Volleyball Opens Practice for 2017 Season
8/9/2017 6:42:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
KENT, Ohio — The Kent State volleyball team began practice Tuesday (Aug. 8) morning on the M.A.C. Center floor that received a makeover during the summer, just 17 days before the Golden Flashes open the season at the Cyclone Invitational on August 25.
The Flashes wasted little time going to work with an 8 a.m. lift followed by the first practice of the 2017 season. The team returned to the floor for a second practice in the afternoon.
"We love this time of year because we get to see how much the student-athletes have grown in the off-season as we implement new techniques and strategies," said head coach Don Gromala. "We enter the season with one of our most experienced rosters, so we know the culture of the program is strong and the expectations are clear. This is very determined and focused group that we are going to push as hard as we can these next couple weeks at improving individually and as a unit."
Kent State returns 13 letterwinners from last year's team. Two-time All-MAC First Team honorees Kelsey Bittinger and Challen Geraghty lead a strong senior class. Brittney Jakscht has appeared in 248 sets for the Flashes to provide a veteran presence at the setter position, while classmates Amber Gerdeman and Heather Younkin look for build off breakout seasons.
Fans will have their first opportunity to see the Flashes at the M.A.C. Center on Tuesday, August 15 for the annual Blue and Gold Scrimmage, which is set for 7 p.m.
Kent State then travels to Division II Ashland for an exhibition contest on Saturday, August 19.
The regular season will get underway at the Cyclone Invitational against host Iowa State on Friday, Aug. 25. The Flashes will take on New Mexico and Omaha the following day.
Be sure to follow Kent State Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad.
