Entering her first season with the Senators, Head Coach Moneshia McKenney knows that preseason polls don't determine the ultimate success of a team. Coach Mo has the team's sights set on lofty goals and she believes through hard work, focusing on technique, and playing well together, they can contend for a Mountain East Conference title. For now, the team is the #3 pick in the MEC South Division in the Preseason Coaches Poll prior to the first serve.
 
Last year's team, which finished out the season 15-14 overall and 8-8 in the MEC, completed the regular season third in the South Division. Charleston won the South Division a year ago and West Virginia State was runner-up and they find themselves first and second, respectively in the preseason poll. Wheeling, the North Division and MEC Tournament Champions last season, top the preseason poll in the North.
 
D&E graduated kills specialist Macie Magallon, who led the Nation in kills in 2021 and reliable setter Brilane Manchego who accounted for 83% of the team's assists a year ago. Replacing talented players like these and others and having other players take a leading role is one challenge Coach Mo will face this season. Another, she feels is teaching new techniques and molding the team to make it her own. "A lot of new technique is being fed to the team every practice," she said. "The biggest challenge for the team will be not resorting back to bad habits come game time."
 
While seeking out ways to improve the team at each practice and over the course of the season, McKenney notes there are some strengths on which to focus. The staff is focused on player development and working to see each player grow with new techniques and fundamentals.

"Within that growth it will look ugly before it looks great," she confessed. "So, as long as the team continues to trust the process, we will have a successful season."
 
Senior middle/outside hitter, Brianna Portly and junior libero, Clara Caralt will provide solid leadership and play for the team.
 
"Brianna is a senior who is returning to us with a lot of on-court experience here at D&E," McKenney shared. "She does a great job leading offensively for us as well as having strengths in being active at the net and not allowing fluff to come onto our side. Blocking is also a major strength of hers that we look forward to seeing a lot of this season."
 
"Clara reads well defensively and has the calmest platform I've seen in a while," she said. "She leads verbally, then allows her game play to continue her leadership on and off the court."
 
Sophomore right side/outside hitter, Melisa Ozsar had a solid campaign in her first year with D&E and will assume a more active role this season.
 
"Melisa has immense control, and we are looking forward to her being an offensive key player for us," McKenney added.
 
Two incoming players contending early on to make an impact are freshman middle, Braelyn Brenneman and transfer sophomore defensive specialist and libero, Rhaya Harwell. Both are showing promise in their development and growth, as well as leadership during preseason practices. Brenneman should be a strong blocker and Harwell is displaying good defensive strength in reading and reacting while staying poised.
 
Coach Mo and her Assistant Coach and husband, Roderick McKenney have the team focused on finishing stronger than they start and finishing higher than their preseason poll would indicate. The team also has goals to finish academically above a 3.0 grade point average as a team and each individual and moving to the top of the MEC to push for a League Championship and NCAA bid.
 
The coaching staff wants to allow opportunities for the team to dive into the community with service project and teach life skills for preparation for life after college.
 
D&E opens the season at the UVA-Wise Cavalier Classic on September 1. The Senators play Lees-McRae at 1pm and Concord at 3pm on September 1 and UVA-Wise at 10am and Johnson C. Smith at noon during the Tournament.