JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State volleyball team is set to open its 2015 campaign this weekend in Kennesaw, Ga., in the Kennesaw State Tournament.
Head coach Terry Gamble kicks off his second season at the helm of the Gamecocks. In his first year, JSU finished 18-16, the peogram's first winning season since 2010. JSU reached the Ohio Valley Tournament after finishing tied for fourth in the league with a 9-7 conference mark.
Returning for Jax State is a senior trio composed of outside hitter Emily Rutherford, middle blocker Laney Torkelson and defensive specialist Samantha Bohne. Along with Gamble's veteran core, key roles will be played by four sophomores who all saw significant court time a year ago as true freshmen.
Jennifer Hart became the first JSU setter to surpass 1,000 assists since 2009. Many of those assists came from kills courtesy of Allyson Zuhlke and Charis Ludtke who finished with 355 and 282 each, respectively. Hannah Kirk picked up 331 digs a season ago as a freshman adding strength to the back row.
The second half of the Gamecock roster is built by seven freshmen. Gamble knows youth will play a role in the 2015 season.
The Gamecocks open the season Friday evening at 5 p.m. against Savannah State. JSU then takes on Alabama State Saturday morning at 10 a.m. before meeting the host Owls at 7:30 p.m. Owning 1-0 records against both SSU and KSU, and an 11-0 all-time mark against the Hornets, JSU has yet to suffer a setback to any of the teams they will meet on the opening weekend. Live stats to all three contests will be available at JSUGamecockSports.com.
Jax State returns home the following weekend of Sept. 4-5 to host the inaugural Gamecock Invitational. The event has been moved north of the university to the Cherokee Center and Arena, a multipurpose facility that opened in 2008, in Centre. Renovations to Pete Mathews Coliseum continue as the first home match is now scheduled for Oct. 2 against Jackson State.
