Troy University Athletics
Josh Lauer Previews Upcoming Season
8/20/2023 9:03:00 AM | Volleyball
TROY, Ala – Coming off his fourth-straight winning season head coach Josh Lauer reflects on last season and previews the upcoming season for Troy volleyball on Sunday afternoon.
The Trojans are set to have a tough nonconference schedule, where they will compete against multiple Power Five teams, who have made an appearance in the NCAA tournament last year.
Lauer previews what he thinks of last season and how the Trojans are ready for the 2023 season.
What are the take-a-ways from last season?
"I think that overall, we had an exciting season last year, it fueled the focus and fire for this group heading into fall of 2023. We have been trying to give this group a good focus off the launchpad of last year. We haven't really thought about last year, we are focused on where we're going this year."
What are you/the team most looking forward to this upcoming season?
"I think we are most looking forward to the challenge this season presents. This a really tight knit group, and I think they are excited about the opportunity ahead of them in both the conference and nonconference season. There's a lot of players who are transitioning to new roles, starting roles and I think it brings a fresh different dynamic to this year's group. Seeing how that meshes and how they can group, kind of find their own identity as a team this year is exciting."
What has been the team messaging going into the 2023 season?
"The team message has stayed consistent; our goal is to be the best team we can be at the end of the season. For us the most important time of the year is the conference tournament, and hopefully into postseason volleyball. The messaging has been let's focus on getting better from now until the end of November and peaking at the right time. Not get too high or too low but stay the course and focus on what we are trying to do, which is playing our very best by the time we get on the bus for Foley."
How has your upper classman taken the underclassman under their wings and shown them the ropes of the program.
"We have a smaller roaster this year, 10 of our 15 players are freshmen or sophomores. Our sophomore group is big, but they are really committed to our team culture. Our five upperclassmen are passionate about building our relational web and making sure that our team culture and team relationships are strong. They have been very intentional especially over the summer to prioritize spending time together, building and understanding bonds off the court. As we get into the grind and chaoticness of the season with the pressure and the stress that comes with it both on and off the court, that everybody's relationships are solid. I think our returners have done a good job modeling that, how they want that to look like and they want the freshmen to feel safe and at home. I think those things will pay dividends throughout the season."
How do you feel opening your season on the road, and being on the road for three weeks?
"I think that we are always on the road a little bit more than we are at home. Just given the geographic nature of our schedule and conference. This isn't new for our team; I think that it will be pretty fun and we are all looking forward to the opportunities we have the next three weeks on the road. We get to play some big time fun competitive volleyball matches, against some good teams. Our players are looking forward to that and looking forward that challenge, and those experiences, but it will be fun when we get home.
How do you feel your nonconference schedule prepares you for conference play?
"Our nonconference schedule is I think one of the toughest in our conference for sure, probably in the top half of one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the country. I think that we are going to be battle tested against some high-quality opponents. I think that's going to pay good dividends for our team heading into conference play. I think we are going to know our strengths and know our weaknesses. I think we are going to be hungry once conference play starts to know the spec of our opponents and to prove to ourselves that the challenges and trials we are going through in nonconference is going to best prepare us for a great conference season. The Sun Belt is going to be competitive this year, with a lot of good teams and returning players. We know we are going to have to be really to earn our spot every night."
The Trojans are set to have a tough nonconference schedule, where they will compete against multiple Power Five teams, who have made an appearance in the NCAA tournament last year.
Lauer previews what he thinks of last season and how the Trojans are ready for the 2023 season.
What are the take-a-ways from last season?
"I think that overall, we had an exciting season last year, it fueled the focus and fire for this group heading into fall of 2023. We have been trying to give this group a good focus off the launchpad of last year. We haven't really thought about last year, we are focused on where we're going this year."
What are you/the team most looking forward to this upcoming season?
"I think we are most looking forward to the challenge this season presents. This a really tight knit group, and I think they are excited about the opportunity ahead of them in both the conference and nonconference season. There's a lot of players who are transitioning to new roles, starting roles and I think it brings a fresh different dynamic to this year's group. Seeing how that meshes and how they can group, kind of find their own identity as a team this year is exciting."
What has been the team messaging going into the 2023 season?
"The team message has stayed consistent; our goal is to be the best team we can be at the end of the season. For us the most important time of the year is the conference tournament, and hopefully into postseason volleyball. The messaging has been let's focus on getting better from now until the end of November and peaking at the right time. Not get too high or too low but stay the course and focus on what we are trying to do, which is playing our very best by the time we get on the bus for Foley."
How has your upper classman taken the underclassman under their wings and shown them the ropes of the program.
"We have a smaller roaster this year, 10 of our 15 players are freshmen or sophomores. Our sophomore group is big, but they are really committed to our team culture. Our five upperclassmen are passionate about building our relational web and making sure that our team culture and team relationships are strong. They have been very intentional especially over the summer to prioritize spending time together, building and understanding bonds off the court. As we get into the grind and chaoticness of the season with the pressure and the stress that comes with it both on and off the court, that everybody's relationships are solid. I think our returners have done a good job modeling that, how they want that to look like and they want the freshmen to feel safe and at home. I think those things will pay dividends throughout the season."
How do you feel opening your season on the road, and being on the road for three weeks?
"I think that we are always on the road a little bit more than we are at home. Just given the geographic nature of our schedule and conference. This isn't new for our team; I think that it will be pretty fun and we are all looking forward to the opportunities we have the next three weeks on the road. We get to play some big time fun competitive volleyball matches, against some good teams. Our players are looking forward to that and looking forward that challenge, and those experiences, but it will be fun when we get home.
How do you feel your nonconference schedule prepares you for conference play?
"Our nonconference schedule is I think one of the toughest in our conference for sure, probably in the top half of one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the country. I think that we are going to be battle tested against some high-quality opponents. I think that's going to pay good dividends for our team heading into conference play. I think we are going to know our strengths and know our weaknesses. I think we are going to be hungry once conference play starts to know the spec of our opponents and to prove to ourselves that the challenges and trials we are going through in nonconference is going to best prepare us for a great conference season. The Sun Belt is going to be competitive this year, with a lot of good teams and returning players. We know we are going to have to be really to earn our spot every night."
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