Volleyball seeks first title
Joe Barker
Issue date: 8/19/07 Section: Sports
Replacing one All-American would be tough for any volleyball team.
The Bulldogs have to replace two.
All-Americans Sarah Shearman and Kelsey Wackerman have graduated. So have Alex Baker and All-MIAA honorable mention Christine Wagener. The Bulldogs will start 2007 with half of the starting lineup different from last season's 36-2 national tournament qualifier.
With all the losses, head coach Jason Skoch said his team is going to have to play more as a unit if they want to repeat last year's regular season success.
"You always win by teamwork, but this year we're going to really have to just push it," Skoch said. "We're not going to be able to rely on just one person to win it for us."
Despite the losses, the MIAA coaches still think the 'Dogs are a team to fear.
In the annual preseason poll, the defending conference champions were tabbed as the second best team. Washburn University, with its six returning starters, was picked first.
"To me it's actually not a bad vote from the other coaches," Skoch said. "I think it says they have a lot of respect for us because we did lose a lot."
The slight in the poll didn't seem to bother junior outside hitter Eli Medina.
"I don't lose too much sleep over rankings," Medina said. "It just matters how the end of the game turns out."
The six-member junior class, led by middle blocker Allie Cherven, is one of the reasons why rival MIAA coaches still fear the Bulldogs. In her first season as a Bulldog after transferring from Div. I Pittsburgh University, Cherven shined. She was an AVCA All-American honorable mention and first-team All-MIAA.
Skoch said one of the main goals for the early season's tournaments is to find an offensive complement to Cherven. Redshirt freshman Kristen Nissen and 6-foot-3 true freshman Courtney Larson are the early favorites to ease Cherven's offensive load.
"We may struggle at the first tournament or two, but when [Larson] clicks with the rest of the team, her and Kristen Nissen will bring enough power to where we can rely on them to bring us some points," Skoch said.
The Bulldogs have to replace two.
All-Americans Sarah Shearman and Kelsey Wackerman have graduated. So have Alex Baker and All-MIAA honorable mention Christine Wagener. The Bulldogs will start 2007 with half of the starting lineup different from last season's 36-2 national tournament qualifier.
With all the losses, head coach Jason Skoch said his team is going to have to play more as a unit if they want to repeat last year's regular season success.
"You always win by teamwork, but this year we're going to really have to just push it," Skoch said. "We're not going to be able to rely on just one person to win it for us."
Despite the losses, the MIAA coaches still think the 'Dogs are a team to fear.
In the annual preseason poll, the defending conference champions were tabbed as the second best team. Washburn University, with its six returning starters, was picked first.
"To me it's actually not a bad vote from the other coaches," Skoch said. "I think it says they have a lot of respect for us because we did lose a lot."
The slight in the poll didn't seem to bother junior outside hitter Eli Medina.
"I don't lose too much sleep over rankings," Medina said. "It just matters how the end of the game turns out."
The six-member junior class, led by middle blocker Allie Cherven, is one of the reasons why rival MIAA coaches still fear the Bulldogs. In her first season as a Bulldog after transferring from Div. I Pittsburgh University, Cherven shined. She was an AVCA All-American honorable mention and first-team All-MIAA.
Skoch said one of the main goals for the early season's tournaments is to find an offensive complement to Cherven. Redshirt freshman Kristen Nissen and 6-foot-3 true freshman Courtney Larson are the early favorites to ease Cherven's offensive load.
"We may struggle at the first tournament or two, but when [Larson] clicks with the rest of the team, her and Kristen Nissen will bring enough power to where we can rely on them to bring us some points," Skoch said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Ross
posted 8/19/07 @ 1:09 PM CST
Great preview. In my opinion, this team will be just as good as last year's, and by the end of the year, maybe even better. Lesher is extremely talented, Holliday is really coming into her own as a setter, Keck is consistent, and the one-two punch of Cherven and Nissen, as well as Larson (I've never seen her play, but at 6-3, I imagine she's a force), will probably become the best set of middles in the MIAA. (Continued…)
Post a Comment