Muleskinner

Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Drew Woolery: Muleskinner Redshirt freshman Paula Harris, left, and junior Caitlin Pankratz (pictured in both) practice their skills at the net duirng the Jennies' Alumni Game this past Sunday beore the team left for Alaska.

Media Credit: Drew Woolery: Muleskinner

Age is no factor this year for the Jennies' volleyball team.

Instead, years of experience is going to be the key to winning games in 2008.

As the Jennies open its season in Anchorage, Alaska to begin its final season with coach Peggy Martin, the team will go into this year with a new perspective.

"Not one person leads the way for this team," Martin said. "This is a very young team with a lot of experience."

As the Jennies plays its season-opener against Alaska-Anchorage tonight at 9:30 p.m., and Alaska-Fairbanks on Friday and Saturday, the Jennies have one troubling question in mind: How do you prepare to play teams that are relatively unknown?

"I really have no clue what this tournament will be like," said Kelsey Ellis, a sophomore outside hitter. "I've never heard of these teams, but I hope we play our hardest."

"I don't know what to expect in Alaska, they are fairly new and it will be trying to find our way with them," Martin said. "Anchorage is a huge unknown. It will be a fight to the finish."

Although the opponents in Alaska-Anchorage and Alaska-Fairbanks being unknowns, the Jennies are not going into this weekend completely blind.

The team is taking huge steps to make sure they come out on top.

"I have never been on a team where off the court we bond so much," Ellis said. "It carries over onto the court.

"I think we're going to have a successful season. Our big picture this year is discipline. We wear the same socks, shoes, knee pads, t-shirts, and use the same water bottles.

"Everything has to be the same, and that shows discipline on and off the court."

It is not just the team unity that will make the Jennies a tough competitor.

Practices have been more intense than in years past. That's mostly due to the fact that this is Martin's last season.

"If coach Martin does not see the performance she wants, she is not afraid to tell you," said Kelsey Ortwerth, a freshman outside hitter. "We focus a lot on serving. We have focused on us being able to get the serve where it should be to set us up."

However, it's not just the discipline and Martin that are helping the Jennies this season.

With Martin saying she has more depth on this team, players are focusing more on a new, self-learning strategy.

With that skill, the Jennies should be quick learners in Alaska.

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