After being stopped one match short of a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship in 2014, head coach Christina Coleman and the Kentucky State volleyball team are hoping to take the next step and return to the top of the conference this season.
The Thorobrettes still had a very successful 2014 campaign, which included a 23-17 overall record, a 16-2 SIAC record, and an SIAC West Division regular season title. Kentucky State reached the SIAC championship game but fell 3-1 to Claflin, denying the Thorobrettes what would have been a fourth conference championship in five years.
According to head coach Christina Coleman, the focus of this season is to make it back to the championship and come out on top this time.
"We've got a really good team coming back," said Coleman. "We want to have a really great non-conference season and use that to take us into the conference season. We want to get back to that championship game, and we want to win it this year."
Though the Thorobrettes will be without Emily Grieshaber, who won SIAC MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors last year, as well as All-SIAC First Teamer Latosha Scott, they have plenty of talent returning. Last year's SIAC Setter of the Year, junior Anjelique Kyle, returns this season, as does 2014 SIAC Newcomer of the Year, senior defensive specialist Kiara Rivera. Also earning 2015 All-SIAC Preseason honors coming into the season are junior outside hitters Kirtrice Ploucha and Micah Rogers.
Also returning from last year's squad are junior outside hitter Ileen Brown, sophomore right side hitter Tori Farrow, and junior middle hitter Hailee Wilson. To that group, Coleman has added three transfers and three freshmen who are expected to step in and contribute right away.
"I'm looking for the newcomers to come in and help fill some of those roles where we had a conference player of the year and another all-conference player graduate," Coleman added. "I'm expecting them to be able to step up and fill that gap."
Kentucky State is yet again expected to be among the SIAC's top contenders. The Thorobrettes were picked second in the West Division in a poll of the league's coaches with defending champion Claflin and Spring Hill selected at the top of the divisions. Still, Coleman is quick to note that that the SIAC provides difficult competition across the board and that it will be important for her team to give consistent effort without overlooking any opponent.
"We can't take anybody lightly," Coleman finished. "The playing field is pretty much level, and we just have to bring it every game knowing that the target is always going to be on our backs. People play us, and they make sure they bring their A-game, so we have to be ready."
The Thorobrettes open the schedule with key matches from the outset when they will play six SIAC opponents in two days at the SIAC West Cluster on Friday and Saturday in Birmingham, Ala. They will make their 2015 home debut when they host Trevecca Nazarene on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. in the Exum Center.
