MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- Every day is a chance for these Buccaneers to improve. Every day is an opportunity to move toward something bigger.

"I'm excited about the talent level of this team," Barry sixth-year volleyball head coach Steve Hendricks said. "The individual athletic abilities are very good."

The Bucs will see how it all unfolds as they open the season Friday and Saturday at the Route 92 Showdown in Hayward and Belmont, Calif. Barry meets four West Coast teams in Cal State East Bay, Dominican, Academy of Art and Notre Dame de Namur in a homecoming for two Bucs. The following weekend, Barry will host the Barry University Classic Sept. 9-10.

"Preseason was good," Hendricks said. "We got to play, and we got a lot of touches. We started putting our system in place. The team bonded pretty well. I'm looking forward to the season starting, and going into non-conference and getting some wins under our belt going into conference play."

SETTERS

Jenny Trinidad returns for her senior season in a stacked position. The Bucs have the most depth at setter in Hendricks' tenure, which bodes well for the 6-2 offense. Trinidad had 403 assists last year. Senior transfer Brooke Speyerer spent two years at Pace, where she racked up 1,167 assists, helping the Setters rank second in the league in assists per set (11.27). Freshmen Juliana Tirabassi and Maegan Cuesta add depth to the position. 

"We're looking at running a faster offense than we did the last couple years," Hendricks said. 

OUTSIDE HITTERS

Senior Kaitlin Drake, who hails from Acampo, Calif., juniors Eva Raat, Jaeda Allen and Genesis Castillo will split time on the right and left sides. Drake, a Sunshine State Conference All-Newcomer a year ago, led the Bucs with 336 kills, which ranked seventh in the league. Raat banged down 215 kills before an injury cut her season short. Allen redshirted last year while learning the system. Castillo transferred from Polk State, where she was a First Team All-Florida College System Activities Association selection after putting up 320 kills, 118 blocks and 180 digs as a sophomore.

Barry hit .189 as a team a year ago. 

"It's very competitive," Hendricks said of the attacking position. "We're working on their ball control and their hitting."

MIDDLE BLOCKERS

Senior Ivana Didanovic, an honorable mention All-SSC pick in 2015, led the team with 94 blocks and pounded 272 kills last season. Freshman Kristina Filiminova spent the spring with the Bucs. 

"They know our system the best," Hendricks said.

Freshmen Kishara Gordon may also see time on the right side, and Brittany Reynolds opposite on the left. The Bucs were outblocked 1.9 to 1.8 per set per set last year. 

"Kishara and Brittany are big blockers," Hendricks said. "We're swing blocking this year. It's going well. We're getting better and better at it every day. It gives us more height. It could be a point generator for us. We need to score points with our block this year."

DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS/LIBEROS

Senior Ariel Mangum, another Bay Area native from Redwood City, Calif., and sophomore Kat Espinosa are the catalysts in the back row. Espinosa is the leading returner in digs with 298 as a freshman. Mangum had double-digit digs in three of the final four matches last year. Senior Amanda Brill, junior Paola Buitrago and freshman Madison Yarborough add support to the back row.

"Amanda, Paola and Madison are doing a good job in pushing the top two," Hendricks said. "Our passing is getting more consistent. We have a ways to go. Our dig to transition skills need to get better."

SERVING

This is another one of the areas Barry is trying to generate offense from. Trinidad had 25 aces a year ago, and Espinosa fired off 20. Opponents will see a variety of serves from the Bucs, including Allen's powerful jump serve.

Barry had 138 aces to the opponents' 113 last year. 

"We need to get tougher," Hendricks said. "I want to score points from the serve line, too. I want the team to take risks with serving. We need to minimize our mistakes even if we make some errors."

LEADERSHIP

Drake, Didanovic and Trinidad will serve as the team's three captains this year. 

"They're doing a good job leading," Hendricks said. "The leadership is good with our seniors. Those three need to continue pushing. We need to find a way to play with a sense of urgency. Grinding every rally to win is where we need to get to."

COACHING

First-year assistant coach Cinthia Angus brings some West Coast experience to the Bucs. Both she and Hendricks coached at the Division I level. Angus was a volunteer assistant at Utah. Hendricks coached at Notre Dame, San Francisco and New Mexico.

"Cinthia is doing a good job," Hendricks said. "She's giving a lot of feedback to the team. She's using the iPad as a teaching tool. They watch the video and learn. I think that's been very helpful."

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

The Buccaneers have put together three winning seasons under Hendricks. They have been ranked in the Top 10 in the South Region three times, but have not made an NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010. 

"We need to put it together so we're getting consistency out of the synergy of every possession," Hendricks said. "I think the team recognizes the talent that we have. We have to work harder to put it together. I think all of us realize we could have a really successful season in putting together our goal in reaching the NCAA Tournament."


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