There won’t be any living in the past for the 2008 Johnson C. Smith University women’s volleyball team. The team did not make it to the CIAA Championships in 2007, which were coincidentally held on JCSU’s campus. However, there will be no reminiscing on that thought. If anything, it has made the team and coaching staff stronger. This year’s depth, leadership, versatility and drive to win might be the perfect combination this team needs in order to return to the conference tournament.

Fourth-year head coach Marquisha Clayburn is optimistic about the season. “This team needs to believe they can win,” said Clayburn. “We have experience returning from last season and in order for this team to succeed, they need to come prepared every day and have a mind of one.”

At this level of play, it is imperative to find players who are versatile and can play pretty much every position on the court. With that in mind, the coaching staff focused on all-around players. “We looked heavily into passers, middle hitters and blockers”, said Clayburn. “Honestly, we focused on rebuilding period.”

There are seven possibly eight newcomers that will wear a JCSU volleyball uniform for the first time in 2008. “The newcomers will come into the program and immediately challenge the returners,” said Clayburn. “They have the ability to make an immediate impact and I look forward to seeing them respond to the high level of competition.”

Though the coaching staff has not identified permanent captains, sophomore Ashley Young-Jones is someone they want people to keep an eye on.

For the first time in Clayburn’s tenure as head coach, she has a full team…with reserves. The additional players have made practice more competitive. “It’s more competition”, remarked Clayburn. “They are competing against each other. Everyone wants to get on the court but they have to earn that right. We expect the ladies to go hard in practice; hence our motto: Go hard or go home!”

JCSU’s 2008 schedule is highlighted by league rivals and matches against programs the Lady Golden Bulls will see for the first time in school history. The Golden Bulls open the season over Labor Day weekend at the Paine College Tournament in Augusta, Georgia.

“We wanted to create a non-conference schedule that would prepare us for the CIAA season,” said Clayburn. “In order to reach that level of play, we scheduled high-quality teams that would expose us to fierce competition.”

JCSU kicks off CIAA action on Sept. 9 at Fayetteville State, the defending conference champions. Intermixed throughout the league schedule are matchups against Saint Paul’s, Livingstone, Shaw and Saint Augustine’s.

The original story was published here: http://goldenbullsports.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/082408aaa.html

Tags: ashley young-jones, black college volleyball, ciaa, hbcu volleyball, johnson c. smith, johnson c. smith golden bulls, marquisha clayburn