Volleyball team hopes good team chemistry leads to another NCAA tournament appearance
With the loss of three first-team, all Big West Conference selections from last season’s team, it’s easy to assume that this season’s team might suffer in the leadership category.
Not so, according to Utah State University women’s volleyball coach Burt Fuller, who said team chemistry is one of the strengths of this year’s team.
“I keep preaching to these guys that the strength of our team is our team,” Fuller said.
Although the Aggies don’t have a dominating player, Fuller said, they play well together and are mentally tough. With the NCAA’s switch to rally scoring, USU’s abilities to control the ball well and dig a lot works in the Aggies’ favor, he said.
“Over the spring (spring practices), we were successful just because we didn’t make a lot of mistakes; we weren’t shooting ourselves in the foot,” Fuller said.
Joining seven returning letter winners from the year’s nationally-ranked squad are eight newcomers. These include Pepperdine University transfer Lisa Borom and junior college All-American and Cache Valley native Erin Cartwright.
Setters
Helping offset the loss of Denae Mohlman, Amy Crosbie and Melissa Schoepf, is returning floor general Chelsi Neves.
Neves, a All-American at Sheridan Junior College in Sheridan, Wyo., made the switch to Division I volleyball look easy in her first season as an Aggie.
A second-team all-Big West selection last season, Neves set a single-season record for assists with 1,441. Neves was also an important part of the Aggies’ attack, confusing opponents with well-timed dumps.
Backing up Neves will be freshman Andrea Delsigne. Delsigne finished her high-school career at Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, Calif., holding the school record for career assists.
Middle Blockers Gone is three-time all-league player (all first team selections) and former BWC freshman of the year Denae Mohlman. Though USU’s career leader in hitting percentage and total blocks will be missed, the Aggies will have a lot of depth at middle blocker, Fuller said.
Returning for the Aggies is senior Michelle Matheson. Despite being overshadowed by Mohlman, Matheson enjoyed a solid 2000 campaign, finishing eighth in the conference in hitting percentage (.296) and 10th in blocks (1.11).
Making the transition from outside hitter is Erin Cartwright. Though inexperienced at the Division I level and as a middle blocker, Fuller said Cartwright is a “great, hard working kid” who has the athleticism and talent to be a force in the middle.
With the addition of Cartwright to the middle blocker position, Alaska-Anchorage University transfer Cami Gardner and Salt Lake Community College transfer Rickie Rigby, combine to give the Aggies plenty of depth, Fuller said.
Freshman Melissa Owen will redshirt.
Outside Hitters
The Aggies will count on several talented players to help offset the losses of four-year stalwarts and first-team all-conference picks Amy Crosbie, Utah State’s all-time kills leader, and Melissa Schoepf.
While the losses of Crosbie and Schoepf will hurt, the Aggies have plenty of returning experience at the outside hitter position.
Returning juniors Shauni Fluckiger and Hailey MacKay and senior Tanya McArthur Birch all saw significant playing time last season. Combine them with senior Lisa Borom, a three-year letter winner for perennial power Pepperdine and the cast appears to be solid.
“Lisa Borom is a very mature person that brings a lot of stability,” Fuller said. “She’s a very calm presence on the floor and that’s nice to have.”
MacKay is still recovering from off-season knee surgery, but has made great progress, Fuller said.
“(MacKay’s) probably about 80 percent right now, but her 80 percent is definitely helping us,” he said.
Perhaps USU’s most improved player, Fuller said, is Fluckiger – an athlete that has a 32-inch vertical leap.
“(Fluckiger) is kind of small and she’s got even smaller arms for her size, but she jumps really well,” he said. “She’s a great athlete.”
Utah State will be without the services of McArthur Birch for about two weeks. McArthur Birch is recovering from abdominal surgery.
Defensive Specialists
Once again, the Aggies will be in solid shape at the defensive specialist position with three-year starter Heather Olmstead and backup Emily Kennedy returning.
According to Fuller, Olmstead, as well as Neves, will be counted on to lead the team.
Known for her fiery play, Olmstead will also be called upon in the Aggies offensive attack, Fuller said.
“Heather’s very crafty as an attacker,” he said.
Joining Olmstead and Kennedy, are freshman Traci Ostler and Melissa Wilton. Both Ostler and Wilton were members of state championship teams in high school. Wilton’s father is the head coach of the University of Hawaii, a team Utah State will face on Friday September 7 at the Hawaii Tournament.