Colorado Mesa University’s volleyball team ended their 2016 season with 18 wins overall. Despite having so many wins, the team went on to lose in the first round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) tournament and the first round of the NCAA tournament to rival Metro State University.

“We did very well last season, but wished we had gone farther,” senior Hattie Gianinetti said.   

With their first season games fast approaching, the team has been hard at work during the preseason. They have played in multiple scrimmages, which has allowed them to see where they need improvements.

“We are using last season to learn,” junior Natalee Todd said.  

This season the team welcomes two new freshmen to program, Ara Morwood and Ashton Reece, in hope that they will be able to contribute in a big way this season.

“They are great kids and do great things,” head coach Dave Flemming said.

Morwood is a setter, while Reece is a right side (outside) hitter. As for players to watch this season, both Gianinetti and Todd agree that everyone brings an element to the team.

“There is a lot of depth in talent among the players,” Todd said.

According to Flemming, the two players based on stats to watch this season are MacKenzie Edwards and Taylor Woods. Edwards, an outside hitter, ended the 2016 season with 398 kills. Meanwhile, Woods, a libero, ended her 2016 season with 504 digs.

With the 2017 season starting in little less than a week, the team is eager to start playing.

“We all want to do very well and come together as a team and to take it one game at a time,” Todd said.

As a team, they want to make it back to the RMAC tournament. As for other goals for this seasons, Flemming wants to see the girls get better, put forward their best effort and give it their all every day.

The team’s first game will be Sept. 1 as they will travel down to Golden, Colo. to participate in the Oredigger classic.