Aug. 22, 2006
Consistency and improvement are two goals desired by any athletic program, and the San Diego State volleyball team is no exception.
After a 2005 season which saw them win 12 more games than the previous year, the Aztecs will look to improve on their overall performance and maintain the consistency that saw them rise to the middle of the pack in the final Mountain West Conference standings. That next step includes challenging the MWC's perennial top teams in a league that ranks as high as seventh among the nation's 32 Division I conferences.
The return of four starters plus the all-conference libero has given the coaching staff the foundation on which to build a competitive squad looking to add to what was accomplished a year ago. Those accomplishments included winning a pair of in-season tournaments for the first time since 1996.
"All of the players and coaches are anxious to get started," said head coach Mark Warner. "We had an excellent spring and did well against some quality teams. Our returning starters all stayed in San Diego and trained over the summer, and we're excited about the new players who we think will all contribute to our success this season."
From the list of 12 returnees and eight newcomers, Warner and his staff will have to replace a pair of starters who played major roles for SDSU in 2005. That duo included all-conference middle blocker Lindsey Noll and first-year outside hitter Alicia Waller.
"Noll was our biggest loss, no doubt," commented Warner. "She was solid in the middle all year long. On the other hand, I feel like this year's team will be more well-rounded and have more depth at every spot."
That depth begins at the setter position where Kristen Castillo and Leah Lathrop shared duties last season. With the Aztecs running a 6-2 formation, the duo alternated time every game. With the return to a more traditional 5-1 style of offense, Warner expects to use one setter a majority of the time, although the starter could vary from match to match. In addition to Castillo and Lathrop, redshirt freshman Sarah Pon could see action in her second season as an Aztec.
"There will be strong competition at the setter position all season long," noted Warner. "The battle for playing time among these three athletes should help improve the overall play at the position throughout the year."
A pair of starters return up front for San Diego State in outside hitter Melanie Greene and right side hitter Audra Dent. Both are seniors this fall and have been designated team co-captains.
Last season, Greene won all-tournament honors at two events and was named the MVP of the Cleveland State Invitational. She led the team in kill average and service aces and was second in digs. Dent, meanwhile, was just behind her in kills, while averaging almost a block per game.
The fourth starter back is junior middle blocker Lindsey Mahan, who has been in that role since her freshman campaign. Last year she recorded a block a game, while her hitting percentage was second-best on the squad.
SDSU's most honored returning veteran is third-year libero Aime Cordeiro, an all-MWC selection at her position a year ago. Cordeiro was named to the all-tournament team at all three of the events in which the Aztecs played in 2005, including the Aztec Invitational, Red Raider Roundup (at Texas Tech) and the Cleveland State Invitational. She led the conference in digs and set an MWC record with 35 in the match at UNLV.
Among the experienced candidates vying for playing time at the second middle blocker spot are letterwinners Vanessa Curtis and Kelley Wahlin, both of whom saw limited playing time last season. At outside hitter, returnees Brianna Bowman and Alison Finucane will add depth, having been members of the program in 2005.
"Vanessa had an excellent spring, while Kelley showed improvement as workouts progressed," said Warner. "Both will get a look middle blocker and have the ability to fill at that spot when called upon.
"After her physical problems of the past, Alison Finucane is finally healthy enough to have a chance at some playing time with Bowman also looking to get some time after redshirting a year ago."
Among the newcomers this fall is a pair of transfers who will look to play the role of middle blocker in the SDSU lineup. Junior Sydney De Turk joins the team after two seasons at Concordia University in Irvine and could push for playing time along with Iva Gosnjak from nearby Grossmont JC. Gosnjak was among the state leaders in kills as a freshman at Grossmont before shoulder problems limited her playing time last year.
Warner and his staff also added four freshman recruits, each with impressive credentials. All four will are expected to get a chance to play and have an impact on the team's fortunes this season. Outside hitter Stephanie Darnall was her league's player of the year last season, while Hannah Evans was an all-state performer in Texas. In addition, Caitlin McMillan (outside hitter/libero) was a member of the Canadian Junior National Team and fellow frosh Bailee Hellwig (middle blocker) was recruited by a large number of Division I schools after her senior season.
"We expect this group of freshmen to have an immediate impact on the program," commented Warner. "Despite the usual emphasis on hitting and blocking, I believe this could be one of the strongest defensive teams we've ever had. I say that because of what we saw during the spring, plus all of the incoming players are strong defensively."
Adding to the team's defensive strength is sophomore Michelle Ferrer, who was a member of last year's Aztec squad, along with freshmen defensive specialists Stacie Tokofuku-Aki and Kelly Weymouth. That trio along with players like Cordeiro, Bowman and McMillan plus walk-ons Kate Ammerman and Courtney Lamphier should help make team defense one of SDSU's main assets this fall.
The Aztecs' 2006 slate of matches will provide a stern test for Warner's team. In addition to its 16 MWC contests, SDSU will play in four tournaments including its own Aztec Invitational along with events at Syracuse, Oregon State and Cal State Fullerton. Among the top teams to be faced during those tourneys are University of San Diego, Kentucky, Syracuse and Oregon State plus the College of Charleston.
"Once again we have a good, balanced schedule that will test us," said Warner. "We'll face four NCAA tournament teams before we start league play and that will help us prepare for our conference schedule. The Mountain West will again be a tough place to play, with three teams having received votes in preseason polls. We'll look to improve as the season goes on and I expect us to be competitive throughout the course of the year."