Alabama head volleyball coach Ed Allen didn’t spend his summer touring Europe like the men’s basketball team, but he was able to catch up on some much-needed rest and relaxation.

Entering his third season with the Crimson Tide, Allen said he enjoyed spending time with his family away from Foster Auditorium.

“It was probably the most restful summer I’ve had in the two years that I’ve been here,” Allen said. “I went to the lake a couple of different times and just took some time away from the office.”

However, Allen said he is excited his break is over and is focused on the season ahead.

Alabama will travel to West Point, N.Y., to begin the season in the Black Knights Invitational Aug. 30. The Crimson Tide will face Seton Hall, Washington State and Army.

Allen said he has had this date circled on his calendar for quite some time.

“I’ve been trying to make this trip for eight years, even at the previous schools that I’ve been at,” Allen said. “I think it’s going to be great for our athletes to get a chance to see a place that has such significance to the United States and to get a chance to see what other individuals that are committed go through. I think it’s going to be a very eye-opening experience for them.”

Allen led the Crimson Tide to an 18-14 record in 2012, the first winning season for Alabama since 2008 and the most wins for the volleyball program since 2005. He owns a career record of 523-217 (.707).

However, Allen and his players will look to build on the improvements they made a year ago as they enter the 2013-14 season.

“Every year that you’re in a program, the expectations just continue to increase,” Allen said. “Now that we are continuing to add experience to kids that are currently in the program, every year the expectations change. From where you’re at as a freshman to where you’re at as a senior, obviously they escalate.

“The same is true with this program. We’re three years into building it, and the expectations are greater than they were when I first arrived here and even greater than what we experienced last year.”

Before coming to The University of Alabama, Allen was the head coach at Tulsa, where he was named the 2010 Conference USA Coach of the Year and the 2010 AVCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year.

Senior libero/defensive specialist Kelsey Melito said Allen’s arrival and presence in the Alabama program reflected his winning resume. She said he has helped her and her teammates develop as players and will continue to do that in his third season at the University.

“He’s really brought this team along,” Melito said. “Is he hard? Oh yeah. But as a senior, at times, he’s easier on you, but he’s really not. He’s just able to be because he expects more out of us.”