YSU v-ball team is young

Staff report

Youngstown

With a new coaching staff, four new starters and eight newcomers, it’s clear that the 2010 volleyball season will be one of transition for Youngstown State.

First-year coach Krista Burrows is hoping the Penguins can transition into a quicker, more aggressive team in the short term. Long term, Burrows is banking that she will transition YSU into a top-tier program in the Horizon League.

Haley Kapferer is the only senior — though there are three redshirt juniors — and seven freshmen on the squad will make the Penguins among of the youngest teams in the country. Only two returning players (Brittany Grove and Brittany McNeal) competed in more than 70 percent of the team’s sets last year.

“I think everyone is meshing well and starting to fit into positions that we need them to be in,” Burrows said. “I think the freshmen know that we’re going to rely on them a little bit more than maybe any other program.”

Although Burrows’ preferred style is to play small and quick, she will try to capitalize on the Penguins’ size at the net that allowed them to lead the Horizon League with 2.35 blocks per set last year. Kapferer stands 6-foot-3 in the middle, and Tasha Reid is 6-foot-2 on the right side.

“We’re big, probably one of the bigger teams in the Horizon League, and we need to utilize that as far as blocking schemes and just letting them hit high balls,” Burrows said. “We’re going to try and use our middles a lot and utilize our right sides a little more than in the past.”

Burrows also said the team will be more aggressive in the service game to get teams out of rhythm.

“We want to make sure we’re getting better throughout the season,” the first-year coach said. “Whether that means we pick up more wins at the end of the season than the beginning, it’s something that’s important for us.”

YSU opens the season today at the West Virginia Classic.