Ball State University Athletics
2008 Women's Volleyball Season Preview
August 20, 2008 | Women's Volleyball
With 10 newcomers and six returning players on the roster, there will be plenty of challenges ahead for the 2008 Ball State women's volleyball team as it looks to climb back to the top of the Mid-American Conference standings. However, second-year head coach Dave Boos believes this could be a break-out year for the program which holds the best all-time MAC record at 267-124 (.683).
“Our staff has put a lot of effort into building our 2008 roster,” Boos says. “We have brought in players who can fill our deficiencies from last fall and help take Ball State volleyball back to the top of the MAC. I think our fans are going to be pleasantly surprised by the team we have on the floor this season.”
“Our returning players have done a fantastic job of laying the foundation for the new direction of the program. The incoming class is a combination of talented freshmen and experienced transfers that should blend in well with our veteran players.”
Only two starting attackers return from last years' squad, as juniors Julie Breivogel (outside attacker) and Elaina Kakatolis (opposite attacker) look to lead the young team into the season. Breivogel paced the BSU offense with a 2.83 kills-per-game average last season, while Kakatolis ranked second on the squad in kills (251) and third in total blocks (82).
Defensively, the Cardinals everyday libero from 2007 returns to the squad, as sophomore Alyssa Rio will look to build upon her team-leading 5.58 digs-per-game average, which ranked fourth in the league and 37th nationally last season.
Returning as reserves for the Cardinals are junior Rachel Alcorn (outside hitter) and sophomores Karin Caudill (setter) and Ashley Heyman (middle blocker). Alcorn ranked fourth on the squad with 212 digs last season, while Caudill was fifth with 188 digs. Heyman averaged 0.71 kills and 0.74 blocks per game during her freshman campaign.
“All six of our returning players did an excellent job of buying into what we are trying to accomplish within the program,” Boos says. “I look for them to embrace the newcomers and help them adjust to the expectations I will place on them individually and as a team.”
“With all the new players joining the program, there will be a competition for every starting position this fall. This competition will help take our returning players to a new level and bring a new competitiveness to our practice gym.”
Four transfers highlight BSU's list of incoming players, with all four having high-level playing experience. Junior Alisha Green (middle blocker), who joins the team from the University of Tampa, is a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American, earning third team honors last season, while garnering honorable mention status after helping guide the Spartans to the 2006 NCAA Division II National Championship her freshman season.
Junior Rachelle Hagerty (outside hitter) and sophomore Charde' Phillips (middle blocker) come to Ball State from the University of Minnesota, where they were each recruited by Boos. Hagerty, who was the 19th-ranked recruit in the nation as a senior after earning 2005-06 Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year accolades, played in 43 matches for the Golden Gophers over the last two seasons. Phillips played in three matches at Minnesota last season, after being ranked 88th among the top 100 high school seniors in 2006.
Sophomore Hannah Sullivan (outside hitter) transfers to BSU from the University of Houston where she was a Conference USA All-Freshman Team selection. Sullivan played in all 28 matches for the Cougars last season, ranking first on the team in aces (40), second in kills (304) and third in digs (262).
“Alisha will be one of the best athletes in the MAC,” Boos says. “She is very physical and has the ability to play both middle blocker and outside hitter. Alisha will be a difference maker for us this fall. Rachelle is a complete player with all around solid skills. If healthy, Rachelle can hit the ball as hard as anyone in the league and will add a whole new dimension to our offense. Charde' is an extremely gifted athlete who will steadily improve throughout the season. Her continued evolution as a player will be a significant part of our improvement during the fall. Hannah is an experienced all around player who will raise our volleyball IQ and competitiveness as a team.”
Perhaps the biggest additions come in the form of freshmen setters Brittany McGinnis and Andrea Felton. McGinnis finished her senior year third in voting for the 2007 Michigan Miss Volleyball award, while earning All-America accolades. A two-time team Most Valuable Player, McGinnis led Fraser High School to three Class A state semifinal appearances, including a championship berth as a sophomore. Felton, another two-time team MVP, set her Eisenhower High School team to one of the most impressive turnarounds in program history, going from a winless conference season as a freshman to an undefeated mark her senior year.
“Brittany brings a wealth of setting knowledge and experience to the program,” Boos says. “She knows what it takes to compete with the best players in the country, and I look for her to excel here at Ball State. Andrea is a very offensive-minded setter, whose left-handed play ads a different look to our offense.”
Fellow classmate Jennifer Boyd will add depth to the middle blocking position, while freshmen Emily Fisher, Kaylee Schembra and Christie Waters look to solidify the BSU backcourt. All four come in with championship experience, with Boyd winning a pair of Pennsylvania Section AAA Championships for Seneca Valley High School, Fisher winning a state title her freshman year at Muncie Central High School, Schembra earning a state championship in 2006 at Roncalli High School and Waters collecting four state titles at Burris Laboratory School. Fisher and Waters also combined to win a national championship with their Munciana 14's club team.
“All four of these girls are proven winners,” Boos says. “Jen is an elite athlete who came to Ball State to take her game to the next level. She is a fast twitch athlete who gets off the ground easily. Emily goes all out on every play and is someone I am really looking forward to having in the gym. Emily has the ability to inspire her teammates with her love for the game and for Ball State. Kaylee possesses elite ball-control skills. Her elite quickness is going to allow her make plays many athletes cannot. Christie is a fantastic volleyball player who has been trained by one of the best high school coaches in the history of our sport in Steve Shondell. She knows what it takes to be successful and win championships.”
The first test for the young Ball State squad will come Aug. 29 at the Sam Houston State Tournament when it squares off against Wisconsin-Green Bay. BSU's non-conference slate includes three other tournaments, with matches versus Big Ten foes Purdue (Ball State Active Ankle Challenge) and Indiana (Indiana Invitational). The Cardinals will also face instate rivals IUPUI and IPFW in non-conference action.
Ball State opens Mid-American Conference play Sept. 26 with a home match versus Central Michigan. BSU will face 2007 MAC Regular Season champion Ohio Saturday, Oct. 18 at Worthen Arena, while battling defending MAC Tournament champion Miami the following Saturday in Oxford, Ohio. The 2008 MAC Tournament begins Nov. 18 on campus sites before moving to the SeaGate Centre in Toledo, Ohio, for the final three rounds.
“There are a lot of challenging matches on our schedule,” Boos says. “Our early matches will give us a good indication of where we stand as a team entering conference play. Our goal is to have our team competing as a complete unit as we enter the MAC season.”
“While we are a relatively young team, we have the talent to make noise in this league. The biggest factor to our success will be how quickly we can come together as a team. By the end of the season, we are going to have a product that will leave Ball State volleyball fans entertained and proud.”
