Aug. 20, 2012
by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina head coach Scott Swanson announced that, via a vote of both teammates and coaches, seniors Taylor Bruns and Christina Glover along with redshirt sophomore Cara Howley would be the 2012 volleyball team captains.
For Bruns, the role renews her position from last season, when she served as the lone captain. Bruns welcomed the help from her teammates.
“Being the sole captain was nice at times because you don’t have to confer,” said Bruns. “You just made your decision. At the same time, with such a large team, it’s so much easier to have two other people there with you backing you up. You can all make decisions together and take some pressure off your shoulders. It’s really nice. I’m really excited to have two more people with me, helping me out.”
The senior setter had some advice for her new leadership: “Be strong and confident in your decisions and don’t back down. No matter what happens, put the team above everything, and things will work out for you and for everybody.”
Joining Bruns in the captain’s role is Howley, her mentee from two years ago. The McKinney, Texas, native has already gotten some advice from Bruns, and she’s ready to help impart some of that to her teammates, which include seven new faces.
“(Bruns) helped me through everything (as a freshman),” remarked Howley. “It’s kind of funny that we’re captains together now during her senior year. We’ve kind of talked about it. I’m letting her take the lead, and I’m going to help out with whatever is needed, lead by example, and see where we can take this thing this year.”
The third captain is no stranger to serving as a leader. Glover has been working as a part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) almost since she set foot on campus. This year, Glover ranks as the group’s president, but she knows the differences between the roles.
“For volleyball, we joke that I am the captain of fun,” Glover said. “I’m the one who gets everyone excited before the games, having a good attitude. For SAAC, it’s more of a serious leadership. Being president, overseeing all the student-athletes, events, committees, meetings, it’s a huge responsibility that I’m very honored to have. I’m really excited.”
And Glover has been a part of the South Carolina SAAC delegation to the SEC, helping her see a different side of things.
“I’ve seen SAAC run on such a large scale at the SEC meetings,” stated Glover. “You get to bounce ideas off everyone else, compare and contrast events, community service, green initiatives. It’s really cool to know what (other schools are) doing and how we can incorporate it here. It’s where I can bring as many good, positive things back to the South Carolina student-athlete family.”
While the three will work together to help communicate things from the coaching staff and keep the team of 17 student-athletes organized, there is one job that Bruns is not ready to give up. She’s been calling the coin toss, which determines the first serving team, for a year now.
“I think I’ll still do the coin toss,” Bruns said matter-of-factly. “They can come up there with me; that’s fine, but I always call. I’ve gotten pretty good at it! We get serve a lot.”
“I think we can all call some coin tosses this year,” Howley said after a little push. “I want to face up against the captains across the league.”
To see how this decision turns out, fans can come to the Gamecock Invitational this Friday and Saturday at the Volleyball Competition Facility. Adults get in for $5, while youth 17 and under earn admittance for $2. South Carolina faculty, staff and students get in free with their Carolina Card. South Carolina opens the season at 12:30 p.m. EDT on Friday against Temple.
