Photo by: Rob Rasmussen / P8Photos.com
Season Preview: Quinnipiac Women's Volleyball
3/2/2021 4:02:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Bobcats Begin Season March 7 at Manhattan
HAMDEN, Conn. – The last time the Quinnipiac women's volleyball team took the court for a match was Nov. 24, 2019 - when the Bobcats took on Fairfield in the MAAC Championship game.
471 days later, the Bobcats will return to the court as they take on Manhattan on Tuesday, March 9.
"It's exciting, we've waited a long time to get the opportunity to compete," Quinnipiac head coach Kyle Robinson said. "The girls are looking forward to it, they've been working really hard so I'm excited for them to get out there and show what they got."
Since last fall, Robinson and the Bobcats have been working on and off the court to get better every day to be a program at the top of the sport.
"There's a lot of different avenues that we're working on to grow this program. From a training standpoint, to having a balance in the gym and creating a really competitive environment that can challenge in Division I," Robinson said. "Realistically we always look at breaking into the top 100, then the top 50, then top 35, and so on."
The Bobcats bring back a roster with players that played a lot of important points for the squad. Five of the seven starters from last season's MAAC Championship game return for Quinnipiac. Between then and now, Robinson has seen his team grow on the court, but more importantly off the court.
"I think the big thing is the maturity. I've seen these young ladies grow as volleyball players. That's the easy part but to carry the weight of maybe some tough seasons here prior to me getting here is a lot," Robinson said. "Their maturity has been off the charts and they're growing and getting better every day as volleyball players, but also as people."
The Bobcats bring in five newcomers to the team for the 2020-21 season. Robinson says all of them play a major role for this team and they will continuously move the bar forward for the program.
Robinson talked about each of them and introduces them to Bobcat Nation.
Ava Koszalka | First Year | Defensive Specialist | Westhampton Beach, N.Y. | Westhampton Beach
"She's a player who actually I've known for quite some time. Her family and I went to college together so I've seen Ava grow up. Since she's been here I've seen her really blossom into a stronger personality and she's someone who's really important in our program. She's been a great teammate, she's been working really hard in the gym, getting better and adapting like a first year needs to."
Kristina Peric | First Year | Outside Hitter | Belgrade, Serbia | OK Crvena Zvezda
"She's the third international on the team and she brings part of that international flair and professionalism to what we do. The international girls have spent their entire lives playing this game and working within this game on a very professional level, on a level that teaches a different type of responsibility and respect for the game. Kristina brings that maturity, the professionalism to the game. She comes to practice every day looking to get better. She's a very, very hard worker and someone that we really see blossoming and doing great things for us.
Chloe Ka'ahanui | First Year | Setter | Honolulu, Hawai'I | Punahou School
"She's someone who just keeps getting better and better in our gym. I think it's always tough when you're a first year and asking them to not only adapt and change and grow as a young person, but also to be a leader almost right away, and it comes with the territory with her position as a setter. She's been great, she comes from a place where the volleyball has a lot of flavor and a lot of flair. We're excited to get to see her live and showing all of the things she's been learning, especially how to lead and be an integral role within the team."
Nicole Legg | Junior | Middle Blocker | Union, Ky. | South Florida
"She's going to be really great for us. With transfers sometimes you just never know and the way Nicole got to us was really kind of special. She's great in the gym because of that experience, she's very level headed, very mature and very eager to learn and it adds to that little piece we had but we kind of lost when we're losing really strong seniors. It's really nice to have some stability with her and (Gabby Horman) in the middle. She's a very good volleyball player as all the other girls are. She works very hard and is down for the cause in making us a much better program."
Lexi Morse | First Year | Middle Blocker | Tampa, Fla. | Wharton
"She's a dream first year, she is someone who is very eager to get better and has a lot of ability. She's learning how to adapt to the game played in a much different speed and much high level and she's grown with flying colors. We've got three really good middles right now. It's nice to have first years who are at the level of the girls who have been here for a while and help push them. She's working really hard for us."
The Bobcats roll into the 2020-21 season with a very tight knit group and that is something that Robinson likes the most about this team.
"I love, love, love our team, and I love them more as people and as a crew than I do as volleyball players and I really, really love them as volleyball players. I really, really think we have a sweet team when it comes to the game, but they're just so much better people. I can say I love all of those girls and I mean it."
