The Florida State women's volleyball team fell short in Round 2 of the Volleyball Championship Tournament last year, but head coach Chris Poole is confident that the team will pull through as one of the top teams in this year's ACC. Here's what the coach had to say about the upcoming season:
HERO: Which players will log significant minutes for your team this year?
Poole: We only have 12 players on our team this year and three of those are true freshman (Bozena Culo, Stasa Miljevic, Madison Sullivan). The other 9 players will be counted on heavily in pre-season with opportunities for the freshman to fight for playing time.
HERO: What will be the biggest difference between this year's team and last year's team?
Poole: Last year's team was very dependent upon Nicole Walch, who was our senior outside with tremendous experience. I think the team will have to be more balanced this year and that can be a good thing for our offense. I think this team is very like-minded in that all the players are very motivated to do well on the court and in the classroom. They seem to be all on the same page.
HERO: Which newcomers do you think will make the biggest impact for your team this season?
Poole: Ironically it isn't a newcomer, but Mara Green, a returning fifth-year senior that has the potential to make the biggest impact. Sarah Burrington, our returning two time all-American middle blocker and clearly one of the top returning players in the ACC and country made the decision in January to not return for her Masters Degree this fall for her senior season. She was burned out of school having tackled a double major and was graduating May 2016.
This was a shock for everyone in the program, but enter Mara Green, the No. 23 rated recruit in the 2012 prep volleyball recruiting class. Mara finished her high school career as one of the most decorated players in Georgia history leading her high school team to a State Championship her senior year and her club program (A5) to a National Championship runner-up her junior year.
Mara came to Florida State with a stress fracture and has been plagued by injuries for the last four years. She has been in a cast or boot for the last four summers and has never entered pre-season practices full speed. Mara just finished her first summer training program for the first time since arriving in May 2012 has been released by the doctors for pre-season training. This is the kind of story we hope has a happy ending.
HERO: Which players do you expect to lead the team this season? Please name the captains if you know them.
Poole: Hailey Luke is returning for her third year as a lead Captain for our program, but we expect all four seniors in particular to take a leadership role (Hailey, Melanie Keil, Katie Horton, and Mara Green).
HERO: Is there one game you have circled on your calendar as your 'Game of the Year'?
Poole: The ACC gets deeper with talent every year. There are many matches that can be determined by just a few points on our schedule. Our pre-conference matches are again a great challenge for us and provides an opportunity for our team to meet adversity head on. Even our 2011 team that ended the NCAA Tournament in the Final Four started the season 6-4 prior to conference. However, it was a great schedule and we learned from the losses.
If I had to just circle a match that is always exciting for the FSU fans, it would have to be hosting the Florida Gators on September 14th. Mary and I have played against each other every year since 1994. There is a lot of respect between the two of us and the matches are always very high level.
HERO: Is there anything else you want fans to know about your team?
Poole: I believe this is a team that will get better as the season progresses. If we stay healthy, I think we can compete with anyone in the country. Our home at Tully Gym has been a great volleyball atmosphere the last seven years and this team is very motivated to have a great season.
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BR-20 FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL SNAPSHOT
2015 Conference: 17-3, 2nd in ACC
2015 Overall: 25-7
2016 Projection: No. 2, ACC
(Photos Courtesy: FSU athletics)
