorrow as the Sooners begin full squad practice at the Field House. Highlights of the upcoming season include trips to Tulsa and Los Angeles for tournaments. OU travels north for the Tulsa Tournament from September 13-14th. They play Grambling State the first day of the tournament, before taking on Louisiana-Monroe and Tulsa the following day. OU begins the season on the road in Los Angeles, Calif. at the Loyola Marymount Tournament, August 30-31. The Sooners are scheduled to take on Duke, LMU and Bradley.

"This team is excited about the season, as is the coaching staff. We had a solid spring season and we believe that will translate into the fall. We are excited to get practice and to get the season underway. I believe there is no better place to test ourselves than at the LMU tourney." said Mahi

For more information on the 2002 Oklahoma Sooner Volleyball team check the www.soonersports.com.