On the road again

Yep that's right. We're headed back out for a weekend of recruiting. We'll have coaches watching tournaments in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina looking for the next generation in Lady Highlander basketball. Not much else going on late this week or weekend in Radford. Chelsea Clark's birthday is tomorrow and I think Sarah is hosting a birthday dinner for her tomorrow night. I hear Sarah is a pretty good cook, but she's never cooked dinner for me, so I wouldn't know! We had an awesome team workout last night on the court. The energy and intensity that the girls have been bringing to the court is unbelievable. We can't wait until we can do that 6 days a week during the regular season. The wait until next week's team workout is hard to take!

JRA

Team Picture Day

Yesterday was picture day for the Lady Highlanders. As you can see from the pictures, our team cleans up pretty well. All of these pictures were made around the center of campus and the headshots made by our sports information director will be used for the media guide this season. We love picture day as coaches because it is one of the few days all year that we see the entire team dressed up all at one time. The girls aren't shy at all...they will tell you without hesitation that they know they look good! I would never say this to their face, but we don't think they look half bad. If they only looked as good as their coaches, they'd be set!












Top Left Picture: Rook, Coach Porter, Johnette, and Vandy
Top Right Picture: Serena teaches Coach T how to do the "sprinkler".
Bottom Left Picture: Sarah, Shavon, and Corrie
Bottom Right Picture: All of our post players except Kelli D. Chelsea, Charron, Sarah, and Corrie.

Meagan Hilligas # 33

So we just finished Week 4 of preseason. On day 1, I never thought this day would come, but we’re over half-way through with our conditioning. I would consider this week to be successful. We turned some of our workouts into relays, and we had our first team practice on the court. Monday we ran hills, but we raced each other up to the top to grab a tennis ball before they did. We had girls diving for the ball, cutting each other off, and anything else to win. Wednesday we also did relays, but in the pool. We wore flippers and used kick boards (check out the pics). Each team was screaming to their partners to keep kicking and hurry up. We are a competitive team. We can turn the simplest of relays into a huge competition. We just don’t like to lose, at anything.

This week we had our first team practice. What can I say? We were ready. This practice may have been one of the most intense AND focused practices you could ask for so early in the season. We set the bar high for the rest of the season. We started off strong, now we have to go hard every day from this point on.

Finally! Everyone has made their mile time, even though we’ve all made individually. Each person on a different day has brought their A game and made their time. Now it’s time for everyone to bring it on the same day. The day that each and every person can bring their A game and knock this timed mile out of the way, as team, we will be taking a step forward to being a more successful.

I’m very excited for this season. We’ve been working out together for 4 weeks, and we keep pushing each other. We compete against each other. If we take anything from this preseason I want it to be how to compete against other teams, and how to work as a team on the same day and get the job done!

Meagan

Pool Workout - Preseason Week 4

Well, week 4 has quickly come to an end. It doesn't seem like we've been doing this for a month. I'm sure the girls have a different opinion and they feel like preseason has been going on forever, but for me it's going quickly. Maybe it's because I've been counting down the days until we can start practicing for real.


3 weeks from today, it's on. All of the hard workouts and days when they thought they couldn't run, lift, or shoot anymore will finally start to pay off. They will finally get to do what they came here to do 6 days a week. That's when the fun starts. Trade in the early morning track workouts, running hills, and pool workouts for shooting drills, rebounding, offenses, and defenses...I can't wait!

If you've never been through a preseason at RU, maybe you're wondering what a typical week is like. The team lifts weights 3 times per week, does a 6 am track workout on Tuesday and Friday, goes through circuit training and plyometrics, as well as individual skill instruction sessions. The most fun workout of the week (if there is such a thing) is the pool workout on Wednesday. These pictures are from this week's workout. I just couldn't resist posting pictures of how ridiculous some of them look in swim caps, goggles, and flippers. This is a day of comic relief for the coaches!

Team Radford Day

For those of you who don't know, Team Radford Day is an annual event here on the campus of RU where every student-athlete and coach in the athletic department come together to meet each other, participate in crazy activities, and EAT. The president of our university, Pres. Kyle even came out to show her support of RU Athletics. Each team's coaches speak about key players they have returning, expectations for their upcoming season, academic achievements and conference awards their team had last year, and big home games on the schedule for this year. Coach Porter was out of town on Sunday so I had to speak on behalf of women's basketball. Speaking in front of people is a terrifying experience for me so that wasn't very fun, but saying good things about our girls isn't hard at all. I mentioned to all of the student-athletes in attendance that our first game is at Virginia Tech and we'd like to have all of their support when we make the journey to Blacksburg in search of our first regular season win. The activity this year for Team Radford Day was making tie-dyed t-shirts. Everybody got a white t-shirt with the RU logo on the front and then got to go crazy with red tie-dye. I've already seen a few shirts around campus and they are all very interesting designs, however, I do have to say that mine looks the best. The highlight of the night for most of our girls was the free meal. Burgers, hot dogs, baked beans, slaw, potato salad, and some very tasty cookies were on the menu. This picture shows Davida, Rachel, Bebe (our manager), Tameisha, and Rook doing what they do best...Eating!

