Pratt, Kan. – The Pratt Community College (PCC) volleyball team kicks off their 2022 season tomorrow afternoon against the Pirates of Independence Community College (ICC). Game time is set for 4:00 pm in the Beaver Dome.
Last season, the Beavers finished 11-23 overall and a 2-14 conference record. Both conference wins came on the road against Garden City and Dodge City. This past March, PCC announced the hiring of Brittney Urenda as the next Head Volleyball Coach.
We had a chance to sit down with Coach Urenda this past week to learn more about her transition to PCC, her team, and the upcoming season.
This is your first season at PCC and as a head coach… tell us about your transition to Pratt.
The transition from being an assistant coach to a head coach really hasn’t been that different. At Garden City I got a little bit of head coaching experience. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from several head coaches and so I felt like I was ready for that next step. I am excited to be back in the Jayhawk West and I believe this team is going to surprise a lot of people this season.
With a few sophomores returning what type of leadership do you hope to get out of them?
It was nice to have a little bit of a spring season with the returning sophomores. It helped them understand who I am as a coach and whenever I say something they are able to interpret it better for the freshman. Leadership wise they have all really stepped up and owned the role that they are in. They have done a nice job of taking care of the freshman and helped show them why we are here and have helped them stay on track.
Talk to us more about the freshman class and what players people should be excited to watch?
Freshman Makenzie Travis is a setter from Beloit, KS who took her team to the state championship and she has been able to come in and do some good things for us. Madison Tolle from Smoky Valley High School has developed into an incredible player to watch. Sophomore Tamara Radovanov has made a good transition from spring practice to now. Bringing back Grace Hendrickson, Lisa Scapini, and having Brooke Tholen in the back row and bringing in Reagan Osterhaus from Highland have all fit in really well. I think we have a full team of people that are going to get the job done.
Last season Yianmarie Catala was second in the nation in total digs and digs per set… what has been your strategy to replace your libero?
I am pretty picky when it come to libero and I have certain qualities that I look for and I was blessed to get Brooke. She was able to sit back and watch Mar last season and it had helped not only mentally, but physically as well. We also have Delany Roberts and Brianna Bellow coming in that are solid back row players as well. All three of them will be great options for that position.
Having been picked last in the preseason poll… what motivation does that bring to your locker room to do better?
For sure on Saturday, at the Butler Scrimmages the girls were able to see that all the hard work they have been putting in is paying off. We actually look really good. Whenever I got the two emails on accident that showed us picked last I made sure the girls were aware of which schools decided to pick us last. It lit a fire under all of us and the girls have been saying that this is our year to prove everyone wrong. I really believe that is what we are going to do.
Under the former coach they won 11 matches last season the most during his time here… what needs to happen to take this program to the next level?
Its more of a mentality and the returners that we have are very talented and some of them didn’t get to see the floor last year. I feel like they got something to prove even with the freshman coming in. The team are all very competitive come from quite a few winning programs in high school and they are not sure how to lose. I think that will play into our favor and the competitive nature that we have. Proving people wrong is something that this team has fed off of. We also know that this is bigger then volleyball for us. Not only are trying to build a successful program, but even outside the culture has to be different in order for use to win. I believe we have done a good job of that so far.
During the preseason your team has suffered a few injuries… could you tell us more about that?
We have a couple injuries that have thrown us for a loop, but we have a freshman backside that is back and ready to go. We have a freshman middle that is back and ready to go. The only one that we are lacking right now is a sophomore setter. I think she could really help us out, but as soon as she went down it felt that all of the other setters were like it is our turn to step in where she left off. We have done a good job in transiting without that piece with us and it will still be nice to have her on the sideline.