Spirit back for testing

Tue, 8 June 2010

For the first time since the WNCL final, the DEC VicSpirit squad will be back in action for pre-season testing at the MCG tonight. It's been almost five months since the Spirit fell short against NSW Breakers at the MCG, but the girls haven't been cooling their heels the entire time. Some (Sarah Elliott, Rachael Haynes, Clea Smith and Julie Hunter) have been representing Australia at the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean, others (Emma Inglis, Renee Melton and Kath Hempenstall) were part of Brunswick Park's team to win back-to-back Premier Firsts titles in the VWCA and a couple (Jess Cameron and Elyse Villani) were part of both. Tonight is the first of three fitness testing sessions to be run by the Spirit's strength and conditioning gurus Mathew Pell and Leigh Harding, establishing baselines before pre-season gets underway later this month. "I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again and getting back into it," DEC VicSpirit coach Cathryn Fitzpatrick said. "I would expect the majority to come back in good nick, most would've kept their training up and they've had personalised programs to keep them going, so now we can see where they're at. "We'll change a couple of things this season, I've got a few ideas to try and challenge them. "We'll be looking to improve on what we did last year."