Last year the Nicholls State University volleyball team went 14-6, and coach TeAna Tramel is enthusiastic about the upcoming 2011-2012 season. Coach Tramel took time out of her busy schedule to talk to the Nicholls Worth.

Q: Coach, you are here in your second year here at NSU. What were some of the biggest challenges that you faced last year that you will not have to face this year?

A: Well, some of the challenges the first year was having to learn the girls and their personalities. I didn’t even know their name or anything about them, where they played, what type of system they where used to. Basically, we came in not knowing each other or even what my expectations of them were. This year it is a totally different atmosphere. The girls that are coming in this fall have been recruited by me for an entire year, so they, as well as returning players from last year, know what to expect. There will be no surprises.

Q: This summer you announced the additions of Karina Bellato and graduate assistant Enjoli Ford. Talk about these two new coaches and their responsibilities, as well as how the team will benefit from them.

A: First of all, I am very lucky to have the assistants that I have. You, as well as others, might know that a program is only successful as its assistants. Enjoli Ford is actually a former player here. She would offer insight to what the program had been in the past. Last semester I actually asked her to be the grad assistant and she accepted. During the spring semester, she was the only assistant. Once we got the approval to hire the first assistant coach, I went straight to Karina. Karina is actually a player that I formerly recruited about six years ago. When I offered her the job, she didn’t hesitate and left the junior college she was coaching at. She will be a great asset. Both of my assistants make my life so much easier because I don’t have to do all the coaching. I can assign them a specific area, and they do a good job with it.

 Q: Here at NSU, students are hungry for a winner, whether it is in football, soccer, basketball, or any other sport. Typically, the volleyball team reaches the Southland Conference Tournament. What do you think this team will need to do to take the next step to possibly win the conference and represent the school in the NCAA Tournament?

Q: I mean that’s definitely a goal. I mean that is why I think I was brought here: to take this program to the next level. At first I wanted to win conference my first year, but it’s definitely a process. We have a strong support system here from my SWA to Dr. Hulbert. I’ve worked for a couple of big time schools, and this is definitely the best administration I’ve been around. We are taking the right steps to getting the caliber of athletes that we need. It’s now up to me and my staff to go and recruit kids.

 Q: Coach, you had a very good first recruiting class that will start their careers this year this 2011 fall season. Talk about some of those players you have recruited, as well as some of the goals you and your staff tried to accomplish with this new class.

A: Well, the first class is always the hardest. When I got here in August, most of them were already recruited, so we had to get the best junior college players that we could. We were able to grab two All-Americans, one from Gonzales and one from Lafayette. We were lucky to be able to get five JUCO players that either won a national title or are All-Americans.

Q: With this recruiting class coming in, you guys are sure to have talent. Lets talk about some of your key returning players, and how you expect them to make an instant impact on this year’s team.

A: Well, we have a lot of kids returning that are going to make an instant impact on our team. Last year Jessica Addicks led the conference with hitting percentage, with over 500 kills. To name a few, Rachel Yezak will be back as well as Jordan Karst, who ran the show for us last year. Nancy Taylor is also ready to go. Carely Mcinnis will also be returning. She worked very hard this summer and came back in amazing shape. I honestly just can’t pick out one player; I’m excited about all of them, as well as everything they did this summer. We haven’t missed a beat since last season.

Q: Let’s talk about this year’s schedule. What are some of the challenges your team will face this year?

A: Scheduling is always hard. We try to stay local and play as many in-state schools as we can. We are lucky this year because we will be going to UTEP and New Mexico State, two top 25 programs. That’s the level we need to be at so we are going to go out and play big teams, and see where we are at in reference to where we need to be.

Q: Nicholls will be hosting two different tournaments this year, The Nicholls Bayou Invitational and The Colonel Classic. Talk a little about these two tournaments.

A: It’s always good to play at home because we get to sleep in our own bed and our players don’t have to miss that much school. Thibodaux is a great town to host a tournament in, and we have so many different schools that normally come play us that are willing to come back again. We’re excited about this season. I’m proud of my players and finally, a family atmosphere. They weren’t happy with the pre-season rating. They’re out to prove something, and I hope that we are able to do that.