Tulsa Volleyball Kicks Off Preseason Practice
8/9/2023 12:52:00 PM | Volleyball
Full interview with Coach Ramatowski
TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa volleyball team returned to the courts Wednesday to begin preseason workouts for the 2023 season.
"The girls are excited to be back," said first-year head coach Lauren Ramatowski. "We're making some adjustments to our offense. They were open to the feedback and were wonderful learners today."
"Our girls love the game. They love the grind and are excited to learn and get better. They are all smiles when they come in at 6:30 in the morning. We're very grateful for a wonderful group that is willing to grow and fail and do it with a lot of joy and trust in each other."
Ramatowski is set for her first year leading the Golden Hurricane after a one-year stint as Kansas State's assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Tulsa returns all seven starters from last year, including fifth-year senior outside hitter Kayley Cassaday.
"We had a great offseason," said Cassaday. "As a team, we were able to get better in the open gym and in the weight room. We're thrilled to get feedback from our coaches in a practice setting."
"I'm so excited to have Coach Ram at the helm this year. This is a best-case scenario for my last season at Tulsa. I'm overjoyed that she's here to build and develop this program, because I know she's going to do a great job."
Cassaday recorded 525 kills, 251 digs, 35 blocks and 19 aces last season to earn first feam all-conference honors and a spot on the Academic All-America Second Team. She also led the nation with 14.07 attacks per set.
Senior setter Avery Kalsu returns for her fourth campaign at TU. She led the team with 655 assists at 5.65 assists per set and produced 14 double-doubles throughout last season. Tulsa went undefeated in matches where she put up 40 or more assists. Brayden Hipp, who split reps with Kalsu last year, returns after putting up 498 assists at 4.83 assists per set.
Last year's defensive powerhouse Marta Pecalli returns for her third season at Tulsa. The junior libero from Trieste, Italy, had 573 digs at 4.90 digs per set on the way to earning two American Defensive Player of the Week awards and a spot on the September 26 AAC Weekly Honor Roll.
Sophomore middle blocker Arianna Mongare returns in 2023 after fortifying the front row last season as a newcomer. Not only did she lead the team with 60 total blocks, but she also hit over .300 14 times last year for a team-leading hitting average of .280.
Hitters Bailey Rowe and Lauren Eitler return to TU on the outsides. Rowe, a junior, produced 225 kills last year while Eitler, a sophomore, knocked away 182 kills. Tulsa was 6-2 in matches where Rowe had double-digit kills, and Eitler was third on the team in double-doubles (6).
Overall, Tulsa returns 12 of 14 letterwinners from last year.
Three transfers and one true freshman join the 2023 roster. They are redshirt freshman outside hitter Beth Bayless (Oklahoma), junior right side hitter Zella Bennett (Coffeyville Community College), senior middle blocker Tytiana Johnson (Lamar) and freshman Hailee Alexander (Broken Arrow, Okla.).
TU will kick off its 31-match season on August 26, against Michigan State at the Razorback Classic in Fayetteville, Ark. The Hurricane's first home action is against Oral Roberts in the Tulsa Invitational, starting at 6:30 p.m. on September 7, at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.
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