On the one hand for Ohio, it was a return to the familiar.
The team took the court at the Athens Community Center on Saturday afternoon for the third consecutive year for its annual Green & White Scrimmage. Fans and community members lined the sidelines in metal bleachers and folding chairs, and even Lou Horvath, the public address announcer at The Convo, was making his normal wisecracks over the gym’s loud speakers.
But on the other hand, there was a very different feeling.
The absence of five players from last year’s Mid-American Conference championship team was glaringly evident. The team that was laced with veterans last season is no more, instead replaced by a team which features five true freshmen and two redshirt freshmen.
As mistakes and errors reared their heads, coach Deane Webb noted that his team has to improve its efficiency.
“There are a lot of new players having their first opportunity in front of a crowd,” Webb said. “Even if it’s not a huge crowd compared to The Convo. They’re playing against their own teammates, but this is still their first time doing something like that. Seeing them respond to that is important. We still need more reps to be crisper offensively. There were many times I think the timing wasn’t quite there from setter to hitter."
One of the main challenges Webb and the team will face this season is replacing libero Meredith Ashy, who graduated last spring. The former Bobcat was a prolific defensive player, setting the program record with 2,230 digs.
Though Webb preaches that no single player has to replace her, the team got their first look at senior Brooke Coleman, who will start at libero when the team kicks off their season Friday.
Coleman, one of the team’s two seniors, sat out some of last season due to a concussion. She was named the team’s first-ever academic captain, but this year, she will be the co-captain alongside fellow senior Mallory Salis.
The senior earned the spot over freshman Meredith Howe and sophomore Erica Walker. All three of them will appear at libero this season.
“We have three kids, and the gap between the three is very small,” Webb said. “That was one of our toughest position battles in the preseason. I believe in all three of them. Any time the three of them can go out and play at a high level. Any of those three can do the job and do it well.”
Walker, one of the better defensive players on the team last season, looks forward to the opportunity of replacing Ashy. The sophomore was fourth on the team in digs with 270 last season. She was also second on the team in assists, trailing only Salis.
“(Ashy) leaving was obviously really hard. It was hard for me because she was kind of my big sister," Walker said. "Having the confidence in myself, knowing that I can go in and take that role.”
This week, the unfamiliarity will soon begin to fade as Webb begins to put the final touches on his third preseason with the program.
Just as they defeated a top-ranked program last season, the Bobcats will again face a top-ranked program as No. 22 Western Kentucky will visit The Convo on Friday for the season opener.
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