By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Bethune-Cookman Head Volleyball Isaac Raphael is enjoying the competition he's seeing in preseason practice, especially at a position he could create more playing time.

Raphael's sticking with a one-setter offense as the Lady Cats prepare for their August 24 opener against Charlotte in the East Carolina tournament. He used a two-setter alignment at times during 2011 but settled on one-setter since it got the ball to Krysta Gardner and Janeen Davis.

"A one-setter offense allows me to run more plays," Raphael said after Tuesday's practice sessions. "A two-setter offense is always an option that's available, though,  and I want to keep all my options available."

Sophomore Aubrianna Curtis registered 324 assists in 12 starts last season and is the incumbent setter, but is being pushed by freshman Monica Lowe.

"Monica is making Aubrianna better and Aubrianna is making Monica better," Raphael said. "Competition is a good thing."

Raphael has been pleased with the team's mental progression.

"We're learning to be a team," Raphael said. "You have players with long memories after they make a mistake and you have players with short term memory who move on to the next play. I like short term memory. It's a learning curve we're working our way through."