Published: August 08, 2008 01:10 pm         

Morehead State's Championship Volleyball lineup returns

MOREHEAD, Ky. - With about 90 percent of the players returning from an Ohio Valley Conference championship season, expectations are as high as they can be for the 2008 edition of the Morehead State volleyball team. Except this season, they feel like there is unfinished business they'll need to take care of at the end of the year.

The Eagles open up the 2008 season at home with the Comfort Inn and Suites Invitational on Aug. 29-30. The players report to campus to begin preseason workouts on Aug. 6.

MSU finished 22-12 in 2007 and claimed a share of their second OVC regular season title in five years, but the Eagles also missed out on a chance for an outright OVC regular season title and couldn't wrap up the tournament championship either, falling in the title match. This season, the winning attitude has grown stronger, the roster talent has been multiplied, and MSU will stop at nothing short than a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

"We talk a great deal about expectations with our team and they come into the gym everyday with the purpose of being a champion," said sixth-year head coach Jaime Gordon. "I believe that the key component is the understanding of what it takes to compete for a conference title in the OVC. This team knows how difficult it is to be at the top and respects the process."

The process begins with a framework for success. Four seniors, including three who have three years experience at MSU, will be counted upon for leadership. Two of those seniors were First-Team All-OVC performers in 2007 and another was a Second-Team honoree. The Eagles also return a record-setting libero on the back line and have beefed up the talent level on the outside and in the middle. Gordon realizes that the pieces are in place but says it will take another year of extremely hard work to compete for another title.

"We are fortunate to return a good amount of experience to the floor this season. I think it is important to realize that we have so far to go and so much work to do in order to be in a position to qualify for the OVC tournament and compete for a title," he said.

A position-by-position breakdown reveals that the Eagles have veterans at every slot on the floor.

The outside hitters

Retuning All-Conference senior Ashley Doscher leads a solid group of outside hitters. Doscher led the team and ranked in the top 10 in the conference in kills last year with 461 and has more than 1,000 kills for her career. She has been the go-to player for three years now and should continue to provide solid numbers and excitement.

Also back for her sophomore year is Kaitlin Craven. She posted impressive numbers for a true freshman in 2007, ranking third on the team with 378 kills. Craven was also named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team.

The Eagles will also have the services of freshman Liz Schuler this season. Coming from a solid high school program at Holy Cross in Louisville, Ky., Schuler should be able to step in and become another threat for the Eagle attack. She'll also see time most likely on the right side attack as well. The Eagles' offense is set up for players to be successful at several different positions on the floor.

"In order for any team to be successful they have to be able to provide consistency on the outside. Having both starters (Doscher and Craven) from last year returning will allow us to have a leg up on that goal. We have a very balanced attack from two very different style of hitters which makes it a challenge for our opponents to prepare for," said Gordon. "I am also excited to bring in depth to the position with Liz Schuler. She is a very dynamic attacker with a heavy hand. I think she will be able to provide us with options both on the left and right sides."

In the middle

MSU is solid again in the middle with senior Erin Peak leading the way. The team's leading percentage attacker and equally as good as a blocker and on defense, Peak was named First-Team All-OVC last year when she posted 405 kills, 322 digs and 95 total blocks.

Also in the middle will be a duo of talented and tall hitters and blockers. Holly Evans saw very limited action in 2007 but showed untapped potential when she did get a chance. She will be joined by redshirt freshman Emma Keough, who used 2007 as a valuable off-season to get prepared for the collegiate game. Gordon is excited about the overall balance his middles show this year and believes that it will be a tough area for opponents to defend.

"We have a balance of experience, exciting youth, and versatility in the middle. Erin has had a fantastic career so far, and we look for her senior year to be her best. She is so well rounded that it makes her hard to defend. I am excited to have Emma and Holly stepping in to the role as well. They are able to hit from every zone of the net, and will compliment Erin well. They both had fantastic springs, and I look for them to have breakout seasons."

The right side hitters

MSU may be able to surprise some teams with its balance on the right side this year. Senior Monika Jaroszewicz returns after a knee injury forced her miss a majority of her junior year. A fierce hitter with a powerful and evasive serve, she should be able to provide a dynamic offense threat. In just 17 games and a limited number of serve opportunities, she landed 10 aces last year.

Gordon will also look for Schuler to get some opportunities on the right side attack, and he may even utilize all-conference setter Katelyn Barbour as an attacker this year. Barbour is athletic enough to handle a variety of duties. Also returning is Leah Duncan for her junior year after transferring in from Rice University last fall.

"The right side attack will be one that can provide us with a variety of options. Monika was plagued by a knee injury last year, and we look forward to having her heavy hand out there. We also will be able to utilize some of our middles out there along with Liz," said Gordon. "We have been working with Katelyn Barbour as an attacker this spring, and I think she will be able to surprise some people with what she can do. I think we will be able to do a lot with our line up based on match-ups."

The defense

The back line is again very solid with record-setting libero Kristina Schoo leading a group of three defensive specialists. Schoo set the MSU sophomore record with 589 digs least year and with another year of experience, she is ready for an even greater role in 2008. Schoo is also effective on the serve, leading the team with 53 aces last year.

Lindsey Ruddell saw limited action in her first two years, but she has worked hard and is looking ready to provide even more solid depth in 2008. The Eagles have another option on the back line with walk-on freshman Allison McElveen.

"Defensively we've got a great core with Kristina finishing up another record breaking season, and Lindsey really making some tremendous strides this spring. We will also have the addition of Allison McElveen who will add depth back there as well as on the outside."

The setters

Of all the positions on the floor, the one that may be the most important to making the schemes work is the setter, and the Eagles have not one, but two of the best in the OVC.

Barbour is finishing a career this year that has her in position to possible challenge for the MSU and OVC record for assists. But, she's not only a talented setter and the "quarterback" of the attack, she's also a quadruple threat. Barbour had 1,535 assists last year, 403 digs, 36 aces and 49 total blocks. And, she may add the fifth dimension this year as an attacker.

The Eagles also return sophomore Kirstie Brangers, and she will have an expanded role this year as MSU's utilizes a two-setter set. Brangers showed great potential as a setter as a true freshman, but also contributed the most probably as a defender and a server. She posted 222 digs and landed 52 aces, including six in a match twice.

"I am so very excited about the setting position this year. We have Katelyn who is coming off of a great junior season, and Kirstie who had a phenomenal spring. Expect us to be utilizing both setters a great deal this season. This versatility on the floor will be fun to watch," said Gordon.