Aug. 20, 2010
SEATTLE - With the season-opener fast approaching, the Husky volleyball squad hit the Hec Edmundson court for an intense scrimmage in front of a band of loyal fans. With the Huskies decked out in black save for the purple-clad liberos, the scrimmage began informally with head coach Jim McLaughlin beginning the points and directing which outside hitter he wanted setters Jenna Hagglund and Jenni Nogueras to find. Kylin Munoz and Becky Perry each received a lot of reps on the outside and each responded with a number of authoritative swings. This evening was the first chance Husky fans had to see Munoz and junior Amanda Gil in action in an official scrimmage. Both were unable to compete when the Huskies and Santa Clara mixed it up back at the end of spring practice. Gil was a factor around the net, picking up several kills and altering shots on defense. Freshmen Anna Cesari, Gabbi Parker, and Stephanie Stoll also got some work, with Parker getting after it on the outside with some well-timed attacks, and a strog jump serve. Cesari also had several effective float serves and a handful of quick-twitch digs. During the second part of the scrimmage, the teams played four half-sets that each began at 12-points per side, going to 25, capped by a final quick game starting at 20-all that wrapped up at 27-25. "I liked the energy, they played hard. I thought the numbers were decent for our first scrimmage," said McLaughlin. "We did some things well but there's clearly a ton of learning ahead, and much more progress to make. It's good to get out here and try a live game and have some people rotate. I thought they did a good job for the first time out there." The Huskies will have another week to put some more things in order before the season-opener next Friday night, at home on August 27, when they face Mercer at 7 p.m. |
