Volleyball Preview
August 14, 2003 09:38 AM | General
August 14, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- After a disappointing 2002 campaign, a Mountaineer squad with an ample combination of talent and experience is poised to boost the volleyball program into the upper echelon of the Big East conference.
However, before doing so a significant milestone must be reached by coach Veronica Hammersmith.
Heading into her 29th season at the helm of the WVU volleyball team, Hammersmith needs just three wins to become only the second coach in WVU history in any sport to reach the 500-win plateau. Legendary baseball coach Dale Ramsburg, who coached from 1963-95, compiled the most wins in WVU history with 541.
"Honestly, it will be nice to get that milestone behind us," said the modest Hammersmith. "I'm not comfortable being the center of attention and what our team accomplishes is more important to me. Still, it does make me think about all the great players now and in the past that have made 500 possible. I'm very sentimental about them."
Hammersmith will attempt to reach and surpass the benchmark with a team that includes three seniors, a core of seven juniors and sophomores, and four freshmen with considerable potential.
A key to the success of West Virginia's 2003 season may rest in the hands of those at the net, namely middle blockers Alison Zemanski and Julie Hockenson.
"If we play solid and consistently at the net, it will make a world of difference and make us a much better team," says assistant coach Jason Oliver.
Zemanski, a junior from Perrysburg, Ohio, paced WVU with 109 blocks to complement 202 total kills last season and should be among the conference's strongest and most fiery competitors up front.
Hockenson proved she could play against the best in all 28 matches for the Mountaineers in 2002, amassing 87 blocks and 246 kills as a freshman.
The Mountaineers will boast a strong crew of outside hitters in senior Dimitra Havriluk, sophomores Stephanie Zolna and Kelly Mullins, and newcomer Aurora Ebert-Santos. Havriluk, who followed a breakout sophomore season with a less-than-spectacular one last year, is one of the team's best diggers and will provide senior leadership coupled with an incomparable knowledge of the game.
"Dimitra struggled a bit last season but is an amazing player and can take us to new levels in her final year at WVU," says Oliver. "Her play is crucial to what kind of a year we'll have."
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| Juior Brandice Studnicka led West Virginia with 610 assists last year. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
Zolna, unquestionably the team's hardest hitter, lifted eyebrows of all who followed WVU volleyball as a freshman with her enthusiasm and her devastating jump serve. With a team-high 373 kills in 2002, the Mission Viejo, Calif., native looks once again to be the squad's top gun.
"Stephanie has the ability to dominate a match and can score 5-6 points in a row sometimes," said Hammersmith. "Her back row attack is good enough that we set her there on purpose to diversify our offense and score. What's scary is that she hasn't reached her full potential just yet. I wouldn't trade her for any other player in the Big East."
Mullins had 42 kills in just 29 games played for WVU in 2002 and continues to improve with every match.
According to the WVU coaching staff, Ebert-Santos is simply "a gamer" and already has the necessary tools to contribute to this year's team.
Senior Jennifer Hayhurst, a right side hitter from Parkersburg, W.Va., saw limited action last season but will start this year and has evolved into an impact player for West Virginia.
Junior Brandice Studnicka will once again anchor the setter position for WVU, as she paced the squad with 610 assists last season. Studnicka's highly vocal leadership and enthusiasm is as much of an advantage as her excellent ball control.
Fellow setters Gina Cusanelli and Kailee Goold, who is expected to be redshirted, and defensive specialist Amanda Tranqillo will provide WVU with much needed depth.
Finally, senior libero Kristi King will once again bring a steady and solid game to the table after leading WVU with 375 digs last year.
"I feel we have improved a great deal," said Hammersmith. "We have some players now with a couple of years experience who are showing us they have the work ethic and desire to do what it takes to be good. We just have to translate that into wins on the competitive floor."
That process begins for the Mountaineers on Aug. 29 when the Mountaineers travel to Los Angeles to take on Sacramento State and Loyola Marymount in a tournament to open the regular season. WVU will also have non-conference matches against the likes of UNLV, Cal-Irvine and Iowa State before opening BIG EAST play at Boston College on Sept. 27.
WVU's regular season home opener is against Wright State on Sept. 6, and its BIG EAST home opener is against St. John's on Oct. 10. The Mountaineers will play a total of 11 home matches this season.
