Ahead of the 2024 season, Spring Hill College Beach Volleyball Head Coach Sarah Senft previewed the year in a preseason Q&A.
How are preparations and practices going?
“It’s been good. The weather’s been fun to work with. We’ve had really cold, a lot of rain, but the girls have done a really good job of having a positive attitude and adjusting well to all the changes we’ve had to make. We’re really excited. We have a lot of young players, a lot of old player, and they’re doing a really good job of staying positive and motivated and working hard to get better, regardless if our touches are inside or outside.”
What does this season mean to the veterans and seniors?
“I think they’re really ready to go after it. You know, last year we had a lot of good things come with team building and character. I think the results weren’t exactly what we wanted throughout the year, which I think really motivated them for this year to really take every opportunity to get better and to push those and really just appreciate every moment.”
What are the goals coming off last year’s run in the AVCA Tournament?
“The end goal is to win a national championship with AVCA. We’d really like to come out on top. You know, last year we finished sixth. The two years before that we were the runner up. As division two grows, the volleyball has really grown, like the whole beach game has grown. So, it’s really cool that there’s like eight to nine really, really good DII teams now that are going to challenge us. We’re excited this year, we get to go down the Palm Beach Atlantic and play Palm Beach Atlantic, Tampa, Eckerd, St. Leo and Tusculum. It’ll be a good opportunity for us to get to see them before the championship event. So, we’re excited to get to do that this year.”
What does your team look forward to most in facing Division I opponents?
“Taking it as a learning moment, you know, we compete really well with some of the DI programs we play, LSU and FSU, like the top 10 schools in the nation. It’s a really good experience to get to play them, you kind of get to see your weakness, we’re working a lot on confidence this year. Being on your team, you know, it can be hard. Like you were the best player in high school and now you’re coming and now you’re playing these fifth years, grad students that are really, really good and have a really good game. So just taking those moments and being into this full list, not quitting, really just growing from each moment.”
Who are some newcomers we should watch out for?
“Ally Lane. She’s a really feisty character. She adds a lot of competitiveness to practice. She’s constantly chirping, constantly keeping people on their toes. She’s really exciting to have and this will be her first spring season. We have some other freshmen; Emma Grace Payne and Ashlyn Whiteside both out of high schools in Alabama. This will be their first year. Mia Saavedra, another freshman we have. She had a great indoor season, and we’re really excited to have her in the stand this year.”
FOLLOW THE BADGERS
For complete coverage of Spring Hill beach volleyball, follow the Badgers on social media @SHC_Volleyball (X), /SHCBADGERS (Facebook), @Shcvolleyball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Spring Hill athletics at shcbadgers.com
