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Lambo has a deep and very competitive team. IF he can build confidence in these players and play deep into his bench the NCAA Third round is ours.
2008 Volleyball Outlook
Courtesy: Wichita State
Release: 07/07/2008
The 2008 Shockers return nine letterwinners and four starters to a team that won 27 matches a season ago. WSU won its third Missouri Valley Conference title in the last four years with a 17-1 mark and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Head coach Chris Lamb returns for his ninth season with the Shocks having led the team to five-straight 20-win seasons and six-straight Missouri Valley Conference Tournaments.
WSU returns four starters including senior Angela Jakubov, and juniors Stephanie Tokarz, Emily Stockman and Melissa Granville. The Shockers also return senior libero Kelly Broussard.
At setter, the Shockers lose four-year starter and two-time all-Valley selection Abby Harsh. Last season, Harsh led the league in assists per game, while averaging 12.65 assists per game, 0.81 kills per game, and 2.78 digs per game. Battling for playing time in 2008 will be freshman Mary Elizabeth Hooper and sophomore Kaitlyn Anderson.
“We’ve got two setters on the roster in Mary Elizabeth (Hooper) and Kaitlyn (Anderson),” Lamb said. “Both are young and both improved a lot in the spring. We graduated a four-year starter and one of the best players in the conference and per this spring and per the offense, I just feel like we are in as good of hands as ever. We will be very efficient, accurate and smart. I just expect to be good at setter.”
Lost from the right side is Sara Lungren, the 2006 and 2007 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. Last season, she averaged 3.21 kills per game, 0.31 service aces per game, 2.82 digs per game and 0.66 blocks per game. Players that will be in the mix in 2008 include senior Angela Jakubov, juniors Amanda Moore, Kim Wadsworth, Katie Niggemeyer and Stephanie Tokarz and sophomore Amanda Backes.
“The right side is extremely wide open with several middles and several lefts who could easily find themselves there,” Lamb said. “I hope Amanda Moore is approaching this like she should be entering this season as if that’s the spot she’s been training for. We’ve also had many other people play well over there including Angela (Jakubov) and Kim (Wadsworth). I also believe Katie (Niggemeyer) and Amanda Backes could be rights or do some things with Stephanie Tokarz on the right. I just think that the person is either going to be a specialist or someone who can do a little bit of everything.”
The Shockers return junior Emily Stockman, a first team all-Valley selection, to the left side in 2008. She averaged 4.22 kills per game, 0.36 service aces per game and 3.65 digs per game. WSU also returns part-time starters in juniors Lindsey Eckenrode and Kim Wadsworth. Eckenrode averaged 2.10 kills per game, while playing in 68 games and Wadsworth averaged 1.46 kills per game, while playing in 39 games. Lamb has other options on the left including senior Angela Jakubov, junior transfer Peyton Thompson and sophomore Amanda Backes. Freshman Dana Loganbill and Alison Widen are expected to redshirt.
“The left side comes with a very long list of players and at least two returning starters,” Lamb said. “Emily (Stockman), is arguably as good as an outside hitter as we’ve had on the left. She also allows us to do a lot of things. I expect her to at least make the contribution she made last year and she had a very good spring season. Lindsey Eckenrode’s performance this spring allowed me to do a lot of different things with Emily. But everybody on our team sees Peyton (Thompson) do things in practice and Kim (Wadsworth) had the best season of her life this spring. Plus, don’t forget Angela (Jakubov). She is capable of playing a little of everything and she’s been a starter there before and I can see several different ways that we might play with her out there. Amanda Backes also continues to take some of her best swings on the left side.”
The Shocks return three players with experience playing the middle in senior Angela Jakubov and juniors Stephanie Tokarz and Katie Niggemeyer. Jakubov averaged 2.03 kills per game and 0.73 blocks per game last season, while Tokarz, a first team all-Valley selection, averaged 2.85 kills per game and 1.04 blocks per game. Niggemeyer played in 80 games and averaged 1.84 kills per game and 0.73 blocks per game. The middle will be deep and competitive as sophomore Sarah McGee and redshirt freshman Tina Frick will also compete for playing time.
