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Season Preview: Bison bring young team, strong tradition into NEAC
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Gallaudet University volleyball program is poised to make its debut in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) in 2010 after serving as a force to be reckoned with in the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) for 20 years. GU won five conference titles in the CAC and will look to make a smooth transition to the NEAC this year.
“We hope to add to our tradition as proud members of the NEAC. We enter with high expectations although we are a young group,” said Gallaudet coach Lynn Ray Boren now in his sixth season at the helm.
The Bison have three huge spots to fill with the departure of seniors Justine Jeter, Amanda Krieger and Shana Lehmann. The trio helped to lead the Bison to a 27-14 record last year as the Bison captured the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III South Region Championship.
“Shana is a difficult player to replace because of her passing talent and humble attitude. I always respected Krieger and Jeter because of their strong work ethic. They always wanted to get better and excel at this level. I am glad the returning players had a chance to play with them last year because they helped to instill in them an impeccable work ethic and the passion for collegiate volleyball.”
Even though the Bison will be young on the court they return key veterans in skill positions. There are no seniors on this year’s team so the young team will be able to grow together this season and know the main core will return intact next year.
“As a coach I am thrilled to have no seniors on this year’s team because I know I will have the same players for the next two to three years. I am not worried because as a team we know there is room for improvement,” said Boren. “Our priority this year is defense first by utilizing our strong service game. To accomplish this we need to build up the team’s confidence in their serving and receiving game. If we are able to do this we will see improvement throughout the season and it will be fun to see this team come together and grow every day.”
Junior setter Paige Johnson (North Richland Hills, Texas) steps into one of the leadership roles for the Bison as she is one of two juniors on the team and due to her game experience over the past two years. Last season, she led the team with 1,356 assists (10.27 assists per set average) as she started 37 matches. Johnson also had 59 service aces and 255 digs.
“It has paid off nicely that she became a setter her first year at Gallaudet. She has grown a lot and is still a student of the game as she keeps learning on how she can become a better setter,” said Boren. “Plus it will be interesting to see how she brings the team together this year. She is a leader with a fierce attitude.”
Boren welcomes back junior Micaela Paulone (Fishers, Ind.) to the court after stepping away from the program for several years. Paulone will take over at libero the position vacated by Lehmann. She last played for Gallaudet in 2007 and was on the NCAA tournament team the year before when she was a freshman.
“She has beautiful quickness, loves playing defense and always goes for the ball,” said Boren. “She knows there is a lot of room to work with on the court. She can really help this team out the most with her defensive skills. She brings a lot of experience and maturity to this young team. I think she will adjust fine with this team.”
Sophomore Lauren Benedict (Germantown, Md.) will also see time on the court as a libero and defensive specialist and help spell Paulone on the court.
“Lauren and Micaela are the two players who will replace Shana. Both have different skills that will help this year’s team with their passing approach and in the leadership role as a libero,” said Boren.
Upfront at the outside hitter spots look for sophomores Ann Whited (Fishers, Ind.) and Mari Klassen (White Rock, Canada) to pick-up where they left off last season. Coach Boren compares the pair to Jeter and Krieger and where they were in development entering the second year with the Bison. Last year, Whited was third on the team with 353 kills as she trailed Jeter and Krieger. Whited, the only player to start all 41 games last year, tallied 347 digs, 29 service aces and 16 blocks. Klassen, a starter in 40 games, was fourth on the team in kills with 127 and fourth in blocks (22).
“I know Ann and Mari will get better every match and they are fun players to watch. The exciting thought is that we have them for next three years,” said Boren.
Sophomores Jessica Israel (Frederick, Md.) and Krystal Johnson (North Richland Hills, Texas) return to lead the middle hitter unit. Israel is a blocking machine upfront as she led the team with 71 blocks last year as the rookie started 40 games. Krystal the younger sister of Paige saw action in 39 matches and started five times. That game experience accumulated by the pair will only help the Bison this season.
The new faces on the squad that supply important depth and competition on the team include freshmen Shayna Unger (Middletown, Md.), Delasha Singleton (Austin, Texas), Michelle Mansfield-Hom (Frederick, Md.) and Seniada Velazquez (Phoenix, Ariz.).
SCHEDULE
A staple of the Gallaudet volleyball program over the years is a tough and competitive schedule and 2010 is no different. GU starts the season participating in several tournaments including the Battlefield Classic (September 3-4) in Gettysburg, Pa., and the Frostburg State Invitational (September 10-11) in Frostburg, Md., and the Salisbury University Invitational (September 17-18) in Salisbury, Md. On September 8, the Bison travel to Baltimore to take on Johns Hopkins University in a tough non-conference game. When the Bison participate in the SU Invitational they will go up against regionally ranked foes in Eastern University and former Capital Athletic Conference foe Salisbury.
Gallaudet’s home opener is September 22 against Goucher College. Before the start of the match the Bison will receive their American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award for the fourth year in a row. GU will make its North Eastern Athletic Conference debut on the road September 25-26 in Abington, Pa., where the Bison will go up against Penn St.-Berks, College of St. Elizabeth, Penn St.-Abington and Penn St.-Harrisburg. After a quick trip to Marymount (Va.) University (September 28) the Bison will host McDaniel on September 30 to close out the month.
GU has a week off before its next competition on October 7 in Fredericksburg, Va., against former CAC foe University of Mary Washington. The Bison will host their annual Worthington Classic on October 8-9 as they welcome Meredith, Emerson and Sweey Briar to town. GU then hits the road to face Gettysburg (October 12) before a busy NEAC weekend at home against the aforementioned conference foes the Bison played on September 25-26. The Field House will turn pink on October 20 as the Bison celebrate the AVCA Dig Pink night against local rival Catholic University of America at 7 p.m. The Bison hit the road once more on October 23 to Lebanon Valley, Pa., to have Scranton and Lebanon Valley College. Gallaudet then faces a tough test on October 27 against nationally ranked Christopher Newport University who is ranked No. 16 in the preseason of the AVCA Division III poll. Homecoming Weekend finds the Bison hosting Rowan and Stevenson on October 29. The NEAC tournament will be held from November 5-6.
“As always we love playing a difficult schedule,” said Boren. “My goal is to keep some CAC teams like Salisbury, Mary Washington and Marymount on the schedule. Plus facing Eastern and CNU, tougher regional teams, will only benefit us as we try and prepare for the postseason.”
SUMMARY
Gallaudet will face many obstacles in 2010 including a tough schedule, a young team and entering a new conference. The Bison will have their ups and downs but at the end of the season Boren and his coaching staff hope to have GU in position to compete and win a conference championship and move onto postseason play either in the NCAA or ECAC tournaments. But the end result is a long ways off. Right now the team needs to focus on the present.
“Our quote this season for the team is ‘Patience and Perseverance will lead to SUCCESS!’ We practice and compete one day at a time. We want to improve from the first day until the end of the season,” said Boren.
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