Sept. 7, 2005

COMMERCE - "Mama," as she's been called since joining Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball team, knows where she wants to go. Senior outside hitter Tosha Spain is the lone senior on a squad that features seven new faces and four returners.

Redshirting her first season with the Lions, Tosha had a knack for making sure everyone on the team brought their equipment for road matches. Well, just the basics like uniforms and shoes. The nicknamed was penned. It stuck.

The Mabank/Euless graduate is in her third season with the Lions after transferring from Navarro Junior College in 2003. With nine matches played this season, she has 55 kills on the young season with a 14.9 attack percentage as well as adding a pair of key kills in Tuesday's win over Henderson State (Ark.).

"Tosha's a cool and calm-headed player," third-year head coach Gwen Weatherford said. "She has adjusted well after making the transition to outside hitter and there's been nothing but positive attitude and a willingness to learn."

And before making their home opener, the Lions played in the Grand Canyon (Ariz.) Cactus Classic last weekend, taking momentum into the upcoming St. Edward's Tournament.

Some newfound confidence is not all the Lions will be taking with them to Austin. The Lions are running a new defense this season with new terminology and new assignments for players, emphasizing quicker positioning and less court rotation. It should mean the Lions can more quickly anticipate attacks and counter with their own more successfully. With the new changes taking place, one concern was that the Lions would lack the chemistry needed to rebound in the Lone Star Conference.

"I know everyone rededicated to winning this season," Spain said. "The new recruits this season are really excited about being here and everyone's attitude is just where we want it to be." In the off season, the e-mails kept everyone in constant contact with the progress each was making during their fitness program.

The usual routing consisted of a mile-plus runs to build endurance for matches that can sometimes stretch into five games and over two hours. When she returned from off-season conditioning, Tosha finished second in the team's fitness test.

Coach Weatherford was impressed by Spain's performance. "I've known that Tosha was a very good athlete, and now she's putting the pieces together to be a very good player as well," she said.

Along with the athleticism, one area of focus during two-a-days was the mental aspects as well. With the instruction of new assistant coach Jim Mercer, a long-time volleyball coach on the college and high school level, the Lions spent classroom time learning to build their own mental toughness.

"We concentrated a lot of time on building a positive attitude," Spain said of the typical 2-hour long class schedule they took during the summer practice. "The one main lesson was that we have to focus on what works for us and keep focused on the next play, because that is what we need to win."

By win, she means winning the Lone Star Conference title. And that's proven to be an understanding the entire team has taken up. And it's an idea never far from anyone's mind, repeated through practice as a constant reminder.

"One thing I will take away from Commerce," she said, "is just all the friends I made. I just clicked right away with Colleen [Favaro] and we've gotten along like sisters since she's been here. The team is always just making jokes and having a good time." Favaro just led the Lions in kills last season as a freshman.

Spain is on schedule to graduate in the spring of 2006 and she plans to build on her playing experience and summer all-star camp coaching to take up a high school volleyball position. "It's really helped me realize that this is what I love to do."

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