UC Clermont Volleyball Looking Forward to Strong Season

The UC Clermont College women's volleyball Head Coach Josh Hamer has high expectations for the Cougars this season.

“We’re stronger than we’ve been since I’ve been here,” Hamer said heading into his third season as head coach. “We’re deep in talent and have a more versatile team.”

The team will be led by senior captain Kasey York (Western Brown). “She leads by example, and she puts in so much work in the offseason,” he said. “Every year she’s gotten better.”

The Cougars also have a pair of talented middles in freshmen Kim Davis (Scott High School) and Madison Jenkins (North Adams High School). “They are light years ahead of where freshmen usually are,” said Hamer, adding that sophomore transfer Faith Hensley (Wapakoneta) is another player to watch this season.

The Cougars have a tough schedule, including playing several USCAA top 20 teams and will face the defending USCAA National Champions Florida College in a tournament in September at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Carlow University is among the best teams that will play at UC Clermont this season, as the Celtics were a top-five team nationally in 2016. Besides playing some of the top teams in the USCAA, the Cougars will also square off against strong NAIA and NCAA Division III teams.

Hamer was pleased with the off-season work his team put in and said the preseason was very competitive. He’s also been impressed with the team’s chemistry.

“We have five returning players and eight new players but the chemistry is off-the-charts,” he said. That will be especially important as the grind of a long season wears on the Cougars. Hamer said the team practices or plays six days a week through the season and has 38 matches.

“These 13 girls couldn’t have done anything more to prepare for this season,” Hamer said. “Our goal is not to just make the national tournament, but be competitive in the national tournament.”

The Cougars’ next home game is Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. against Midway College. All volleyball games are played on the UC Clermont campus in the Student Activities Center (SAC).

For more information about the UC Clermont volleyball program, visit

http://www.ucclermont.edu/athletics/WomensVolleyball.html

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