It’s debut weekend for Mississippi State University athletics, and MSU’s Volleyball Bulldogs get the honor of ushering in the 2002-03 sports year Friday afternoon in San Marcos, Texas. State opens its 28th season of volleyball against the Southern Illinois Salukis in a 1:30 p.m. opening-round match in the two-day Southwest Texas State’s Century Tel/Roger Beasley Honda Premier.
“It’s time to test the waters,” said sixth-year Bulldog volleyball head coach Brenda Bowlin. “We’ve had a productive preseason practice period, have managed to stay away from injuries, and now we’re looking forward to getting the new season started.”
Bowlin enters the season with 58 wins, second-most all-time among Mississippi State’s eight volleyball coaches.
MSU also takes on the host Southwest Texas State Bobcats Friday at 7 p.m. and on Saturday faces both North Texas (9 a.m.) and Air Force (1:30 p.m.) to wrap up the first of their four scheduled September tournaments. The Bulldogs launch a 12-match home schedule Sept. 6-7 hosting Boston College, Lamar and Samford in the third annual MSU/Ramada Inn Classic in Humphrey Coliseum.
The Bulldogs open the campaign with a 12-player squad that features three primary returning starters and eight letterwinners who handled nearly 60 percent of MSU’s starting duties a year ago. Outside hitter and team captain Misty Hubenthal from Georgetown, Texas, is the lone senior on the squad after pacing the team with 278 kills. Junior opposite hitter Tanika Taylor of
Rowlett, Texas, a three-year starter, and junior middle blocker Hilary Chambers of Highlands Ranch, Colo., the team leader with 88 total blocks a year ago, are expected to play key roles for the 2002 Volleyball Bulldogs.
Bowlin said one of the team’s five newcomers, freshman outside hitter Rachel Cooper of Roscoe, Ill., is likely to see starting duty on opening weekend.
“Our freshmen are adjusting well to our system and the other players, and they should get better and better as the season progresses and they gain experience. They bring a great deal of athleticism to our team and I’m anxious to see how they perform in their first collegiate competition.”
Junior Jennifer Hadden of Marysville, Mich., will open the year as the starting setter and junior Jennifer Rousey of Champaign, Ill., is set to join Chambers as a starting middle blocker. Taylor and one other junior, Nicole Broome of Orlando, Fla., are expected to share duties as opposite (right side) hitters.
MSU Volleyball Notes
* This weekend’s appearance in the Century Tel/Roger Beasley Honda Premier in San Marcos, Texas, marks the 11th tournament trip to Texas for MSU Volleyball since 1984
* Three Bulldogs will be playing collegiately in their home state for the first time this weekend– Lauren Bounds (Arlington, Texas), Misty Hubenthal (Georgetown, Texas) and Tanika Taylor (Rowlett, Texas)
* College volleyball debuts its new “Libero rule” this weekend. The Libero position, a back-row defensive replacement with unlimited substitutions, will be used this fall. MSU’s Lauren Bounds is State’s designated Libero
* MSU has won three of its last four season-openers and 17 of 27 overall. State has opened away from home in each of its last 15 seasons.