Mangum has high expectations for alma mater in 1st season
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 5, 2014 1:49 PM
rcoggins@newsargus.com
MOUNT OLIVE -- Nine players return, including three of the top five hitters and setter Nicole Karas.
A junior from Colorado, Karas will operate a University of Mount Olive offense that lost its top two weapons to graduation, and she -- along with her teammates -- has to adapt to a new head volleyball coach.
UMO alum Colby Mangum takes over the program after spending the previous two seasons at Louisburg College. And don't think the record-setting middle blocker doesn't have high expectations for her alma mater.
Mangum wants a top-three finish in Conference Carolinas regular-season play and a tournament championship, which would secure the Trojans' third NCAA playoff berth -- and first since 2005 -- in program history.
But there's more on Mangum's list.
"We also have a focus on increasing our presence in the local community and growing our fan base to get more faces at our matches," Mangum said. "This is a personable, fun, wonderful group of young women and I am extremely excited to be a part of all they will accomplish this season."
Former head coach Sarah Lusk, who accepted a coaching position at West Point, instilled integrity into the players and taught them how to hold themselves accountable on and off the court. The Trojans posted a grade-point average of higher than 3.25 in the classroom and spent numerous hours working within the community.
Four UMO players earned all-Conference Carolinas accolades and the squad received the league's Team Sportsmanship Award.
Mangum knows the table has been set.
How much the Trojans feast depends on how well a 20-player roster meshes during the season. Returning starters along with Karas are senior middle blocker Dezirae Mackey, senior right side Sarah Robertson and sophomore outside Alysha Tyms-Burnett.
Tyms-Burnett, Mackey and Robertson combined for 300-plus kills last season. Karas dished out 547 assists and ranked second on the team in service aces (31).
Mangum recruited 11 freshmen.
"Even with such a large roster, we have some pretty incredible team chemistry and the girls are gelling quite well," Mangum said. "The beautiful thing about this team is that we have an opportunity to spread out our offensive attack."
During preseason workouts and scrimmages, the Trojans have shown numerous traits -- fast and effective in the middle, smart and powerful on the outside and efficient on the right side. They also swing well from the back row, which puts additional pressure on opposing defenses to cover either short or deep balls.
UMO is expected to use its height and speed in the blocking game.
Freshmen Britni Johnson, Ellen Morgan and Mackenzie Call have shown the ability to earn a starting role.
"(Britni's) ball control and volleyball IQ are incredible," Mangum said. "Ellen has done a very nice job in our preseason scrimmages. Mackenzie has a hammer for an arm on the outside and will do big things in the conference."
Mangum hasn't devised a starting lineup for the team's season opener today against Mars Hill at the Francis Marion Invitational. The Trojans play seven of the first eight matches on the road with a home opener against Catawba squeezed in Sept. 10.
UMO plays just nine of its 30 matches at home.