One week before it opens its season with an early season tournament in Tempe, Ariz., the U volleyball team hosted its first official Meet the Team Night this past Friday at the HPER Complex, where the Utes play their home games.
The event attracted more than 100 fans, including U President Bernie Machen, who was given a Utah volleyball T-shirt as thanks for his contributions to the program.
Coach Beth Launiere, who is about to embark on her 14th season at the helm, emceed for scattered fans and supporters as she introduced the new team.
She opened with player introductions, which should be helpful, considering the number of new faces on the roster this season. Launiere also asked several of her players to speak to the fans about their various experiences over the summer.
Senior Kim Turner, the preseason favorite to repeat as MWC Player of the Year, spoke about her time spent in Lake Placid, N.Y., this summer training with the National A2 Team, which she did along with teammates Kelsie Kartchner and Lyndsey Henderson.
Senior Jackie Morrill spoke about the many changes the team made in conditioning and leadership over the summer, and shared her thoughts about Utah’s prospects this year, while Danielle Leichliter talked about her experiences playing overseas.
Launiere led the team through several of its regular drills as she explained them to onlookers over the microphone. One of the most popular was the blocking drill, in which assistant coach Matt McShane pounded the ball over the net while Turner, Henderson and Shelley Sommerfeldt tried to block his each and every attempt.
The exercise showed just how hard it is for the players to do what they often make seem so effortless.
Richard Chaney, a 6-foot-4, 200 pound swingman for the U basketball team, got in on the fun, getting right in the middle of the action on Launiere’s request. He even got a chance to block a couple of balls.
The evening closed with an intrasquad scrimmage between the U starters and the rest of the roster. Fans chose sides as the teams played a pair of games. While the backups kept it close, particularly in the second game, the starters ended up winning both games.
Though the event didn’t bring as many fans as Launiere was hoping for, she still considered the night a success, especially considering the official event is still in its infancy.
“I was really pleased with it. I hope that the fans enjoyed it, because it was a lot of fun for us to share what we do and to show them some competition,” Launiere said. “We got to show them a more personal side of our team, and how we get to Friday and Saturday nights.”
Last year, the team held an intrasquad scrimmage without the rest of the festivities. Launiere hopes that Meet the Team Night will become an annual season opening affair.
“The response we’re getting is really positive from this, so hopefully through word of mouth each year, it will build,” she said. “This is a chance to get an up close-and-personal look at University of Utah athletes.”