# 40

Tameisha Carter-Williams, fondly known as Meish to all of us, is entering her second season with the Lady Highlanders. We have been very impressed with the work ethic and mindset that Meish came back with this Fall and we are very excited to see what she brings to the court when her senior season begins in November. Last preseason was somewhat of a shock for her and we found out very quickly that Meish absolutely hates the track and any workout we do before the sun comes up. This year, however, she has come in with a different mindset and has worked harder than ever even on the early morning track workouts. Maybe she still isn't enjoying it, but she has at least smiled a few times so far which is a major improvement! Here are her thoughts:

My name is Tameisha Carter-Williams and I reside in Woodbridge, VA which is near Potomac Mills Mall. I am a senior at RU this year. I graduated in 2003 from Paul VI Catholic high school and then went on to Potomac State Junior College in West Virginia. In West Virginia, I played two years of juco basketball and graduated from the institution with an associates degree. Coming to Radford was different than the little school I went to for junior college and playing here is also different. This year is going to be better because last year we were getting to know each other on and off the court. Now, we have everybody returning with two new additions and we look great.

Kelli D

The D in her name stands for defense. Well, not really but Kelli D has become known in practice and around the league as a big time shot blocker in the middle for the Lady Highs. Our highlight tape proves over and over and over that it is next to impossible to score over Kelli D. Last season, Kelli moved into 3rd overall on the all time list for career blocks with 110. She needs 31 to break the overall record. Her 57 blocks last season were the third highest total recorded in a season at RU. This is what Kelli had to say today about how her workouts are going.

School and basketball have once begun for me and my teamates here at Radford University. Our workout schedule is pretty much the same as last year. We have weights, pool workouts, circuits, individuals, our 6 am workouts and all that good stuff. Since this is my junior year, I kind of knew what to expect. Even though it hasn't been easy, these past few weeks have flown by for me. I've been pleased with my teamates efforts these past two weeks and I'm excited for what the season has in store for us. I'm really excited to see Coach Pulliam in action. He's our newest coach and he seems like a really great coach. Playing a sport in college sure does help the time fly and it gave me a chance to have a family away from college. My coaches and teammates are so different and I love them all to death. Anyway, I know that this will be a great year and I hope everyone can get some time to come out to support us.

Serena White answers a few questions

My name is Serena White and I'm from Durham County, North Carolina. Don't get it confused with Raleigh or Cary because that's not where I'm from. I played at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. It's a private, Catholic school which focuses on catholic education and preparing students for college. Although I'm not Catholic, it was a good experience for me and I appreciate how well they prepared me for college here at Radford. My major here at Radford is criminal justice. I just recently switched from exercise, sport, and health education major. I really love my criminal justice classes and I'm glad I switched my major. Hopefully after I graduate, I'll either attend law school or graduate school, depending on what I decide as my career.

I chose to come to Radford to play basketball because when I visited the campus, coaches, and players, I felt like they were genuinely interested in not only me as player, but me as a person as well. I think that's the most important thing to remember when being recruited and visiting colleges; you're at college to get an education first, and to play basketball second. The campus is beautiful and definitely helped sway my decision to attend Radford.

My favorite thing about Radford is the actual town of Radford. It's a small town feel to it, which reminds me of back home, however, you can always find something to do in Radford. So, I guess you get the best of both worlds.

Kelli is probably one of my favorite teammates. I spend more time with her than anyone else on the team. There are alot of stories about Kelli and I that I would love to share but some are inappropriate to write on the blog. Also, most of them are inside jokes between us and wouldn't make sense to anyone else. Kelli and I do have alot of fun times though.

I asked my roommate this question and this is what she said. Most people dont know this about Serena but?...... She has a 5 foot dog. I think 5 foot is kinda an understatement. When he stands up on my shoulders he's a little bit taller than me and I'm 5'9". I have a German Shepard named Buddy who lives back at home with my parents. The hardest part about coming to college was leaving my friends and family behind, but I think the person I miss the most is my dog. He's the best dog anyone could ask for.

"No Regrets" - Sarah Stephens

Senior captain Sarah Stephens came by the office after workouts today and had these words. After reading what she had to say, I didn't feel like I needed to add anything. I hope you all can get a feel for the mindset of our team right now by reading what our senior leader is thinking...

As the captain of my team, setting the standard as well as living up to the standard sometimes becomes a tough challenge. I have committed myself to this basketball team since 2003 and I can honestly say this has been the best experience ever. The 2006-2007 season is when it's going to happen. This summer, I made a commitment to myself as well as to my teammates that no matter how hard it gets, giving up is not an option. My expectations for this season are to "JUST GO HARD", "Play every game as if it was your last", and "Make it Count". Anyone can give you a dollar, but no one can give you heart. I'm ready to have a productive season and better yet, I'm ready to wear that championship ring. "Pain, Sweat, Tears...NO REGRETS.

Preseason Week One

Preseason Week One has come and gone and the Lady Highlanders are working very hard. For those of you who have never been through preseason workouts for a college basketball season, you have no idea the pressures that are put on your mind and body. The past week found the Lady Highs in the weight room Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; and they've been running hard on the track Tuesday and Friday mornings at 5:45 AM. The week also included circuit training, a pool workout, and small group skill development sessions on the court. These few weeks become the foundation for building our team into one of the toughest, hardest working groups in the Big South. There have already been times this week that I'm sure they have all hated my guts for putting them through these workouts, but it's just a part of our jobs to make sure they are ready when official practice rolls around. I have no doubt the ladies of RU Women's Hoops will turn heads this year because they have come in ready to work hard and get better from Day One.