The Lady Vols basketball squad is building a bond and preparing for a tough schedule in the upcoming 2014-15 season during their summer break.
The Lady Vols lost senior Meighan Simmons to the WNBA, and the Lady Vols need to replace her dynamic scoring and outside shooting presence.
The Tennessee team will partly count on, rising senior guard Ariel Massengale, who missed the majority of last season with an injury but is recovering after surgery.
“There’s still a timetable with the surgery,” Massengale said. “I’m hoping by August when we come back to school I’ll be 100 percent ready to go.”
Before suffering a facial injury against Florida Jan. 23, the Bolingbrook, Ill. native was in the midst of her best season yet.
In 14 of her 19 starts she had at least five assists or more and recorded back-to-back 20-plus point outings for the first time.
“I think sitting out the rest of last season was one of the best things for me,” she said. “It definitely helped me. The head feels great, I’m cleared with that, and I’m just ready to get out there. I don’t have any fears or any worries going back out there with it.”
Head coach Holly Warlick believes that Massengale’s leadership abilities are just as crucial as her scoring efforts to team success.
“I’m not so much concerned about (the outside shooting) but the thing is, we need her leadership and need her on that aspect,” Warlick said. “As far as being on the floor and leading by example. We’ve missed that from a point guard, though I’ll tell you that Andraya (Carter) and Jordan (Reynolds) have done a great job.”
Newcomers
Tennessee has added four new players to the roster, one being North Carolina transfer Diamond DeShields, who won NCAA Freshman Player of the Year last season. Though DeShields must wait out a mandatory year before playing, her presence alone could give the Lady Vols a boost.
“I think Diamond can contribute just with her experience and what she’s been through,” Warlick said. “Her love for the game, her love for this program, what a great example she’s been as far as being a team player, she’s a great player.”
Three incoming freshmen have arrived in time for the second summer session and have already impressed the coaching staff.
Warlick believes that Jaime Nared and Kortney Dunbar both can help with outside shooting while McDonalds All-American Game standout Alexa Middleton brings a special toughness to the court.
“The three freshmen are three unbelievable competitors,” she said. “I think at times that’s what we’ve missed. They compete, they love to work, and they love to work hard. It’s a great addition to this team.”
For now the Lady Vols main focus will be to develop camaraderie before the season begins, which includes a home game against Stanford and a trip to Notre Dame.
“I think championships are built in the offseason,” Warlick said. “That builds character, it builds trust, it builds team unity and team togetherness. I think that all those combined is where a team gets to know each other. I think it’s huge for us.”
