After falling short in the WAC semifinals last season, Idaho volleyball is back in Memorial Gym and ready for its first taste of action Saturday at Washington State’s spring tournament.
Idaho had one of its best seasons in recent history last fall. Idaho coach Debbie Buchanan won WAC Coach of the Year and six Idaho players earned WAC honors. The team finished second in the conference, but the season ended bitterly when the Vandals fell to New Mexico State in the semifinals.
Despite a disappointing end last season, Buchanan said she’s pleased with the conditioning and mentality her team has come back with.
“We’ve hit it hard since January,” Buchanan said. “We’ve seen improvement with our jump touches. The kids have already made some personal bests. From a conditioning standpoint, it’s been really good.”
The Vandals lost three seniors from last season’s squad, including Alicia Milo and Cassie Hamilton who both earned WAC honors. Their absence gives way for younger players to earn a starting role.
Despite their losses, the Vandals bring back a host of experience. Idaho will have six seniors and two juniors on the roster, including Allison Walker — two-time first-team all-WAC selection.
The Vandals play Seattle, Eastern Washington, Central Washington, Montana State, Boise State and Washington State Saturday in Pullman.
After weeks of practice, Idaho’s Amy Westberg said playing real matches will be nice.
“I’m really excited,” Westberg said. “Finally, we’ve been practicing and working so hard. It’s going to be great to be going out there in a tournament and showing our skills to everyone.”
The Vandals hit the weight room hard this winter and since starting practice, the focus has been on serving.
“We’ve really been trying to work on getting harder serves because we were a little weak in that area, then still passing well.” Walker said. “Our middles have really been doing a lot of work and changing stuff, so that’s been a big thing.”
While Idaho will have its first taste of competition for the year Saturday, Buchanan said she’s not interested in racking up a bunch of wins, but rather getting her younger players more experience.
“We’re going to have some new kids to get some experience who haven’t played a ton, so it’s going to be letting them work through some of their issues at times,” Buchanan said. “When they struggle they’re going to have to stay in and play through it. We have to get better as a team but we have to get some kids some experience through this process.”
This weekend’s tournament will be the first of four weeks of competition for the Vandals. Idaho will play matches every weekend in April, concluding with a scrimmage against Washington State April 28 in Pullman.
“This weekend we’re just looking to compete and go hard and when we get frustrated just work though it and work together as a team,” Westberg said.
Kevin Bingaman can be reached at [email protected]
Zach Edwards | Argonaut
Alex Sele, junior middle blocker, participates in a drill during practice Wednesday in Memorial Gym. The Vandals will compete in their first tournament of the spring playing five games Saturday in Pullman.