Volleyball Ready For 2004 Season
8/27/2004 8:58:22 AM | Volleyball
Despite losing Christen Casey and Michaela Skelly, two valuable ball control players from last year’s team, the 2004 Orange volleyball squad seems to be shaping up quite nicely.
Eight players from last year’s team return to the 14-member squad. Morgan Jones and Ashley Kimes are the lone seniors. Jones, an outside hitter, played in all 33 matches a season ago and recorded the 10th-best single-season attacks per game average in SU history (8.56). She had a .244 hitting percentage and was second on the squad with 362 kills, 3.42 kills per game and 907 attempts.
"Morgan has enjoyed steady and continuous improvement throughout her career and I hope her performance reaches a new level in her senior year," Pu said.
A shoulder injury sidelined Kimes, a middle blocker, after she played in 19 matches last season.
"Hopefully, Ashley will be back strong and healthy at the middle position this year," Pu said. "In addition to her strong leadership role in the Student-Athlete Council and being a positive role model on the team, she will be able to make new contributions on the court as a senior."
Serving as team captains are a pair of junior setters who each bring a unique style to the team. Juniors Aila Dommestrup and Kathryn Dercher will share setting duties for the Orange. At 6-0, Dommestrup has the advantage of blocking on net. Dercher is very athletic with a jump set that speeds up the offense. Pu is very confident in their abilities and looks for them to be mature leaders on and off the court.
"Both setters reach their junior year with experience and make our team very stable," Pu said.
Dommestrup appeared in all 33 matches last season. She was last year’s top setter with 986 assists and 8.65 assists per game. She already ranks fifth all-time with 1,523 assists and is fifth all-time with a career average of 7.50 assists per game.
Dercher played in 31 matches last season and recorded 451 assists. She ranks ninth on the SU career list for assists with 735.
"I anticipate that Kathryn will add to our passing and team defense this year with her solid ball control skills," Pu said.
Junior Kristen Conway has been the team’s most valuable player the past two seasons. She kills more balls up front than any other player on the team, and plays a huge role on defense with her tough digs. In 2003, Conway posted a team-high 414 kills to go along with 285 digs. She registered 14 double-doubles on the season.
Junior Kelly Duan will handle the right side position this year, as she has for the past two seasons. Pu describes her as an all-around player. As a sophomore, Duan led the team with 41 service aces. She finished second on the squad with 313 digs and 2.72 digs per game. Her 84 blocks were the third-highest total on the team, as were her 315 kills. She finished second on the squad with 10 double-doubles.
"Duan has been productive both in the front row and in the back row. I believe Kelly will bring more confidence to the team as a junior," Pu said.
Middle blockers Kimes, junior Katie Allen and sophomore Erin McQuillin will be an integral part of the team this season. Allen may also get some time on the right side. Allen had 92 blocks, 123 kills and a team-leading 1.14 blocks per game last season.
"I hope to utilize (Allen’s) natural height in blocking," Pu said. "She has become stronger and more competitive after her first year with us."
McQuillin led the team in total blocks last season with 105. She also had 219 kills.
"Erin has developed offensive connections with our setters and improved her game immensely over the past year," Pu said. "Erin will be one of the major hitters at the middle position this year."
Jen Malcom, Cheryl Cobbina, Joscie Kaup, Ellen Bruegge, April Quigley and Jordan Geddis are the six freshmen to join the Orange this year. Pu is excited about their arrival and says this large freshman class will help with overall team depth. Kaup is a defensive specialist, Quigley is a setter and the rest are middle hitters. Bruegge and Cobbina will also be tried at the outside hitting positions.
Quigley will learn behind Dommestrup and Dercher in practice this first year.
"April will be prepared to compete in the new BIG EAST and be our setter of the future," Pu said.
The 2004 schedule will be challenging for the Orange. SU’s stiffest BIG EAST competition will probably come from Notre Dame and Pittsburgh, who were the top teams in the conference last year.
Syracuse’s out-of-conference schedule appears just as challenging.
"Washington State is a Pac-10 proven team," Pu said. "We also have opportunities to compete with some regional competitive teams like New Hampshire, Cleveland State Northeastern, Penn and Manhattan."
Pu cites the attainment of a regional ranking as a realistic goal for this year’s talented squad. He also believes his formidable lineup of players has the competitiveness to make it to the BIG EAST Tournament.
"Last year, our systematic conditioning program produced positive results in returning players who all had meaningful improvement with jumping and speed," Pu said. "We are continuing with that so physically the team will be better prepared to compete at a higher level."
Syracuse opens the 2004 season on Sept. 1, at home against Buffalo. The first BIG EAST match is Oct. 2, at home against Notre Dame.
