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Expectations
Are the Unknown for Volleyball Squad in 2000
About the only thing anyone can expect from the 2000 University of
Wisconsin-Stevens Point volleyball season is that nothing can be expected.
With 12 returning letterwinners, including several recovering from
injuries, and as many as 40 players trying out for the squad, anything
could happen with this year�s lineup. Add into the mix that the Pointers
are looking to replace the all-time school leaders in both kills and
assists, it could make for an interesting season.
But, despite the holes to fill, Pointers� third-year coach Kelly
Geiger is optimistic about the season. Geiger�s confidence comes from
the amount of depth and experience the Pointers have back from last
year�s young team that finished 14-23 and eighth in the Wisconsin
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
�We have some great competition at every position,� Geiger
said. �Nobody can take their spot for granted and we�re anticipating a
lot of changes for this season.�
The changes will be very visible, since the Pointers will be
missing all-time assists leader Erin Carney and all-time kills leader
Sarah Kuhl, who were both four-year starters. UW-Stevens Point also had
players out all season with various injuries.
�We�re anticipating a better record than last season,� Geiger
said. �We�ve got a great group of attitudes coming in and I�m very
positive going into the year.�
The middle hitter position may be the most solid with junior Amy Smolcich, who joined Carney as the only players to play all 37
matches last season, while totaling a team-high 171 blocks. Smolcich will
be challenged by senior returnees Megan
Lundahl and Emily Morgan.
On the outside, senior Courtney
Herreman and junior Chrissy
Klipstine are both returning starters, but senior Raina
Gagnow returns after starting nine of the first 10 matches last season
before a season-ending injury.
Other challengers at the hitter position include sophomores Mary Schultz, Kim Haynes,
Alicia Schwan and Stacy
DeMares.
Seniors Katy Wolf and Summer Mrotek bolster the defense on the back row and are the
team�s top returning servers. Mrotek had just 13 errors in 501 attempts
last season.
Geiger�s main concern this season is replacing Carney at the
setter position. Carney started all 37 matches last season and junior Lucy
Fisher is the only returning player with varsity experience at setter,
totaling 24 assists for the season.
However, with a host of junior varsity players, transfers and
incoming freshmen added to the mix, it promises to be a year of unexpected
results for the Pointers.
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