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2006 SDSU Volleyball Outlook
For the South Dakota State University volleyball team, the future is now.
With its reclassification period fast-tracked by an NCAA subcommittee, the Jackrabbit volleyball team will be the first SDSU squad eligible for a postseason berth at the Division I level when it takes to the court this fall.
“It gives us a legitimate goal to try to achieve,” SDSU head coach Andrew Palileo said. “It’s a totally new goal for us that we haven’t had the last two years.”
The Jackrabbits will field an experienced team as all six starters and several key reserves return to a squad which finished the 2005 season with a 16-19 record, while playing a schedule entirely against Division I competition.
“We have good balance with our positions, we have depth at every position,” said Palileo, who has compiled a 107-63 record in five seasons at SDSU. “I think the biggest thing will be finding the chemistry to put this team together.”
Because of the amount of experience and the court time the regular players have had together, Palileo sees a number of similarities between the 2006 edition of the Jackrabbits and his first squad, which went on to finish as NCAA Division II national runner-up in 2001.
“Our job as coaches will be to try to get them prepared and then stay out of the way during the matches,” Palileo said.
Leading the way for the Jackrabbits are seniors Kristie Klusaw and Minette Ridenour.
Klusaw was a second-team all-Independent selection at setter last season after averaging 11.69 assists per game. As she settled into her second year as the starter, SDSU compiled a .238 team hitting percentage in 2005.
“Kristie’s done a really good job putting our hitters in a position to hit,” Palileo said. “I look for her to continue that and be our stabilizer out there, to keeep our emotions in check.”
A first-team all-Independent selection in 2005, Ridenour has been a mainstay in the Jackrabbit lineup at an outside hitting position each of her first three seasons. Last fall, she became the 10th player in SDSU history to top 1,000 career kills, after tallying more than 400 kills for the second consecutive year.
“We want that trend for her to continue,” Palileo said, noting that Ridenour has been around the 400-dig mark each of the last two seasons, as well.
On the right side, junior Kristina Martin is back for her third season in the starting lineup. After earning Independent Freshman of the Year honors in 2004, Martin elevated her game in 2005, joining Ridenour on the all-Independent First Team. Martin, who can also play on the left side, pounded a team-best 490 kills to go along with a .287 hitting percentage as she put herself into a position to join the 1,000-kill club — she enters the
season with 841 career kills — early this year.
Back on the left side, the second outside hitting position is expected to be up for grabs between sophomores Mackenzie Angner and Laura Slagter. The duo split time at the position last season, with Slagter posting 2.29 kills per game and a .187 hitting percentage, while Angner contributed 1.90 kills per game and a .185 hitting percentage.
A trademark of the Jackrabbits’ style during Palileo’s tenure has been strong play at middle blocker. This year figures to be no exception as SDSU returns three players with a year of starting experience.
Junior Amy Anderson made a seamless transition from outside hitter to the middle in 2005, setting an SDSU single-season record with 133 block assists (1.21 blocks per game). The Huron native also was a force offensively as she led the team with a .335 hitting
percentage, averaging 2.26 kills per game.
Sophomore Emily Rooney returns after a solid first campaign in 2005, during which she averaged 1.96 kills per game, hit .258 and contibuted .73 blocks per game.
SDSU also will regain the services of junior middle hitter
Carley Boll, who sat the entire 2005 season with a knee injury. In 2004, Boll nearly broke the previous Jackrabbit single-season record for block assists with 123. She also contributed 2.34 kills per game and a .277 hitting percentage in 2004.
Depending on matchups, Palileo said the Jackrabbits could play all three middles at the same time during the 2006 season.
“We could have three players with more than 100 block assists this season,” Palileo said.
Palileo expects the back row to benefit from the added blocking prowess, as well. Junior Samantha Pearson, who handled most of the libero duties in 2005, anchors the back row following a season in which she led the team with 481 digs, an average of 3.94 per game. An honorable mention all-Independent honoree, Pearson also finished second on the squad with 37 service aces.
Sophomores Rachel Dahl and Justine Olsen also return to the back row after seeing limited action during their freshman seasons in 2005.
The back row could be bolstered further by incoming freshman Stacey Wernert. A member of Chicago-based Sports Performance, one of the top club programs in the nation, Wernert will likely be the top candidate among the freshmen to crack the regular rotation...............
More on this years team, the Volleyball Prospectus and Coach Palileo's Media Day comments at...womens sports/volleyball/season outlook.....
http://Gojacks.com
For the South Dakota State University volleyball team, the future is now.
