2006 Horizon League Volleyball Prospectus

Aug. 1, 2006

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Two-time defending League champion Loyola and UW-Milwaukee---winner of the last three regular-season crowns---share the spotlight as targets for the rest of the Horizon League as the 2006 volleyball season begins.

Loyola entered the 2005 League Championship as the fourth seed with a modest 10-17 regular-season record, but Tournament MVP Sarah Elmer guided the Ramblers to the title and a second consecutive trip to the NCAA Championship. It was the fourth time in seven years Loyola captured the tourney title.

Elmer is one of five returning starters for Loyola coach Marcia Bomhack, who made an auspicious debut as the Rambler coach a year ago. Elmer's 10.56 assists-per-game rate was fifth-best in the League last fall, while senior libero Ann Deelo was sixth in the circuit at 3.87 digs per game. Bomhack must replace Hilary Stromath (3.00 kills per game), but outside hitter Keily Zins (2.43 kpg.), junior middle blocker Shelby Henriksen (2.07 kpg., 0.77 bpg.) and incoming freshman Dana VanDiggelen will attempt to duplicate that production at the net.

UW-Milwaukee finished 12-2 in the League and 20-8 overall during the regular season, but was upset by the Ramblers in the semifinals of the League Championship. Veteran coach Kathy Litzau---who stands three victories short of 250 in her career---directs a group of ten returning letterwinners including four starters.

Senior middle blocker Sarah Moore ranked third in the League with her .285 hitting percentage and also with 1.24 blocks per game to anchor the Panthers' presence at the net. UWM's attack also includes senior middle hitter Cheryl Hegemann (3.23 kpg. with 103 blocks), with junior Leanne Felsing (2.86 kpg, 3.32 apg.) expected to become the team's full-time setter in 2006. Her versatility could be a key asset for UW-Milwaukee, depending on how quickly freshman setter Kellye Zaporshi adapts to the collegiate level. Sophomore Becky Peters shared the League's Newcomer of the Year award last fall and her 4.79 digs-per-game norm is the highest among all returning Horizon League performers.

Cleveland State was one game behind the Panthers in the League standings in 2005, going 13-3 in the circuit as part of a 19-10 overall record. The Vikings will look dramatically different this fall, though, with the loss of the League's top hitter in Nickole Kennedy (.318, with 3.83 kpg. as a senior in 2005) as well as Jenna Maddocks (2.92 kpg.).

As a result, CSU will rely heavily on senior middle hitter Danielle Siefker (.294, 2.72 kpg.), who led the League with a 1.26 blocks-per-game average a year ago. Siefker and sophomore middle hitter Jenni Ramminger (.282, 1.14 bpg. as the League's Co-Newcomer of the Year) lead the way at the net for Cleveland State, with junior setter Mel Snyder (11.94 apg.) playing the role of floor general.

UIC has all six starters back in 2006, including junior right side Katarina Nedeljkovic who was second on the 2005 loop charts with 4.32 kills per game to earn All-League recognition. Nedeljkovic's 48 service aces were also the most in the League in 2005.

UIC is the only team returning a pair of All-League competitors, giving the Flames hopes of improving upon last year's 12-19 overall ledger (8-6 in the League). Senior middle hitter Ambria Springer---an All-League honoree based on her .272 hitting clip plus per-game rates of 3.32 kills and 0.95 blocks---and senior outside hitter Maura McCarthy (3.22 kpg.) provide plenty of support at the net. Senior setter Katie Kozak directs the Flame attack, averaging 11.93 assists per game (third-best in the League) a year ago.

All-League pick Betty Slinger leads UW-Green Bay into the 2006 season after topping the loop charts with her 12.04 assists-per-game average last fall. She was one of only two sophomores on the 2005 All-League rolls, Slinger also registered 1.60 kills and 2.39 digs per game to help the Phoenix to a 15-15 overall mark (6-8 in the League).

UWGB must overcome the loss of Jackie Rosen, who paced the League at 4.61 kills per game in 2005. To fill that role, Phoenix coach Debbie Kirch will likely look to junior outside hitter Liesl Tesch (2.60 kpg.) and sophomore middle blocker Abby Bergsma (1.64 kpg., 0.92 bpg.). Defensively, libero/outside hitter Sarah Rauen averaged a school-record 4.62 digs per game a year ago.

Butler returns four starters, trying to improve on last year's 11-16 mark (6-8 in the League). The two losses are big ones, however, with the graduation of League Defensive Player of the Year Megan Knightly (the loop's all-time digs leader who paced the League at 5.51 dpg. in 2005) and Candice Washington (second with 1.24 bpg. last fall).

Outside hitter Susana Henri (3.17 kpg., 2.78 dpg.) leads the Bulldog attack at the net, supported by junior outside hitter Michelle DeGeeter (2.40 kpg., 0.92 bpg.). Sophomore Dana Daprile (8.07 apg.) and senior Laura White (5.25 apg.) split setting duties.

Wright State wrote its own Cinderella story at the League Championship last fall, entering as the seventh seed and reaching the final match for the first time before falling in five games to Loyola. The Raiders' 12-20 overall record included a 5-9 loop ledger, with five starters returning in 2006.

Senior outside hitter Sarah Poling is the focal point for WSU, earning All-League recognition for her 3.68 kills per game (fourth in the League) and 4.11 digs per game (fifth-best on the circuit charts). She posted 19 kill-dig double-doubles a year ago, with 11 of those coming in the final 13 matches of the season. Junior outside hitter Alisha Kimbro (3.30 kpg., 0.79 bpg.) and senior outside hitter Jenny Schultz (3.25 kpg) join junior Lindsey Frank (10.21 apg., 2.21 dpg.) on the Raider roster.

Youngstown State opened the season at 7-3 before junior opposite Jessica Fraley went down with a sports hernia which sidelined her for the rest of the campaign. Without Fraley in the line-up, YSU dropped its final 19 matches of the year, including all 14 League matches plus the first meeting in the League summit.

Fraley (2.97 kpg.) re-joins senior outside hitter Cari Leslie at the net in 2006, trying to replace the 3.06 kills per game registered by now-departed Abby Ettenhofer a year ago. Leslie topped the Penguins with her average of 2.95 kills per game, while senior defensive specialist Amanda Cindric finished seventh in the League at 3.87 digs per game last fall.

Wright State hosts this year's League Championship, which reverts to a traditional eight-team, three-round format for the first time since 2002. Of course, that setting might not be much of an advantage, considering UW-Milwaukee (2001) was the last team---and only the second since 1989---to win the League title on its home court.

This year's summit opens on Friday, Nov. 17, with quarterfinal matches as WSU's McLin Gymnasium. Semifinals are set for Saturday, Nov. 18, with the League's automatic berth into the NCAA Championship on the line in Sunday's (Nov. 19) title match.

The League roster grows in 2007 when Valparaiso enters the mix. The Crusaders are NCAA veterans in volleyball, going for a fourth consecutive Mid-Continent Conference title this fall. That won't be easy, however, with five starters from last year's group lost to graduation. Middle blocker Jessie Fox---a Second-Team All-Mid-Con selection in 2005---is the lone exception, bringing her per-game rates of 2.51 kills and 1.28 blocks into 2006. Junior defensive specialist Heidi Hammond (3.51 dpg.) and sophomore middle blocker Allison Sears (.266, 2.21 kpg.) also will play key roles in continuing Valpo's run of success.