FRESH START MAY MEAN BIG WINS FOR VOLLEYBALL TEAM THIS YEAR

by Dave Kinworthy

As the women's volleyball team enters the season, its youth will determine a major part of this year's outcome.

With only 12 years of combined college playing experience, coach Denise Silvester has her concerns while she remains optimistic about the year.

"We will make young team mistakes with that much youth on the floor. We will suffer some growing pains, but once conference time comes, we will surprise a lot of people on how competitive we will be," she said.

The team features a starting lineup of underclassmen. Sophomores Anne McCord, Nicole Wall and Susan Claggett will start at outside hitter while freshmen Michelle Hochstatter and Susan Kleinschnitz will start at middle hitter. The setter position is uncertain due to the knee and quad injury of senior Laura Gray. If unable to play, junior Leslie Armstrong will fill the void.

Coach Silvester is satisfied with the leadership taken by the underclassmen.

"Anne McCord is trying to be the leader on the floor and be the team motivator," Silvester said. "She has done a nice job in practice with a lot of expectations for her to have a breakout sophomore year."

With junior Kristen Brugnara out a few weeks with foot surgery, sophomore Angie McCubbins and freshman Michelle Pasieka will both see time as defensive specialists and outside hitters.

With the team trying to equal or better last year's mark of 22-8 and third in the conference, this youth will play a major factor.