United Jags look to spike foes

The Southern University Lady Jaguar volleyball team has an optimistic outlook for the upcoming season.
After a very disappointing season last year (12-19, 5-7 in SWAC) the team is returning seven players, four of which were starters last season.
Coach Nathaniel Denu has added four newcomers to his squad via community colleges and one transfer from Grambling State.
Returning for their senior seasons are Kashanna Bridges, a 5-11 middle blocker from Baton Rouge and Stephanie Wright, a 5-10 outside hitter from Houston.
“This year is gonna be a lot different from last year,” Wright said. ” It just feels like this season will be special”.
“I think this season will be very interesting. We have to get better as a team because every year the competition in the SWAC gets better,” exclaimed Bridges.
Coach Denu admits that there is a lot of uncertainty about the new season.
“At this point I don’t know who will be starting or not, there is no one locked in place in the starting six”, Denu said. “That’s what so special about a new season, everything is brand new and everyone is so excited.”
According to Denu, he feels the team did not do a good job of conditioning in the off season, which may hurt the team at the beginning of the year. Team chemistry will also be a very important factor in the success of this team.
“We need to improve our internal strife, that is an important factor in any team game. That was the major problem with last year’s team we didn’t have that camaraderie,” exclaimed Denu.
Denu stated that he found out that his team could really play great volleyball, especially in the game against Alcorn State University , Prairie View A, and Corpus Christi, but it was that lack of team unity which ultimately led to the dismal season for the lady jags.
The idea that last season internal strife hurt the team is obvious to returning players.
“I think this team will be better than last year because there is no personality conflict within the team, I think we can work together and become SWAC champions,” said Ashley Burns a junior Baton Rouge native.
“Everyone is getting along with each other and our attitudes are much different from last season,” Bridges said.
Also returning to the team is Mayumi Takeuchi, a junior from Sedai, Japan, whom was the only member of the Lady Jags to be selected to the first team preseason all SWAC volleyball team. Takeuchi led the team in kills last year with 277 and digs with 310. Joining Takeuchi on the preseason all SWAC team is Burns the 6-2 junior who finished second on the team with 212 kills. Maya Valerie was named on the team as an honorable mention. Valerie was third on the team in kills with 210.