MOSCOW, Idaho—The start of the 2016 volleyball season is just 10 days away for the Idaho Vandals. The Vandals have been hard at work in preparation for the season's first tournament in New Mexico, holding two-a-days since the start of fall camp last Tuesday.

The team's progression has been on the climb. The Vandals have been spent every minute of fall camp together, practicing, team building and eating as a team. Eight days into camp and the team's energy is sky-high.

"We are all super excited," sophomore middle blocker DeVonne Ryter exclaimed. "We have a lot of freshmen that in so we are a fairly new team. We are all super stoked and are already clicking as a team."

Head coach Debbie Buchanan, entering her 17th season leading Idaho, likes where the team is at this point of the season. The Vandals are working in two new setters in Haylee Mathis and Megan Ramseyer, to go along with eight newcomers in all. The lone setback for to this point for the Vandals is keep everybody healthy. Idaho has been working through injuries since the spring season, limiting the 6-on-6 play in practice.

"We can see people do things in individual drills," Buchanan noted. "Until they get in and have to make that block move, make the transition move, get ready to hit, stay in system—that's really what we need to see right now and what players can handle that. That 6-on-6 time is important and we do need that, especially for our middles to keep going hard."

The Big Sky Conference released its preseason coaches' poll on Monday. The conference selected Idaho finish the season sixth overall and third in the Big Sky North.

Idaho opens the season Aug. 26 against Fairfield. The Silver and Gold will play three matches in the Albuquerque in the first of four non-conference tournaments.  
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho volleyball by following the team on Instagram and Twitter, @IdahoVolleyball.