Volleyball season preview
Head Coach Corey Phelps enters his first season with the Wildcat’s volleyball program with high expectations for the squad. After the Wildcats finished tenth in the MIAC in 2008, they vaulted to a tie for fourth place during the 2009 campaign. The 18 wins compiled by the Wildcats was the team’s highest win total in over a decade. With only three seniors graduating from that squad, the 2010 Wildcats field a roster full of MIAC-tested players.
Senior tri-captains Megan Ahlbrecht,
Nicole Neumann, and
Racquel Reker will lead the way for the Wildcats. Neumann, a MIAC sportsmanship honoree from 2009, anchors the defense from the libero position. Ahlbrecht brings explosiveness to the offensive attack from the middle blocker position, as she holds the second highest single season kill total in team history. Reker adds valuable experience to the front line as a right side hitter.
Adding their veteran presence to the right side of the court are juniors
Callie Teigen and
Mallory Fultz. Junior
Kayla Sis adds to the talent on the front line and will split time as an outside hitter and middle blocker.
A large sophomore class gained valuable playing experience in their first season and will provide depth at all areas of the court.
Nina Lindquist returns as the setter after establishing a St. Kate’s record for most assists in a season and being named MIAC rookie of the year. Stephanie Meschke and Brittni Wangerin will contribute at outside hitter, while Marie O’Neill adds her talents to middle blocker.
Ashley Crapser will join Neumann as a defensive specialist for the Wildcats.
With such a strong core of returning players, the Wildcats enter the 2010 season confident they can compete with the best in the MIAC. With playoff caliber talent, the Wildcats plan to be competing deep into the post-season.
In the annual preseason coaches poll, the Wildcats were picked to finish in 6th place in the MIAC. With three teams ranked in the top 25 in the nation, the MIAC remains one of the toughest conferences for Division III volleyball. The complete poll results and season previews can be found here:
http://www.miac-online.org/news/2010/8/25/WVBALL_082710.aspx