Volleyball Preview: Grambling State
SWAC.org
GRAMBLING STATE
2012 RECORD: 3-19 (1-7 SWAC) / 5th Western Division
Head Coach: Demitria Keys-Johnson
KEY LOSSES:
Dorothy Brown - OH
April Johnson - OH
Last season, Grambling State was plagued with youth and inexperience which resulted in 19 consecutive loses. Several players moved into starting roles in their second season with the program.
However, the silver lining appeared when the Lady Tigers finished the season winning three straight. Despite the galant rush to close out the season, GSU failed to return to the postseason tournament.
Head Coach Keys-Johnson, now in her fourth year, has a full class that have adopted her system with hopes of returning to the tournament's championship game for the seventh time in 11 years.
The return to a competitve slate will be a result of the chemistry between Tiara McIver, Briliante Osborne, Breonna Loud and Chantel McGill.
McIver is the only player returning that registered more than 100 kills. Last season, she was third on the team in kills with 111, averaging 1.56 per game, with a hitting percentage of .086.
The defense is sparked by Osborne and McGill who lead team in blocks and digs. Osborne racked up 57 blocks and McGill led GSU in digs with 149 in 2012.
If chemsitry and cohesion exists for GSU, it will surface through the play of Loud.She led the Lady Tigers with 203 assists posting 2.86 per game.
As the West Division becomes stronger, GSU will have to harness last year's momentum that ended the season, start strong, pull off upsets, and discover the missing pieces that once held them as one of the SWAC's premiere volleyball teams.
2013 PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Tiara McIver - OH
Asia Drenon - OH
Briliante Osborne - MB
Angel Smith - MB
Breonna Loud - S
Chantel McGill - L