Liberty University Club Sports Athletics
Rigg, Flames' volleyball team prepared to peak at nationals
4/12/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Volleyball
Coming off a second-place showing at the East Coast Championships on April 1 at Maryland, Liberty University's men's volleyball team is in Kansas City, Mo., this week for the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation (NCVF) national championships.
Liberty Club Sports Video Coordinator Gabe Henderson, who traveled with the Flames, interviewed Head Coach Bryan Rigg during the final week of preparation for nationals for this edition of the "Coaches Club."
Rigg wants to see the Flames' Division I and II teams qualify for the 16-team Gold bracket following Thursday's and Friday's 48-team pool play and improve on last season's finishes from national tournament in Louisville, Ky., when they were eliminated in the first round of the Silver and Gold division playoffs.
"When they seed the 48 teams, we'll probably be seeded in the top 10 or 15 and I expect the guys to step up," he said. "It'll get harder as the week goes on, but I expect the guys to step up. It'll be interesting to see, with sickness and injury, what our lineup looks like, but think they'll step up and play really well. I expect to have our best finish ever. I don't think the guys are nervous."
Junior outside hitter Gene Dejesus, who only picked up the sport of volleyball a year and a half ago, finished runner-up in the East Coast MVP voting, feeding off the setting of sophomore Kaden Knepper.
Consistent in serving and service-receive throughout the season, the Flames have improved their blocking ability in recent weeks to become a more effective defensive unit at the net, backed up by junior libero Sam Wyman and graduate David Hong.
