Lady Pioneers Tip Off Against Cumberland

By: Nick Kieser

GALLATIN, TENNESSEE — Volunteer State Community College Lady Pioneers basketball team will travel to Cumberland University to tip off for their first game of the regular season at 6 p.m.

"I got eight sophomores on this team and I feel like there's nothing that is going to surprise them.  We'll be walking into every game confident because we've been there before. Good comfortability with this team," said head coach Otis Key.

For the first two games of the year, the Lady Pioneers will be on the road including tonight's contest and on Saturday at Snead State Community College.

"We have a lot of new players this season and I think we are ready.  We had a good preseason so this should be good," said sophomore guard Aliyah Miller.

Finishing last season with a record of 8-20 the New Year will be a fresh start for the Pioneers after placing where they did just this past season.

"I think we are ready and we will do good this year," said sophomore guard Kelsey Harriman.

On the opposing side of the court, the host team Cumberland University will be having their home opener for the season and Vol State will go toe-to-toe with the four year university. 

"Just play our game like we have been practicing.  Get our shooters ready and the guards to attack and we'll be good," said Miller.

"Aliyah has a very unique set of skills that she can use on the floor. Just putting the ball in her hand and allowing her to be the coach on the floor is a plus for me.  I'm going to trust her decision making and trust her playmaking ability and just see how it works out for us," said Key.

Key also interjected that Miller is the captain of this team and sees her as a player that is vocal and a player who has tons of talent.

"We have the chemistry, we have the leadership, we have the experience, and now they just have to go out and actually do the work each and every night," said Key.

Miller and the other sophomore leaders on the team will walk out on the floor for the first time this season on the road, the season tips off tonight for the Lady Pioneers.

For updates on the game follow @KieserNick on Twitter.