Category | Sports

Owls host Spring tournament

Published on March 31, 2009 by Cathy Dekmar

The KSU volleyball team hosted a spring tournament Friday, March 27, playing in two exhibition games against Georgia State and Chattanooga. These matches marked the first under new head coach Karen Weatherington.

“I genuinely thank Dr. Waples, Scott Whitlock and the entire search committee for extending me the opportunity to be the new head coach,” said Coach Weatherington. “I am humbled and thrilled for the opportunity to be a part of this program.”

Weatherington has a distinguished resume that includes assistant coach at Duke and Clemson universities, and associate head coach at Butler. At Butler, she worked with the middle blockers on the court. As a result, the Bulldogs finished with 2.31 blocks per set average last season, which was second in the Horizon League. After serving as the associate head coach for four years at Butler, she took over KSU’s program.

“Right now I am trying to find out about the university. I was very fortunate to inherit athletes with an excellent work ethic,” said Weatherington. “With Tara Dillon as the lone senior on the team, the five juniors and underclassmen on the team will contribute significantly this season.”

Her coaching career began nearly 15 years ago when she held the top assistant coach position at her alma mater, New Mexico State. She traveled to Russia, Finland, and Sweden while with the Aggies to compete internationally.

In 2004, she became the Horizon League’s representative on the America Volleyball Coaches Association’s Assistant Coaches Committee. A year after assuming this position, she began a three-year term as assistant coaches chair on the AVCA National Board of Directors.

In the first match of the tournament, the Owls faced Chattanooga. They started strong, using offensive tactics that the Mocs were unable to defend. The third point for the Owls was scored after it was tapped over to an off-balance Chattanooga team.

The Owls were sharp defensively as well, with Sabrita Gulley making a close save, which lead to the Owls twelfth point. The red shirt sophomore played in 85 games, along with 27 in her freshman season, during which she finished second on the team in attack percentage and kills. KSU took the first set, 25-22.

In the second set, UTC rallied back against the Owls, going up 5-1. The Mocs won the set, 25-20. However, KSU was unstoppable in the third set, and with a spike by Holly Knight the Owls won 15-10.

“We were having fun and playing with confidence. I was with Coach Weatherington at Butler, and knew what to expect,” said Knight on the Owls performance under their new head coach.

Chattanooga won their second match against Georgia State. The Lady Mocs won in two sets. The Lady Owls fell to Georgia State in the final match of the day, also losing in two sets.

“They were hungry to be competitive. After two months of practice, it’s great for them to be able to have another team across the net,” said Weatherington after the win against Chattanooga.