“Well you’ve got a returning all-conference talent in Stephanie Tokarz who has been doing better and better,” Lamb said. “I’d say Angela (Jakubov), who played a lot there this past year, is still vying for the other spot along with Sarah McGee, who was amazing this spring and Katie (Niggemeyer), who at times looks like the best attacker on our team. The good news is that it’s deep and competitive.”
Lamb considers the libero position as one of the strengths of the Shocker program as WSU returns senior Kelly Broussard and junior Melissa Granville. Broussard, a second team all-Valley selection in 2007, averaged 5.66 digs per game. Granville, who served as a defensive specialist for the year, averaged 2.63 digs per game and 0.40 service aces per game. Redshirt freshman Sarah Waldorf could also see time as a defensive specialist, while freshman Jackie Church is expected to redshirt.
“The libero position is one of the strengths of the program for sure,” Lamb said. “Kelly (Broussard) and Melissa (Granville) are extremely experienced and talented and are battling like they always have for time there. Sarah Waldorf had a great spring and now she knows that she belongs and has talent and is playing that way.”
Overall, Lamb is excited about all of his returning players in 2008. He feels that putting all of the pieces together correctly will make the season exciting.
“Every year I’m excited about a new season,” Lamb said. “We had such a productive spring, both competitively and player development wise. This team seems very tight to me. They are very close. I think that they like each other and they like volleyball and they like working hard. I feel really, really good about this team and I’m so anxious to get started so we can start seeing who plays where and how we should play.”
WSU begins its season Aug. 29 at the Sooner Invitational in Norman, Okla., against Cal Poly and opens Valley play on Sept. 19 against Missouri State. Lamb is excited about the schedule he was able to put together for this season.
“It’s very competitive and top heavy,” Lamb said. “Make no mistake, I’ve tried to schedule tough and this year we were able to land a lot of great matches. The OU tournament on the first weekend is one of the best tourneys that weekend. We have Ohio State at home in our tournament and we are excited about that. Then we go on the road at Washington State with a Pac 10 team and a Big 10 team. They are both good. I’ve been telling the girls all year that this isn’t going to be easy.”
2008 Volleyball Outlook
Courtesy: Wichita State
Release: 07/07/2008
The 2008 Shockers return nine letterwinners and four starters to a team that won 27 matches a season ago. WSU won its third Missouri Valley Conference title in the last four years with a 17-1 mark and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Head coach Chris Lamb returns for his ninth season with the Shocks having led the team to five-straight 20-win seasons and six-straight Missouri Valley Conference Tournaments.
WSU returns four starters including senior Angela Jakubov, and juniors Stephanie Tokarz, Emily Stockman and Melissa Granville. The Shockers also return senior libero Kelly Broussard.
At setter, the Shockers lose four-year starter and two-time all-Valley selection Abby Harsh. Last season, Harsh led the league in assists per game, while averaging 12.65 assists per game, 0.81 kills per game, and 2.78 digs per game. Battling for playing time in 2008 will be freshman Mary Elizabeth Hooper and sophomore Kaitlyn Anderson.
“We’ve got two setters on the roster in Mary Elizabeth (Hooper) and Kaitlyn (Anderson),” Lamb said. “Both are young and both improved a lot in the spring. We graduated a four-year starter and one of the best players in the conference and per this spring and per the offense, I just feel like we are in as good of hands as ever. We will be very efficient, accurate and smart. I just expect to be good at setter.”
Lost from the right side is Sara Lungren, the 2006 and 2007 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. Last season, she averaged 3.21 kills per game, 0.31 service aces per game, 2.82 digs per game and 0.66 blocks per game. Players that will be in the mix in 2008 include senior Angela Jakubov, juniors Amanda Moore, Kim Wadsworth, Katie Niggemeyer and Stephanie Tokarz and sophomore Amanda Backes.
“The right side is extremely wide open with several middles and several lefts who could easily find themselves there,” Lamb said. “I hope Amanda Moore is approaching this like she should be entering this season as if that’s the spot she’s been training for. We’ve also had many other people play well over there including Angela (Jakubov) and Kim (Wadsworth). I also believe Katie (Niggemeyer) and Amanda Backes could be rights or do some things with Stephanie Tokarz on the right. I just think that the person is either going to be a specialist or someone who can do a little bit of everything.”
