HICKORY, N.C. — Coming off the heels of a 20-win season this past winter, the Catawba Valley Community College women's basketball program aims for even more success in the 2017-18 campaign.
Tisha England returns for her fifth season as the head coach of the Red Hawks. She helped lead the program to a 21-8 overall record in the 2016-17 season, including a 14-6 mark in conference games.
"I'm competitive, and every year I expect at least 20 wins," England said. "Coming off a good season, I'm just excited for the next challenge. I'm excited for the players, even my sophomores coming back. They are looking for even greater seasons."
This year's CVCC women's basketball team features a 12-player roster, including five sophomores and seven freshmen.
Guards Nikkyana McCaskill, Shaniya Lester and Tory Agrusa and forwards Tanisha Wall and Joyous Wilson all return for their sophomore seasons. All five players saw significant playing time last year as freshmen.
"All five were highly recruited by four-year schools, and to know that they made a decision themselves to come back, get better, get stronger and get their degree — that says a lot about our program," England said of her sophomores. "We work hard to produce student-athletes. I'm excited for them. It's a strong nucleus. Their bond is even greater. They are holding each other accountable and just helping bring the freshmen up to the expectation and getting them to understand what it's like to be a college student-athlete. They are a special group. Every year, each group is special to my heart. This group right here is truly a blessing to me."
England has been equally impressed with her incoming freshman — a group that includes athletes from Charlotte, Kannapolis and Franklin, N.C. and a pair of out-of-state players from Florida and Georgia.
"They are going to surprise a lot of people," England said of her freshmen. "They are very talented. They still have to work on a lot of fundamentals, but they are going to step up and rise up. The sophomores are causing them to rise up. My expectation is causing them to rise up. They can shoot. They can pass. They can dribble. We've got a post player who can make great moves. Getting them in shape and getting them to understand the pace of college level and the requirements of it is where we are at right now. I have confidence in them that they will succeed."
This year's CVCC women's basketball team has adopted the motto T.E.A.M., an acronym which stands for "Together Each Accomplish Much."
"That's what we are," England said of the motto. "We have to accomplish much as a team. Not one person is greater than the other. We understand that it's going to take all of us to make sure that we are successful. Each one has their own spice. We are putting it all together to make a beautiful cake."
While she has many goals for her team on the court, England — the school's Learning Assistance Center Coordinator — places even more emphasis off the court as she does on it.
"Every year, our goal, especially academic, is to have a 3.0 (GPA) as a team," she said. "We have reached that the last several years. To make sure that my young ladies graduate to get to the next level — that's always our goal each year."
The Red Hawks kick off their season on Sunday at the CB Hoops Jamboree in Duluth, Ga.
CVCC opens its regular season on Friday, Nov. 3 with a home match up against North Greenville at 6 p.m.
England is assured of her team's ability to compete and contend for a conference championship this season.
"I'm very confident," England said. "I'm a competitor myself, and I feel that we can win the conference. We just have to apply everything and put it all together there on the court. Every year, I expect to win the conference. I've had some disappointments, but it's not a dead end. I'm excited about a new year and new season and new challenge for these young ladies and for myself."