Women's Volleyball | 8/26/2019 10:24:00 AM

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Savannah State University interim volleyball coach Roselidah Obunaga says building a program starts with chemistry and recruiting.

"I think I'm halfway there. Good recruiting, good chemistry can turn things around," said Obunaga, who takes over for coach Edric Poitier.

The personable Obunaga came from Montana State University-Northern, about 40 miles from the Canadian border, before arriving in Savannah in March and joining her husband, Philip Obunaga, who is a professor at SSU.

Roselidah Obunaga has a tall task -- turning the Tigers, 3-21 a year ago, into winners.

Obunaga knows something about playing at high levels. She competed with her native Kenya in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics.

"It was exciting for me to represent my country because it gave you a big picture of what you never thought you could achieve in life," she said.

Obunaga played at West Plains Community College in Missouri before attending Columbia College.

She coached at Stephens College for six years and was at Montana State-Northern for two seasons.
 
SSU opened camp about 10 days ago, but Obunaga said injuries have limited the entire team from working out at the same time.

But if she had to play tomorrow sophomore Valeria Aldarondo would be her setter, senior Liz Ortiz would be the libero and juniors Imani Williamson, Karissa Tatum and Jedaiah Daniels and sophomores Jeilyn Brown and De'Antoinette Rodriquez-Hairston would be the hitters.

Returning middle hitter Jamese Scott, a senior who at 6-foot-1, will play a big role on the team, has been nursing an injury.

Obunaga will be looking for depth from freshmen Destini Williams (a setter), Chukwuezi Chibinyerem (a walk-on middle hitter) and Jaylyn Roberson (middle hitter) and transfer Ellana Nellis (Coppin State).

Miya Hall, a cheerleader at SSU last season, joined the volleyball team this season.

"The biggest thing I like to build is the chemistry because I don't think success will come with the first step," Obunaga said. "When we play the crossover tournament, it will give us a good chance to see (our opponents' skill level)."

SSU begins play in the Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference this season and will compete in the Eastern Division.

Conference teams from the Eastern Division will cross over and play teams from the Western Division in a tournament in Albany on Sept. 26-28.
The Tigers will hold an Orange and Blue scrimmage on Sept. 6.

SSU's season opens for real on Sept. 11 at Middle Georgia State University in Cochran. The Tigers' home opener is Sept. 17 against the College of Coastal Georgia.