Volleyball Preview
August 23, 2010 06:02 PM | General
August 23, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - It is all about new beginnings this season for the West Virginia University volleyball team, as Jill Kramer joins the Mountaineers as the third head coach in school history.
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| Lauren Evans is one of 11 returning players on this year's volleyball roster.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
On August 9, 2010, Kramer came to Morgantown after serving two seasons at Virginia, where she helped the Cavaliers to nationally ranked recruiting classes in both seasons. Now, Kramer takes the reins of the Mountaineers, with big expectations for her first season.
“My biggest expectation this season is that the players give their best effort. They should always play with passion, have an enthusiasm for the game and be proactive in working together in reaching a common goal,” Kramer says. “I think it is a really good opportunity to have a new beginning, and I think the longer we can be in the ‘honeymoon’ phase of it all, the better of we are going to be.”
Kramer takes over a roster that features 11 returnees and six newcomers, including seniors Lauren Evans, Abby Norman, Andrea Miller and Bonnie West, and junior Kari Post – all starters from 2009.
“I think having so many players returning to the roster this season is very important, especially with me coming in new,” Kramer admits. “For me being the leader, I think it makes it that much easier when every other component is there, as long as they are making a positive impact. That has been the case so far.”
Evans, who played one season at WVU after transferring from Concordia-Irvine, returns to hold down the middle blocker position after earning all-BIG EAST second team honors last season – the first time a Mountaineer has earned an all-conference award since Julie Hockenson in 2005. The 6-foot-2, powerful force at the net, came in to lead WVU in her first season in kills (270), hitting percentage (.291), blocks (121) and service aces (37).
This season, Kramer looks for Evans to step up even more, while junior Abby Monson, sophomore Whitney Lee and freshman Sidney Sauter also looks to contribute in the middle.
“Lauren is going to reap the benefits of her hard work and effort,” Kramer says.” She is an outstanding leader, who leads by example. She is really down to business in the gym and the other girls really look up to her for that. We have four middles this season. Sidney Sauter is a freshman and she is learning the ropes right now and getting stronger and quicker. Then, we have Monson and Lee who are both going to make an impact this season.”
After losing outside hitters Abby Raines and Kristina Gallahan to graduation, newcomer Serinna Russo could have an impact at the net alongside juniors Kylie Armbruster and Michelle Kopecky. Last season, Armbruster finished second on the team with 196 kills, while also posting 230 digs. Kopecky also had a successful year and was named the Iron Mountaineer for her efforts in the weight room at the season’s end.
“Right now, I look at Kylie Armbruster as being our stabilizer on the outside,” says Kramer. “She is going to be someone who is on the court all of the time and be a big part of what we are doing. I can see Michelle and Serinna both playing well. They both have their strengths and we have to find a way to utilize them.”
Also looking to make an impact on the outside are Miller and Norman, who return as the Mountaineers’ rightside hitters. Miller, a Huntingtown, Md., native, had a break-out season in 2009, playing in 95 games and posting 110 kills and 63 blocks, while Norman has vital strengths in her mobility and can play on the outside and in the middle.
“We have right side hitters in Abby Norman and Andrea Miller. Again, those are two of the best athletes on our team and we have to find a way to utilize both of them,” Kramer says. “They both have their strengths. Abby can attack all tempos of balls so it is like having another middle on the court, and that is really tough to defend. Andrea can take really big swings on the outside and she puts up a really good block.”
Leading the offense in the setter position is Post. A native of Yuba City, Calif., Post returns for her third season at the starting setter spot. In 2009, she recorded 1,034 assists, which tied her for 10th place on WVU’s single season list. For her career, Post has amassed 1,598 assists, which also puts her 10th on WVU’s all-time assists list.
Sophomore Karly Rasmussen and newcomer Lisa Riedel will add some much needed depth at the setter position. Rasmussen made a huge impact last season running the second-team offense in practice, while Riedel comes in with a high level of international talent.
“We have Kari Post, Lisa Riedel and Karly Rasmussen for setters this season,” Kramer says. “Karly is doing a great job of working hard in the gym and getting better everyday. She brings a lot because she puts forth a lot of effort. Kari ran the squad last season and I know she did a really good job of that. Lisa has a lot of strengths. She has a really nice touch the ball. Those are two kids with different games, but both are really good.”
West Virginia’s defense is once again led by West, a native of Wildomar, Calif., who has started every set in her career (333) at WVU. Last season, West finished with 492 digs, putting her fourth on the list for most digs in a single season at WVU. She is also third on WVU’s all-time digs list with 1,450, behind Michelle Domas (1,630).
“West is someone who has been a really good leader on and off the court. She is bringing out the best in her teammates,” Kramer says. “We have a lot of defensive specialist-libero types on our team and every one of those girls is modeling herselves after Bonnie in the gym. She comes in and works hard every day, she is consistent in what she does and she is very technically sound.”
Sophomore Stephanie Mock will contribute again this season after a successful freshman campaign in which she posted 127 digs, while adding some much need depth in the defense. West and Mock will be joined by incoming freshmen Bridget Carey, Liz Gulick and Gabriela Nadal, all who come in ready to play.
The 2010 season is sure to be competitive for the Mountaineers, as the 30-match schedule features 17 away contests, two first-time meetings and home matches against rivals Pitt and Marshall.
“I am fired up about playing here in the Coliseum against Pitt and Marshall,” Kramer admits. “I expect us to have much more involvement from the community this year, and we are going to put forth the effort to get that.”
The Mountaineers start their journey on Aug. 28, with their first of four tournaments - and their only home tournament - the WVU Classic. This season, the annual event will feature competition against Howard, Buffalo, Youngstown State and Akron.
Following the WVU Classic, the Mountaineers take to the road for five-straight weeks, traveling to tournaments such as the George Mason Classic, the Wake Forest Classic and the Fullerton Classic.
With eight players on the roster from the Golden State, the Mountaineers are looking forward to the trip to Cal State Fullerton to give some of the student-athletes’ families an opportunity to see the Mountaineers in action.
After the tournament season, the Mountaineers jump right into conference competition with road trips at Notre Dame (Sept. 24) and DePaul (Sept. 26), followed by Seton Hall and Rutgers on Oct. 2 and 3, respectively.
WVU returns to the WVU Coliseum on Oct. 8 for three-straight BIG EAST matches before hitting the road one last time. With high hopes of making the conference tournament, WVU’s season wraps up with home matches against Cincinnati, Louisville, St. John’s and Connecticut – all matches that could make or break the Mountaineers’ tournament goals.
“I know that traditionally, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Louisville and St. John’s have been good,” the rookie BIG EAST coach says. “Then, also, Marquette is an up and coming program, Villanova is getting stronger and so is Pitt. The great thing about it is that people want to play in strong conferences. You want to go play those big-time matches. We are looking forward to these matches and getting competitive.”
The foundation is set, and with a veteran roster and new coach, the WVU volleyball team is more than ready for the upcoming season. In 2010, look for the Mountaineers to take on a new beginning full force, as they work toward their ultimate goal – a BIG EAST Championship.
