Colonels volleyball adjusting to new coach

Nicholls State freshman Brooke Fonseca, a former Terrebonne High product, participates in a team practice on Wednesday.

Abby Tabor/Staff

Published: Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 8:48 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 8:48 a.m.

Transition is never easy, especially when there is a new coach involved.

That is the case for first-year Nicholls volleyball coach Patrick Hiltz.

Hiltz steps in to take over the Nicholls volleyball program, replacing former coach TeAna Tramel, who resigned in December after two seasons and is now coaching at Houma Christian School.

Hiltz, who has 18 combined years of coaching experience on the high school, college and club volleyball levels, said the transition has been a challenge, mostly because the players are still getting used to a new coaching style.

"The girls are picking up on a new offensive and defensive system," he said. "They are trying to break their old habits. They've had to change what they are doing, and they are adjusting real well and starting to get some chemistry. It's getting smoother and smoother. It's not a well-oiled machine yet, but I don't think we want to be there yet. We want to be peaking later on when we are getting ready for Southland Conference play and tournament season."

Hiltz is taking over a Nicholls team that went 18-14 last season, which was the most wins for any Nicholls team since 2002. Nicholls fell short of making the conference tournament last season.

But the Colonels will have eight players and four starters returning from last year's squad, including six senior players.

Hiltz said having veteran experience has made the transition easier.

"Mainly the seniors have been the ones to step up," he said. "What I expect of them is to set the example for everybody else. They seem to be very focused on what they want to accomplish this year. They know what it feels like to get to a conference tournament. It's clearly their goal this year. That's what we are set out to do, and that's what we are going to accomplish."

Nicholls will open its season at the University of Missouri Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The Colonels will play Michigan and Virginia Tech on Friday, and Missouri and North Florida on Saturday.

"We've got a good test this weekend in going up to Missouri," Hiltz said. "We get to play against some big girls, and playing against that speed and height, it's going to be difficult, but we'll be able to see where we are and where we need to get to."

Senior outside hitter Kathryn Stock, a former E.D. White Catholic standout, said the players are getting used to Hiltz's aggressive and faster paced playing style.

"Practice is going really well," Stock said. "We're having fun. It's good competition between us. I think we are adjusting well to the new system. We'll be able to test it out against some good teams this weekend, so I'm excited to see that."

Senior outside hitter Jennifer Brandt, who recently earned second-team All-Southland Conference preseason honors, said it is important for the Colonels to develop team chemistry this season.

"It's been good to get back in the gym and work so we can develop a good chemistry with each other," Brandt said. "As a team, we aren't trying to be individuals. We are trying to work together and help each other out so we can get a lot of things down."

Other returning senior players this season for Nicholls are setter Nancy Taylor, middle blocker Jessica Addicks, middle blocker Sarah Terry and middle blocker/outside hitter Amanda Newlin.

Several returning junior players are middle blocker Jasmine Harris, middle blocker Brooke Hopper and libero/setter Carley McInnis. Nicholls will also have three local products on its team in Stock, sophomore transfer player and former Terrebonne High standout Sierra Lyons, who played her freshman season at Xavier University of New Orleans, and freshman Brooke Fonseca of Terrebonne High.

Hiltz said the Colonels have experienced and talented players throughout their roster.

"We're not going to really have just one person we can rely on," he said. "It's going to be one of those things that any of the players we have can be the go-to person on any given night, which is going to make it interesting for other teams to figure out who they are going to stop. If they stop one player one night, somebody else is going to step up and beat them. I like the balance that we have."

As she prepares for her first season of college volleyball, Fonseca said participating in fall camp has been a learning experience.

"It's going very well," Fonseca said. "I've been working real hard. The transition has been a little rough, but overall I think it's going great. Coach Hiltz and the rest of my teammates have worked with me and pushed me, so it's coming together."

The Colonels were picked to finish ninth out of 10 teams in both Southland Conference coaches and sports information directors polls, but Stock believes they could shock some people with their play this season.

"I think we definitely will make the conference tournament and make a run at the championship," said Stock, who won a high school state championship at E.D. White and a junior college national championship at Western Nebraska. "We have a lot of potential and talent on our team. As much as we choose to work and come together as a team, I think that will tell us how far we can go. As of now, the sky is the limit."

Source: http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20120823/articles/120829828

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