June 12, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The 2008 season will be one to watch for fans of Winston-Salem State University Lady Rams volleyball. The 2008 team has put its growing pains behind them and will look to build upon the rich history of WSSU volleyball. With an experienced nucleus of players returning along with a talented cast of newcomers, the Lady Rams will look to make some noise in 2008. Everything is in place for a standout season for Winston-Salem State University volleyball.

While the 2007 season was all about getting adjusted the 2008 season is all about making strides. In 2007 the team welcomed a new coaching staff and completed a full schedule of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference games for the first time in team history. In 2008 the Lady Rams will return with a host of experienced players, a quartet of talented newcomers, and a stable coaching staff that is geared up and ready to take on the challenges of the 2008 season.

Senior utility player Valentina Pushkina will cap a stellar career at Winston-Salem State this fall and will bring a wealth of ability and experience to the court this season. She returns as one of the top players in the history of WSSU volleyball and will look to cap her stellar career with a strong performance this fall. She is currently ranked in the top five career lists for WSSU volleyball in ten categories and could end her career as the leader in a number of categories. One of the most consistent players in team history, she is third on the career list in both matches played (95) and games played (323). She is currently fourth in career kills with 411 and is the career leader in service attempts (933). Defensively, Pushkina is third on the WSSU career list in digs with 475 career digs. This season, she will return to lead a Lady Rams squad that has all the pieces in place to send the senior out on a high note.

Leading the way for the Lady Rams this season will be all of last season's top offensive and defensive players from the past two seasons. The Lady Rams return their top three offensive players from last season's team and will have a chance to give WSSU a top-notch scoring trio that will keep opponents guessing all season long. Leading the way for the Lady Rams will be junior hitter Annika Barnwell, last season's leader in kills, total attacks, and service aces. Barnwell totaled 227 kills last season on 670 total attacks. For the season, she finished with a .112 hitting percentage and led the Lady Rams with 45 service aces. Not to be outdone, sophomore hitter Ashley Harris, the team's runner up in total kills also returns this season and will look to follow up a stellar freshman season and take the next step in her career as a Lady Ram. Harris had a great freshman season with 210 kills. She also finished the season with the second best attack percentage on the team at .119 for the season. Senior Valentina Pushkina returns as the team's leader in assists with 491 assists for the season.

Middle Blocker Georgette Allen will again be a force to reckon with in 2008 (Photo by Garrett Garms)

While the Lady Rams will return with a high-powered offense, the team's defense could become this season's calling card. The Lady Rams return with all of their leaders on defense and some of the top defensive players in team history. Last season six Lady Rams recorded over 100 digs and this season five of those six players return looking to make it hard to find points against the squad. Pushkina led the way for the Lady Rams with 175 digs last season while sophomore Ashley Harris was not far behind with 169 digs.

The front line will also be intact for the Lady Rams with junior middle blocker Georgette Allen making a return this season as well. Last season, Allen led the Lady Rams with 70.0 total blocks (15 solo). Both Harris and Barnwell are both solid defenders on the front as well with Harris totaling 37.0 total blocks (four solo) and Barnwell adding 37.0 total blocks (seven solo).

Joining the Lady Rams' experienced squad will be a talented quartet of newcomers. The 2008 newcomers will fill some crucial roles for the Lady Rams and could be the key to some big things this fall. A pair of setters will join the Lady Rams this fall and could prove to be two of the biggest additions this season. The addition of the duo could allow Pushkina to move to her more natural position as an attacker. Freshmen Asia Carr and Alexandria Brown will both play the setter position for the Lady Rams and could coordinate one of the best attacks in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Adding to the team's already potent front line will be a pair of freshman hitters in Jasmine Frazier and Kameryn Craig. Frazier is a middle hitter/blocker from Fredericksburg, Virginia while Craig is an outside hitter hailing from Apex, North Carolina.

With the combination of experienced returnees and the influx of talented newcomers, everything is in place for a standout season for the Lady Rams in 2008.