Networking has been a priority for Roxanne Hernandez for a long time.
Ever since October 2016, when she was hired to be the new volleyball coach at the Mississippi University for Women, Hernandez has immersed herself in the world of volleyball in the Southeast. Whether it has been talking to coaches to build a schedule for the first season or building relationships with high school, club and college coaches in the area, Hernandez has laid the foundation for her initial season in Columbus.
That first season is getting closer by the minute.
The W will kick off its return to volleyball Saturday, Aug. 26, with a scrimmage against Wallace State (Ala.) Community College. The first matches of the season will be Sept. 1-2 at the Millsaps College tournament in Jackson.
The volleyball team will play host to a six-team, two-day event at The W’s Pohl Gymnasium on Sept. 22- 23.
For Hernandez, a former middle locker at Canisius College, the anticipation of another season is similar to when she played.
This time, though, there is an added excitement knowing she will be part of history when she leads the first action in The W’s return to intercollegiate athletic competition.
“I wasn’t particularly pitching a sale when I was out recruiting,” Hernandez said. “It was more, ‘Hey, I like you do this and if you are interested, I urge you to research our program.’ I got a lot of good feedback that way. You don’t want to necessarily throw it all at them right then and there because once we get them on campus that is really the first goal. Once they do that, I have found it is very hard for people to say no when they get here.”
This school year, The W will feature volleyball, men’s soccer, baseball, and softball teams in sports’ return to the school. Then-MUW President Claudia Limbert moved to discontinue the school’s athletic department in 2002 after a November tornado in that year destroyed the school’s gymnasium. The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) Board of Trustees approved the move in 2003.
Last month, The W announced it had been accepted into the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). The move gives the school an opportunity to compete at regional and national levels while in continues on its path toward NCAA Division III membership. All four of The W’s sports will be eligible for USCAA National Championship events in 2017-18.
The school’s exploratory phase of NCAA Division III membership will begin Sept. 1. Dual membership in the USCAA and the NCAA is permitted.
Hernandez said she relied heavily on Level Elite Club Director Tina Seals, who is the former volleyball coach at Mississippi State, in putting together a first schedule. She also praised Caledonia High School volleyball coach Samantha Brooks, who played volleyball at The W, for her help in establishing recruiting connections.
The work paid off in a 14-player recruiting class that features 10 players from the state of Mississippi, including Haley McMurphey, Cheyenne Ruth, and Savannah Thomas from Caledonia High and Tori Weir from Columbus High. Three other players are from Alabama, while one is from Tennessee.
“I think it is important (to have local players on the roster),” Hernandez said. “A lot of people can identify with The W right away when you tell them you’re from Columbus. I tried to bring in anyone who was interested. I found a lot of kids who found it very easy to make the transition from Alabama.”
Hernandez was the first coach hired in The W’s return to athletics. She worked as a coach at The Island Volleyball Academy in Long Island, New York, as an assistant coach at LIU Post, and as a graduate assistant at Dowling College.
The schedule features a NCAA-mandated minimum of 17 matches against four-year schools.
Now that the scheduling and recruiting is nearly finished for the first season, Hernandez is eager to move toward practices and matches. She will hold clinics later this month to continue to build relationships in hopes of strengthening the level of volleyball for the local high schools and colleges.
“The emphasis for me was on two big things: attitude and effort,” Hernandez said. “Those are two things that really carry over in every aspect of life. It is not going to be just on the volleyball court. No matter we do, I want us to be able to work hard to honor those two things.”
The W will hold summer volleyball clinics
Hernandez will hold four clinics this month designed to meet the needs of every volleyball player.
The clinics will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Check-in begins at 830 a.m. the day of the clinic. The cost for each session is $50 (cash of check only). It is due at check-in. Lunch isn’t provided.
To participate, players must have a completed and signed registration form, Facility Accident Waiver, and a Photo Release form. If you are under the age of 18, a parent/legal guardian signature is required on all forms. Forms can be found at The W’s website, http://www.muw.edu/athletics/sports/volleyball, or filled out the day of the clinic.
The first offering is the Defense/Libero Clinic. It will be July 10 and 17. It will provide a breakdown of back-row defense, including serve receive passing, digging, and defensive transitioning.
The second offering is the Setters Clinic. It will be July 11 and 18. It will provide instruction about footwork, hand positioning, setting location, and decision-making.
The third offering is a Hitting/Blocking Clinic. It will be July 12 and 19. It will break down the arm swing as well as provide instruction and training on footwork and the technique used to make a variety of attacks.
The fourth offering is an All-Skills Clinic. It will be July 13 and 20. It will provide skills training in all facets of the game.
Players who register for three to five clinics will get a $30 discount. Players who register for six to eight clinics will get a $50 discount. Children of The W faculty/staff will receive a 10-percent discount.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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