The Shockers return junior Emily Stockman, a first team all-Valley selection, to the left side in 2008. She averaged 4.22 kills per game, 0.36 service aces per game and 3.65 digs per game. WSU also returns part-time starters in juniors Lindsey Eckenrode and Kim Wadsworth. Eckenrode averaged 2.10 kills per game, while playing in 68 games and Wadsworth averaged 1.46 kills per game, while playing in 39 games. Lamb has other options on the left including senior Angela Jakubov, junior transfer Peyton Thompson and sophomore Amanda Backes. Freshman Dana Loganbill and Alison Widen are expected to redshirt.
“The left side comes with a very long list of players and at least two returning starters,” Lamb said. “Emily (Stockman), is arguably as good as an outside hitter as we’ve had on the left. She also allows us to do a lot of things. I expect her to at least make the contribution she made last year and she had a very good spring season. Lindsey Eckenrode’s performance this spring allowed me to do a lot of different things with Emily. But everybody on our team sees Peyton (Thompson) do things in practice and Kim (Wadsworth) had the best season of her life this spring. Plus, don’t forget Angela (Jakubov). She is capable of playing a little of everything and she’s been a starter there before and I can see several different ways that we might play with her out there. Amanda Backes also continues to take some of her best swings on the left side.”
The Shocks return three players with experience playing the middle in senior Angela Jakubov and juniors Stephanie Tokarz and Katie Niggemeyer. Jakubov averaged 2.03 kills per game and 0.73 blocks per game last season, while Tokarz, a first team all-Valley selection, averaged 2.85 kills per game and 1.04 blocks per game. Niggemeyer played in 80 games and averaged 1.84 kills per game and 0.73 blocks per game. The middle will be deep and competitive as sophomore Sarah McGee and redshirt freshman Tina Frick will also compete for playing time.
“Well you’ve got a returning all-conference talent in Stephanie Tokarz who has been doing better and better,” Lamb said. “I’d say Angela (Jakubov), who played a lot there this past year, is still vying for the other spot along with Sarah McGee, who was amazing this spring and Katie (Niggemeyer), who at times looks like the best attacker on our team. The good news is that it’s deep and competitive.”
Lamb considers the libero position as one of the strengths of the Shocker program as WSU returns senior Kelly Broussard and junior Melissa Granville. Broussard, a second team all-Valley selection in 2007, averaged 5.66 digs per game. Granville, who served as a defensive specialist for the year, averaged 2.63 digs per game and 0.40 service aces per game. Redshirt freshman Sarah Waldorf could also see time as a defensive specialist, while freshman Jackie Church is expected to redshirt.
“The libero position is one of the strengths of the program for sure,” Lamb said. “Kelly (Broussard) and Melissa (Granville) are extremely experienced and talented and are battling like they always have for time there. Sarah Waldorf had a great spring and now she knows that she belongs and has talent and is playing that way.”
Overall, Lamb is excited about all of his returning players in 2008. He feels that putting all of the pieces together correctly will make the season exciting.
“Every year I’m excited about a new season,” Lamb said. “We had such a productive spring, both competitively and player development wise. This team seems very tight to me. They are very close. I think that they like each other and they like volleyball and they like working hard. I feel really, really good about this team and I’m so anxious to get started so we can start seeing who plays where and how we should play.”
WSU begins its season Aug. 29 at the Sooner Invitational in Norman, Okla., against Cal Poly and opens Valley play on Sept. 19 against Missouri State. Lamb is excited about the schedule he was able to put together for this season.
“It’s very competitive and top heavy,” Lamb said. “Make no mistake, I’ve tried to schedule tough and this year we were able to land a lot of great matches. The OU tournament on the first weekend is one of the best tourneys that weekend. We have Ohio State at home in our tournament and we are excited about that. Then we go on the road at Washington State with a Pac 10 team and a Big 10 team. They are both good. I’ve been telling the girls all year that this isn’t going to be easy.”
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