Volleyball Looks to Take Next Step, Hosts UC Tuesday - West Virginia State University Athletics

West Virginia State University Athletics

     The Yellow Jacket volleyball program is looking to take another step forward Tuesday night at 7 p.m. when they host intra-county rival University of Charleston in the Walker Convocation Center.

     They have come a long way already.

     The two seasons prior to Kris Kern taking over the WVSU volleyball program the Jackets had won 14 matches.

     Combined.

     After finishing with an 8-18 mark in 2015 the Yellow Jackets wound up 6-22 in 2016.

     Under Kern and with the addition of some talented freshmen WVSU ended last season at 14-16.

    Now the Yellow Jackets head into the meat of this year's conference season on an eight match winning streak and with a record of 12-4 including 1-0 in Mountain East play. Charleston comes into the match 6-9 overall and 2-0 in the MEC.

   "We're playing well," Kern said. "We're still going to have to go up a couple of levels to compete in the Mountain East." 5371

    Last season WVSU lost 3-0 at Charleston and 3-1 to the Golden Eagles at home in the Walker Convocation Center.

   The Yellow Jackets rank among the leaders in the MEC statistically both individually and as a team.

    WVSU is second in hitting percentage and first in holding opponents to a low hitting percentage. The Yellow Jackets allow the fewest kills per game and are fourth kills themselves. A similar situation holds true in blocking where WVSU is fourth in blocking opposing team shots but first in allowing the fewest of its shots to be blocked.

     Individually, freshman Gabrielle Bullock is third in the MEC in hitting percentage, converting .330 of her tries. She averages 3.56 kills per set, good enough for fifth n teh conference.

     Bullock is out of Pickerington, Ohio, and stands 5-foot-9 but has tremendous vertical leaping ability.

     Another freshman, Gabrielle Thompson, is second in the league in blocks and sophomore setter Tabi Pontious is third in assists per set.

      5372

Thompson stands 6-foot-3 and hails from Columbus, Ohio.

     Getting the team together on the same page could have been a problem with a new coach and several new players coming aboard but Kern has received some escellent help in that department.

     "Seniors (Mallory) Rennard and (Edwina) Barnett, and juniors (Makala) Cook and (Taylor Albritton have been here through the lean years," Kern said. "They could have taken off when we started trying to change things but they have stayed and had a great attitude."

      Helping the veteran and new players come together has been sophomore setter Tabi Pontious.

     "Tabi is natural leader,"said Kern. "She kind of bridges the gap between the new girls and the returning girls."

     Now they have their first substantial winning streak.

     "It's exciting," Kern said. "We are trying to change a culture and when you can put something together like that it helps."

      Beating a program that they have lost to before, such as Charleston's, would also help.

     "All of our players need to be more aware of the speed of the game," Kern said. They may have played on a really good club team or on a good high school team but DII college volleyball is different, much faster."

       Of course as fast as the young Yellow Jackets are improving speed does not seem to be a problem.

Print Friendly Version