Marci Jenkins: I really haven’t experienced a difference yet. I think once we get into the season and start playing some tournaments it will be a bigger adjustment. Right now dealing with the student-athletes and training is pretty much the same on both levels. The one real difference is you can push Division I athletes a little bit harder.

Q: What were some things that stood out about this club during spring practice?

Jenkins: I think especially for the seniors, I’ll be their fourth coach in four years, I think their overall leadership was still very positive. They could have been turned off to volleyball and turned off to Radford University, because of what they’ve experienced. But they weren’t and I think because they weren’t, their positive attitudes carried over to the youth on our team. They knew that when we came into the preseason we were going to do things different and because of their leadership we were able to accomplish good things during the spring.

Q: How much patience does it take being a first-year head coach with a program that hasn’t experienced the success it would like recently?

Jenkins: It’s going to take a lot of patience, but I’ve been through it before. When I got to Chowan, my first year we went 4-17 and I had seven kids on the roster. And even though I knew that coming in, it was still very trying the first season. That’s what pushed me to go out and recruit better athletes and better volleyball players and we saw that success my second year. I know success is not going to happen overnight. I know its something we’re going to have to work at, but as long as we’re competing, as long as we’re getting better and they’re giving me everything thing, we’ll deal with it as a team.

Q: Talk about the expectations and goals of this year’s club...

Jenkins: Our goals are to be more competitive and to learn or re-learn how to believe in ourselves as a team. There is talent here at Radford University. It’s going to be whether we can get them to believe they can be better than what they’ve been in the past. I think that’s going to be our biggest task.

Q: In what areas do you see the team’s strengths this year?

Jenkins: We have tremendous leadership from our seniors. That’s the one thing about a young team, without their leadership we would definitely struggle. Also, I think not knowing what to expect will keep them on their feet and keep them on their P’s and Q’s. Our overall goal is to have a different attitude on the court. In order for us to get better, we’re going to have to block out the past and all the previous failures they’ve experience. And that’s tough, it’s easier said than done, but those are some of the things we are going to hammer home for them. It’s new and it’s going to take time.

Q: Which newcomers do you see as impact players on the squad this year?

Jenkins: Laura Waddell, our transfer from East Tennessee State (Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Selection), who I also coached at the club level. I know what she brings to the table. I think we have some youth that will surprise some people, but at the same time we’re going to have to mature fast. I think Kiley Kent, who is our main setter, is going to have to step into a different role as she’ll have to be one our team leaders as a sophomore. I think a couple of our freshmen will be wild cards, because we are going to have to rely on youth physically and seniors mentally as far as our leadership.
Q: With The Dedmon Center renovations still taking place, Volleyball will be competing at Peters Hall. How much will that atmosphere play to your advantage?

Jenkins: We get to use two courts for training, so I’m really excited about having that opportunity at Peters Hall. I think that practicing in that environment is going to give us a unique advantage, they’re low ceilings, so we’re going to have to learn how to play with that, and sometimes it will work against us and sometimes it will work in our favor. I think having a crowd that is right on top of you, is an adrenaline rush for our players. The main thing for these players is they want to be successful. They haven’t experienced winning as much as they would’ve liked, but it was their choice to stay on campus. Their support on campus is something they enjoy and something they wanted to keep. Obviously its a disadvantage from a playing and spacing standpoint, but from a training standpoint I’m really excited.

Q: Talk about this year’s schedule...

Jenkins: Opening up at the UNCW Tournament will be a tough task for our young team, but it will serve as a great starting point for us. We will need to mature quickly as our schedule does not afford us the luxury of playing in front of a home crowd until October.