2007 Horizon League Volleyball Prospectus
2007 Volleyball Prospectus 
Aug. 7, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Over the past four years, the Milwaukee Panthers have set the standard for excellence in Horizon League Volleyball. Since 2003, Milwaukee has boasted an amazing 51-5 League mark en route to four regular-season titles and one Horizon League Championship. Despite the recent success, the Panthers road to an unprecedented fifth straight League title figures to be a difficult journey once again.
SIX 2006 HORIZON LEAGUE ALL-LEAGUE MEMBERS RETURN
Ruth Boscaljon (Youngstown State), Leanne Felsing (Milwaukee), Beth Greulich (Cleveland State), Katarina Nedeljkovic (Illinois-Chicago), Betty Slinger (Green Bay), Mel Synder (Cleveland State) all return in 2007 after being named to the 2006 Horizon League All-League Team.
ON THE BRINK OF HISTORY
Milwaukee will look to become the first team in Horizon League Volleyball history to capture five regular-season outright titles. Milwaukee and former League member Notre Dame are the only two schools in League history that have won four-consecutive outright regular-season titles.
PANTHERS AIM TO RELOAD
In order for the Panthers to accomplish their historical feat, they will have to find a way to replace four starters including 2006 Player of the Year Cheryl Hegemann from last year's 24-6 squad. Milwaukee will look to senior outside hitters Leanne Felsing and Jamie Gabrielsen to step up in 2007. Both had strong junior campaigns a year ago as Felsing led the team in assists with 1,042, while Gabrielsen ranked fourth on the team in kills with 239. The Panthers will also look to high-touted redshirt freshman Maddie Sueppel, who returns to the court after sitting out in 2006 because of a knee injury.
LONG TIME ASSISTANT TO MAKE HER HORIZON LEAGUE DEBUT
After serving as an assistant coach under former Milwaukee head coach Kathy Litzau for the past 10 seasons, Susie Johnson will begin her first year at the helm of the Panthers.
VALPO INCREASES VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE TO NINE TEAMS
Valparaiso will begin its first season in the Horizon League after a highly-successful run in the Mid-Continent Conference. In each of the last six years in the Mid-Con, Valpo has finished either first or second. The Crusaders are led by senior middle blocker Nicole Schulz, who set the Valpo single-season hitting percentage record by 23 points as she hit at a .334 clip for the season.
CRUSADERS' AVERY IN SEARCH OF 200TH CAREER WIN
Valparaiso head coach Carin Avery is just 19 wins away from collecting her 200th career victory. In her eight-year head coaching career, six of which occurred at Valpo, Avery has compiled an overall winning percentage of .746.
UIC IN MUELLER'S HANDS
The 2007 season marks the first season that UIC will feature a team entirely recruited by head coach Nancy Mueller. This season, UIC will look to improve upon a season where the Flames tied for second place with an 8-6 League mark. The Flames return 2006 Horizon League All-League Award winner Katarina Nedeljkovic and All-Newcomer recipient Amanda Kenny. Last season, both Nedeljkovic and Kenny proved to be very effective as they combined to pound out 770 kills. In addition, Nedeljkovic led the League in service aces with 54.
CLEVELAND STATE RETURNS TWO 2006 ALL-LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS
Sophomore outside hitter Beth Greulich and senior setter Mel Snyder were each named to the 2006 Horizon League All-League Team after leading the Vikings to an impressive 19-9 mark and a place the championship semi-final match against UIC. CSU is the only conference school to return two All-League award winners from 2006. Greulich and Snyder led the League in hitting percentage (.364) and assists per game (12.27), respectively.
VIKINGS IN SEARCH OF SIXTH STRAIGHT WINNING SEASON
Under the direction of eighth-year head coach Chuck Voss, the Vikings have posted five consecutive winning seasons, which is the longest such streak since CSU had seven winning seasons in a row from 1972-78.
GREEN BAY LOOKS TO BUILD ON RECORD BREAKING 2006 CAMPAIGN
The 2006 season marked a record-breaking year for the Green Bay Phoenix as the squad tied for second place, which marked its best finish in school history. Along with the return of senior setter and 2006 Horizon League All-League Team member Betty Slinger, the Phoenix also welcome back junior outside hitter Abby Bergsma. Bergsma was the only underclassman to be named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team.
WRIGHT STATE SENIORS LOOK TO PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF
After tying for second place with an impressive 8-6 League mark, Wright State looks to continue its success from a year ago. The Raiders are led by seniors Samantha Connor, Lindsey Frank, Tara Geegan and Alisha Kimbro. In three years, the four seniors have combined for 1,718 kills, 3,073 assists, 162 aces, 1,622 digs and 580 blocks.
CLEVELAND STATE, GREEN BAY AND WRIGHT STATE EACH RETURN FIVE STARTERS
Last season the Vikings, Phoenix and Raiders each tied for second in the League standings with 8-6 records. This season, all three teams figure to be in the mix atop the League standings similar to last season as each squad returns five starters.
NEW LOOK RAMBLERS HOPE FOR SUCCESSFUL SEASON
Graduation hit Loyola hard following the 2006 season as the Ramblers lost a strong trio of offensive players in Courtney Ashley, Ann Deelo and Sarah Elmer. A year ago, three combined 500 kills, 1,226 digs and 1,302 assists. This year, the Ramblers will look to senior Keily Zins to lead the way. In 2006, Zins averaged 2.74 kills per game and 2.97 digs.
YOUNGSTOWN STATE AND BUTLER FEATURE YOUNG SQUADS
Although Butler and Youngstown State finished the 2006 season in seventh and eighth place respectively, both teams still feature and strong amount of talent and most of all, youth. This season, Butler and YSU each have only one senior returning. The Bulldogs return outside hitter Michelle DeGeeter, while the Penguins welcome back 2004 Horizon League All-Newcomer Team member Jessica Fraley.
BUTLER COACH HONORED DURING THE OFFSEASON
Butler volleyball head coach Sharon Clark was recently recognized as a recipient of the Rebecca Howard Star Award from the USVBA Diversity Commission at USA Volleyball. The Rebecca Howard Star Award is named after former USAV chief executive officer Rebecca "Becky" Howard and is given by the Diversity Commission to identify and recognize groups and individuals who demonstrate a successful commitment to diversity in volleyball.
