Coach Julie Conner, the new women's basketball coach at ABAC, said her players are very excited about the upcoming season.
"It's a new program, and everyone is just so excited to have the opportunity to play," Conner said. "We have a few non-traditional students who have not played basketball since high school. One of the team's biggest strengths is its versatility. The players seem to have comparable skill levels. So, when one player goes in and another comes out, there isn't much of a difference in the action on the court."
ABAC dropped women's basketball and replaced it with women's volleyball in 1986 when it appeared all the two - year college teams in Georgia were headed in that direction. Now the trend has reversed. Conner said she faces certain challenges as a first-time head coach at the college level.
"One of my biggest challenges is bringing girls from different backgrounds and areas together and making them into a great team that works together," Conner said. "Recruiting is also a big challenge. It's a lot of fun and exciting, but it is also a lot of hard work. I not only coach the team, but I also scout, recruit, and teach classes. This is all very challenging, but I am really enjoying myself, and I am glad to be at ABAC."
Conner said that the competition that the Fillies will face this season is going to be very strong.
"This is going to be a challenging year, but I think we have a good shot," Conner said. "The fact that we are a new team works to our advantage. Since we are new, some of the more experienced teams are not expecting much from us and might underestimate our ability. The Georgia conference is not as strong as the Florida conference. So the Florida teams are going to be a lot tougher to face.
"My players love a fast-paced game, and they are working very hard. Since we are a brand new team, it will be interesting to see which players rise to the top. I think the games will be a lot of fun for the crowd to watch, and I am looking forward to an exciting season."
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