To stay up to date with everything Quinnipiac women's volleyball, follow the program on social media @QU_WVB and on gobobcats.com.
471 days later, the Bobcats will return to the court as they take on Manhattan on Tuesday, March 9.
"It's exciting, we've waited a long time to get the opportunity to compete," Quinnipiac head coach Kyle Robinson said. "The girls are looking forward to it, they've been working really hard so I'm excited for them to get out there and show what they got."
Since last fall, Robinson and the Bobcats have been working on and off the court to get better every day to be a program at the top of the sport.
"There's a lot of different avenues that we're working on to grow this program. From a training standpoint, to having a balance in the gym and creating a really competitive environment that can challenge in Division I," Robinson said. "Realistically we always look at breaking into the top 100, then the top 50, then top 35, and so on."
The Bobcats bring back a roster with players that played a lot of important points for the squad. Five of the seven starters from last season's MAAC Championship game return for Quinnipiac. Between then and now, Robinson has seen his team grow on the court, but more importantly off the court.
"I think the big thing is the maturity. I've seen these young ladies grow as volleyball players. That's the easy part but to carry the weight of maybe some tough seasons here prior to me getting here is a lot," Robinson said. "Their maturity has been off the charts and they're growing and getting better every day as volleyball players, but also as people."
The Bobcats bring in five newcomers to the team for the 2020-21 season. Robinson says all of them play a major role for this team and they will continuously move the bar forward for the program.
Robinson talked about each of them and introduces them to Bobcat Nation.
Ava Koszalka | First Year | Defensive Specialist | Westhampton Beach, N.Y. | Westhampton Beach
"She's a player who actually I've known for quite some time. Her family and I went to college together so I've seen Ava grow up. Since she's been here I've seen her really blossom into a stronger personality and she's someone who's really important in our program. She's been a great teammate, she's been working really hard in the gym, getting better and adapting like a first year needs to."
Kristina Peric | First Year | Outside Hitter | Belgrade, Serbia | OK Crvena Zvezda
"She's the third international on the team and she brings part of that international flair and professionalism to what we do. The international girls have spent their entire lives playing this game and working within this game on a very professional level, on a level that teaches a different type of responsibility and respect for the game. Kristina brings that maturity, the professionalism to the game. She comes to practice every day looking to get better. She's a very, very hard worker and someone that we really see blossoming and doing great things for us.
Chloe Ka'ahanui | First Year | Setter | Honolulu, Hawai'I | Punahou School
"She's someone who just keeps getting better and better in our gym. I think it's always tough when you're a first year and asking them to not only adapt and change and grow as a young person, but also to be a leader almost right away, and it comes with the territory with her position as a setter. She's been great, she comes from a place where the volleyball has a lot of flavor and a lot of flair. We're excited to get to see her live and showing all of the things she's been learning, especially how to lead and be an integral role within the team."
Nicole Legg | Junior | Middle Blocker | Union, Ky. | South Florida
"She's going to be really great for us. With transfers sometimes you just never know and the way Nicole got to us was really kind of special. She's great in the gym because of that experience, she's very level headed, very mature and very eager to learn and it adds to that little piece we had but we kind of lost when we're losing really strong seniors. It's really nice to have some stability with her and (Gabby Horman) in the middle. She's a very good volleyball player as all the other girls are. She works very hard and is down for the cause in making us a much better program."
Lexi Morse | First Year | Middle Blocker | Tampa, Fla. | Wharton
"She's a dream first year, she is someone who is very eager to get better and has a lot of ability. She's learning how to adapt to the game played in a much different speed and much high level and she's grown with flying colors. We've got three really good middles right now. It's nice to have first years who are at the level of the girls who have been here for a while and help push them. She's working really hard for us."
The Bobcats roll into the 2020-21 season with a very tight knit group and that is something that Robinson likes the most about this team.
"I love, love, love our team, and I love them more as people and as a crew than I do as volleyball players and I really, really love them as volleyball players. I really, really think we have a sweet team when it comes to the game, but they're just so much better people. I can say I love all of those girls and I mean it."
To stay up to date with everything Quinnipiac women's volleyball, follow the program on social media @QU_WVB and on gobobcats.com.
Players Mentioned
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