The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
2012 Volleyball Season Outlook: Part I
8/22/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 22, 2012
*This is the first of a three-part season preview
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- In her seventh season leading the Green and Gold, UAB volleyball head coach Kerry Messersmith enters the 2012 campaign with a strong returning group from a team that won 23 games a season ago.
In 2011, UAB finished tied for second in the league standings at 13-7 (23-9 overall) and brings back six of seven starters, 10 total letterwinners and 14 student-athletes off last season's roster.
Messersmith, who garnered the C-USA Co-Coach of the Year in 2011, is excited about the upcoming season and the preparation the team put in during the offseason to make a run to the NCAA Tournament.
"We have been happy with the intensity so far in preseason camp," Messersmith said. "The girls came back in great shape. They've worked hard over the summer - we had all of them here and that was a big plus."
Of the six starters returning for the Blazers, five are seniors in Kirsten Gallagher, Kate Morrell, Sam Serley, Michele Simmons and Alison Woods. Messersmith feels that this senior class can lead the team to the NCAA Tournament, just like the 2008 team did four seasons ago, the last time UAB advanced past the conference championship.
"We had a great senior class in 2008," Messersmith said. "The difference between this class and that class is this class has better athletes. We were smarter in `08, but hopefully this team has become smarter and this year they can show that.
"Each senior can bring something leadership-wise and I think they are all good at certain things. We couldn't be more excited about the class and for the season to start."
Messersmith, her coaching staff and veteran-laden club have high expectations for the season and the chance to make plenty of noise in Conference USA in 2012.
"Our goal is to go to the NCAA Tournament," Messersmith said. "We feel we have a schedule that would allow us, if successful, the opportunity to get us an at-large bid.
"We are also huge supporters of the conference tournament and that gives us another avenue to get into the NCAA Tournament. Our goal is to get there, and we are not going to lose track of that goal and that is what we are shooting for."
UAB opens the season with a doubleheader on the road this Friday at the Blue Raider Bash in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Blazers take on UTSA (2:30 p.m. CT) and host Middle Tennessee (7:30 p.m. CT) prior to playing UC Davis and Furman on Saturday.
