Weekly Notes
MOREHEAD, Ky. - With preseason camp wrapping up, the Morehead State volleyball program can now turn its attention toward its season opening tournament this weekened. The Eagles will travel to Atlanta, Ga., for the Georgia State Invitational where MSU will face the host school along with Wright State and North Florida.
The tournament begins for the Eagles on Friday night at 7 p.m. against GSU. On Saturday, the Eagles face Wright State at 11 a.m. before taking a short break and returning to play UNF at 5 p.m. in the GSU Sports Arena.
MSU has never faced UNF before, while the Eagles are 1-0 against GSU and 5-11 all-time versus Wright State. The one match with GSU ironically was also a season opener. In 2005, MSU defeated the Panthers 3-2.
This weekend's event will mark the first time the 2007 season that the Eagles have not opened their schedule at home as the previous three seasons, MSU has hosted a tournament on opening weekend.
Here is a closer look at what to expect from the Eagles this season.
With only one starter lost and 100 percent of its offense returning, the outlook for the Morehead State volleyball team in 2010 is one of optimism.
Coach
Jaime Gordon enters his eighth season with four straight 20-win seasons under his belt, and there are plenty of reasons to believe the Eagles can achieve their fifth straight season of 20-plus victories.
On the attack, MSU returns two starting outside hitters, two starting middle hitters and a starting right side hitter. MSU’s starting setter also returns to run the team’s sets.
On defense, the Eagles will need to replace the school’s all-time dig leader, but a trio of capable athletes should make the transition go smoothly.
Senior outside hitter
Kaitlin Craven leads the returners on the attack. She led the team in kills and attempts last season and is poised to break into the top 10 in career kills at MSU early this season. Craven was a First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection in her junior season in 2009. Also back up front is sophomore hitter
Ellie Roberson. Roberson had a breakout season as a freshman, ranking second on the team in kills.
In the middle, redshirt junior
Emma Keough and sophomore
Annie Gruenschlaeger form a wall that opponents would rather avoid. Gruenschlaeger led all freshmen in Division I last season with 161 total blocks and she shattered the MSU record for block assists in a season and for a freshman. Keough ranked second the OVC in blocks only behind her teammate, and she also provided the Eagles with an efficient attack as well. Keough led the conference in hitting percentage. She set the MSU match record for hitting percentage against Tennessee State last year.
Also returning is right side hitter
Holly Evans. A versatile athlete, Evans ranked among conference leaders in blocks as well, forming the third part of a trio that helped MSU easily lead the league in most blocks as a team. She also provided a balanced scoring effort with close to 200 kills and is relied upon as an emergency setter in some sets.
Speaking of setting, senior
Kirstie Brangers returns for her final campaign. She already ranks seventh in school history in assists, but Brangers is equally as good on defense where she ranked third on the team in digs and fourth in blocks.
Junior
Liz Schuler will move to a defensive role this year after seeing time as an outside hitter her first two years. Schuler’s athletic ability will give MSU another great option on the back row. Also on the back row is freshman
Leslie Schellhaas. She was tabbed as a top 100 recruit by prepvolleyball.com and has been impressive in preseason workouts.
Lindsey Roth will also join Schellhaas on the Eagle back row. Hailing from fabled Assumption High School in Louisville, Roth is another in a long line of standouts players the Eagles have developed from the state championship program.
The Eagles also have three other great options on the roster. Sophomore
Caitlin Clark is an accomplished setter who will see an expanded role in 2010, while redshirt freshman
Aryn Bohannon will provide a punch on the outside. Bohannon was slated to be a major role player last year before an injury forced her to miss a majority of the year. Freshman
Laura McDermott will provide depth in the middle as well.