August 11, 2004

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The 2004 Virginia Tech volleyball team arrived for preseason training camp Monday and had its first practice as a team Tuesday afternoon at McComas Hall in Blacksburg.

Virginia Tech volleyball coach Greg Smith has high expectations for this season knowing he returns five starters and four additional letterwinners from last season's squad that finished 13-14 overall, 7-5 in its final season in the BIG EAST. The team begins the 2004 season ready for a new change in tempo as it enters the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Smith knows the season will be not without challenges and looks to build upon the team's 13-14 record from last season. Most importantly, Smith needs his team to distinguish itself as a unit not to be underestimated in the tough ACC.

"We need to continue to move forward and build on what we accomplished in 2003," Smith said. "Going into the 2004 season we will be a more mature team than the previous year with five starters returning."

Smith returns three All-BIG EAST honorees from 2003, including senior Annie Spicer who led the team with 439 kills and 311 digs last season, junior All-BIG EAST setter Melissa Markowski and sophomore All-Northwest Region and All-BIG EAST honoree Katie Esbrook.

Spicer and fellow seniors Kaitlin McPeak and Emily Smith will provide much-needed veteran leadership to a team dominated by sophomores and freshmen.

"Its great to be back and get back into the swing of playing college volleyball," said Spicer. "We have a great, energetic group of freshmen and its wonderful to get see everyone after some time away this summer."

Tech also brings four second-year players and four freshmen to camp this season. In all, the youthful Hokies have eight players out of 13 with a season or less in maroon and orange.

"The team is so young, that even I don't really feel like a senior. It's hard to believe it's already been three years," said Spicer. "We have good team chemistry and the youth will help in the up-tempo ACC. Improving our team speed and quickness has been our focus this preseason. It's hard work but the younger players are up to the challenge."

Tech opens its first-ever ACC conference slate with a home match against Florida State on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies are picked to finish 10^th in the conference as determined by a vote of the league's 11 head coaches, but the talented group is looking forward to playing the spoiler.

"I relish being the underdog," said Spicer. "We have seen most of the ACC teams and know we have our work cut out for us. The speed and level of competition in the ACC will be a true test of where we are as a team. We will be pushed every match and need to be consistent to be successful."

Tech has held its first two days of practices in McComas Hall due to renovations of the floor in Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies will return to their home court for preseason preparations on Wednesday morning.

"McComas is a great facility and shows the level of support we have at Virginia Tech," said Smith. "We are, however, looking forward to getting back to the Coliseum. You just can't imitate what it's like to play on your home court and we need to get the freshmen used to playing in a larger venue."

Virginia Tech opens the 2004 season Sept. 1 when the team heads to Athens, Ohio, to play the Bobcats of Ohio University, then returning home Sept. 3 to play Appalachian State in the opening match of the 2004 Hokie Fall Invitational. Tech will also play host to Lehigh and Towson during the invite.