With its reclassification period fast-tracked by an NCAA subcommittee, the Jackrabbit volleyball team will be the first SDSU squad eligible for a postseason berth at the Division I level when it takes to the court this fall.
“It gives us a legitimate goal to try to achieve,” SDSU head coach Andrew Palileo said. “It’s a totally new goal for us that we haven’t had the last two years.”
The Jackrabbits will field an experienced team as all six starters and several key reserves return to a squad which finished the 2005 season with a 16-19 record, while playing a schedule entirely against Division I competition.
“We have good balance with our positions, we have depth at every position,” said Palileo, who has compiled a 107-63 record in five seasons at SDSU. “I think the biggest thing will be finding the chemistry to put this team together.”
Because of the amount of experience and the court time the regular players have had together, Palileo sees a number of similarities between the 2006 edition of the Jackrabbits and his first squad, which went on to finish as NCAA Division II national runner-up in 2001.
“Our job as coaches will be to try to get them prepared and then stay out of the way during the matches,” Palileo said.
Leading the way for the Jackrabbits are seniors Kristie Klusaw and Minette Ridenour.
Klusaw was a second-team all-Independent selection at setter last season after averaging 11.69 assists per game. As she settled into her second year as the starter, SDSU compiled a .238 team hitting percentage in 2005.
“Kristie’s done a really good job putting our hitters in a position to hit,” Palileo said. “I look for her to continue that and be our stabilizer out there, to keeep our emotions in check.”
A first-team all-Independent selection in 2005, Ridenour has been a mainstay in the Jackrabbit lineup at an outside hitting position each of her first three seasons. Last fall, she became the 10th player in SDSU history to top 1,000 career kills, after tallying more than 400 kills for the second consecutive year.
“We want that trend for her to continue,” Palileo said, noting that Ridenour has been around the 400-dig mark each of the last two seasons, as well.
On the right side, junior Kristina Martin is back for her third season in the starting lineup. After earning Independent Freshman of the Year honors in 2004, Martin elevated her game in 2005, joining Ridenour on the all-Independent First Team. Martin, who can also play on the left side, pounded a team-best 490 kills to go along with a .287 hitting percentage as she put herself into a position to join the 1,000-kill club — she enters the
season with 841 career kills — early this year.
Back on the left side, the second outside hitting position is expected to be up for grabs between sophomores Mackenzie Angner and Laura Slagter. The duo split time at the position last season, with Slagter posting 2.29 kills per game and a .187 hitting percentage, while Angner contributed 1.90 kills per game and a .185 hitting percentage.
A trademark of the Jackrabbits’ style during Palileo’s tenure has been strong play at middle blocker. This year figures to be no exception as SDSU returns three players with a year of starting experience.
Junior Amy Anderson made a seamless transition from outside hitter to the middle in 2005, setting an SDSU single-season record with 133 block assists (1.21 blocks per game). The Huron native also was a force offensively as she led the team with a .335 hitting
percentage, averaging 2.26 kills per game.
Sophomore Emily Rooney returns after a solid first campaign in 2005, during which she averaged 1.96 kills per game, hit .258 and contibuted .73 blocks per game.
SDSU also will regain the services of junior middle hitter
Carley Boll, who sat the entire 2005 season with a knee injury. In 2004, Boll nearly broke the previous Jackrabbit single-season record for block assists with 123. She also contributed 2.34 kills per game and a .277 hitting percentage in 2004.
Depending on matchups, Palileo said the Jackrabbits could play all three middles at the same time during the 2006 season.
“We could have three players with more than 100 block assists this season,” Palileo said.
Palileo expects the back row to benefit from the added blocking prowess, as well. Junior Samantha Pearson, who handled most of the libero duties in 2005, anchors the back row following a season in which she led the team with 481 digs, an average of 3.94 per game. An honorable mention all-Independent honoree, Pearson also finished second on the squad with 37 service aces.
Sophomores Rachel Dahl and Justine Olsen also return to the back row after seeing limited action during their freshman seasons in 2005.
The back row could be bolstered further by incoming freshman Stacey Wernert. A member of Chicago-based Sports Performance, one of the top club programs in the nation, Wernert will likely be the top candidate among the freshmen to crack the regular rotation...............
More on this years team, the Volleyball Prospectus and Coach Palileo's Media Day comments at...womens sports/volleyball/season outlook.....
http://Gojacks.com
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