CHARLESTON, S.C. - With time off from school several College of Charleston women's basketball players are engaging in meaningful experiences this summer. We take this opportunity to find out what they have been up to and look ahead to the upcoming season.

Jill Brown, Jr., Guard, Midlothian, Va.

What have you been up to this summer?

I took a physiology summer school class to help with my major of exercise science and public health. Back at home I'm volunteering at a local hospital a few days a week since I want to be a nurse after college. Next week I'm going to New Jersey and New York with my sister to visit some friends, which will be fun.

What are you looking forward to for the year ahead?

I think everyone is really excited about the upcoming season. I think sometimes change can be positive and that is the way we are looking at it. I think we will play a faster style which is what I'm used to playing when I grew up in AAU and high school.

Deidre Ramer, Jr., Center, Franklin, Tenn.

What have you been up to this summer?

This summer I am an intern for a program called Project Transformation Tennessee. This program is focused on lower income areas in Nashville. This program runs a free summer day camp for kids in this area of town at a local church. I am in charge of the arts and crafts and have kids make different items that come from reusable goods so they can learn to make things with items from their homes.

Our goal as interns is to show the kids the amazing love that God has for all of us and show them that there are other options outside their current environment. We want to show the kids that it is ok to have dreams and set goals. That just because they come from a different community they can still accomplish their goals. This summer has been truly life changing and has given me a better perspective of life and the diverse communities that are in our society and world we live in.   

I also got to go to Alaska at the beginning of the summer. That was really fun to see how things have changed since I lived there. The weather was great and the scenery was breathtaking.

What do you think the mood of the team going into the upcoming season?

I think the mood for the team is very positive. It's great seeing the changes being made with our team and our program. Bringing in new people brings a new energy to the team. We have always been a close team so these new boosts in the women's basketball program are very promising. I know as a team we are ready to succeed. Every year we come into August with high expectations but this year we need to set that bar even higher. It's about time we see what a championship feels like and we are capable of achieving that feeling.

Latisha Harris, Sr., Center, Aynor, S.C.

What have you been up to this summer?

I am currently working at Kmart and also have an internship lined up in the fall with the Charleston Police Department.

What are your goals and expectations individually and for the team this season?

I'd like to be able to contribute more and be a leader for this team. I want to be an asset to the team, especially on defense. For the team I want to see us improve way more than we were last year. I want to make it past the SoCon Championship first round and hopefully win the Championship. I think the mood of the team is excitement and looking forward to the season ahead.

Cathryn Hardy, Sr., Forward, Dayton, Ohio

What have you been up to this summer?

I have been very busy. In addition to summer workouts I am doing an internship for Baseline Magazine, a tennis magazine here in Charleston. I am doing social media and helping line up advertising for them. I am also working part time at the jewelry store Pandora. In a few days I'm going home to Ohio to spend some time with my family.

What are your thoughts about the season ahead?

I'm really excited about the season and from talking to my teammates I think they are too. We need to be putting in the work now to have the kind of year we want to have. The expectations are going to be different this year and we are looking forward to raising the bar. Our motto is Expect. Encourage. Exceed.