When looking back at the 2009 season for the Kansas State volleyball team, there's one thing that stands out to coach Suzie Fritz — progression.
The 2009 team was young and as the season moved forward, the experience of her roster seemed to rise steadily along the way.
So, as the Wildcats enter the 2010 campaign, Fritz and her team will look to continue to build off of that progression. She'll be doing it with yet another young roster.
The Wildcats have nine freshmen on the squad entering the 2010 campaign, but that doesn't concern Fritz. She said the freshmen have pleased her during the start of fall camp.
"There's no question they really all, on any given day, have there moments," Fritz said during volleyball media day on Saturday. "Our challenge will be extending those moments and seeing who can play well over time."
The progression of last season's youth, while the Wildcats finished the season with a 12-18 record overall and 6-14 in the Big 12, was clearly seen.
"We were clearly a lot better at the end of the year than we were at the beginning," Fritz said. "I don't think we were surprised that it took us a little while to get there. We are still very young in terms of program development right now in that we will return two seniors and really the rest are underclassmen."
However the 2010 roster has a lot of young experience. Sophomores Caitlyn Donahue and Kathleen Ludwig both saw consistent playing time in 2009.
The Wildcats will be returning two seniors in JuliAnne Chisholm and Lauren Mathewson. Chisholm stepped in a starting role as well as a leadership position, as she had a breakout season leading the squad with 342 kills — averaging 3.05 per set.
"(Mathewson and Chisholm) have done a tremendous job," Fritz said. "I think where I have really noticed it is they were really responsible for what happened over the summer.
"Those two seniors were responsible for how often we got together, how productive we were and they were playing three or four days a week over the course of the summer and actually getting better — I think that is difficult to do.
"I think they came in far ahead of where I thought they would be and I thought they exceeded my expectations of how well prepared they were and I think that is a testament of the leadership of not only JuliAnne and Lauren, but I think Kathleen Ludwig as well, and those players who have been there before and the examples they were setting."
Mathewson will anchor the Wildcats' back row as she enters her senior year as the libero. She led the team with 514 digs last season, which ranks fourth in school history for a single season.
Donahue, who proved herself as a versatile player last season, will make the switch to setter this fall. It's a move that the 5-9 sophomore said she has transitioned into smoothly.
"It's been great," Donahue said of the transition. "I have a great supporting cast with my teammates and coaches. They all have that belief in me. I was a little smaller last year as a freshman (defensive specialist) — only playing in three rotations, and had some hitting time as well.
"But this year, to be playing all six rotations and having a little more leadership authority on the court, is nice."
The Wildcats open their 2010 campaign on Aug. 27 when they travel to Honolulu to participate in the Hawaii Cheveron Classic.
The K-State home opener is scheduled for Sept. 1 when the Wildcats host South Dakota.
-Photo Nathaniel LaRue The Manhattan Mercury
No comments:
Post a Comment