On the eve of the 10-year anniversary of UNA’s Volleyball National Championship season, the Lions are picked to finish third in the Gulf South Conference (GSC) behind favorite West Florida University and second place Christian Brothers University.

Head Volleyball Coach Stephanie Radecki said she is not very interested in preseason polls.

“They don’t mean too much,” she said. “I don’t pay attention to them.”

The volleyball team will start their season on Sept. 6-7 in the Armstrong Atlantic Pirate Volleyball Classic in Savannah, Ga. They will open tournament play against Flagler College. 

However, the Lions are not new to this tournament, and they have been playing in it for many years now, Radecki said.

“It’s a very competitive tournament,” she said

They are focused on “being the team we are right now,” she said.

The team missed postseason play for the first time in four years and finished the year below .500 in 2012, Radecki said.

“I am not worried about last season,” she said. “I am focused on this team and the potential it has.”

The Lions will be bringing back six players from last year’s team and only one senior — Hope Rayburn. 

“Hope has pulled away from the pack as being a team leader,” Radecki said.

She is excited about getting back on the hardwood, and she knows how important it is for her to get the rest of the team going, Rayburn said.

She said being the only senior gives her a boost.

“It is important for me to help this team play up to our full potential,” she said.

She pays attention to the many banners hanging from the rafters of Flowers Hall, Rayburn said.

“We don’t just play for ourselves, but we play for the ones that came before us and the ones that will come after us,” Rayburn said.

There are nine newcomers to this year’s team, Radecki said.

Freshman Victoria Quintanilla said she understands the importance of work ethic while playing under Radecki.

“It’s challenging and you always have to push yourself,” Quintanilla said. 

She said the biggest difference between her experience in high school and playing for the Lions is the level of intensity.

“It feels a lot more serious, and it takes a lot of pride to keep pushing yourself,” she said.

She and the rest of the newcomers need to bring intensity and a lot of passion to the court, and this year they want to get UNA back to where it was before, Quintanilla said.