Volleyball Preview, Part 2: Wright State
Aug. 16, 2006
It was quite a late-season ride for the Wright State volleyball team in 2005 as the Raiders, despite being the seventh seed, advanced all the way to the championship match of the Horizon League Tournament before falling to Loyola in five games.
Second-year head coach Trina Smith hopes that experience, along with the arrival of six newcomers, will translate into a successful 2006 campaign.
Smith and her staff are looking forward to the upcoming season and believe that each player can make a difference and contribute towards reaching goals both individually and collectively.
"I believe that hard work is the blueprint for any successful team," says Smith. "With that being said, I feel the 2006 season will be rewarding for the players who have worked hard throughout the offseason."
Outside Hitters
Seniors Sarah Poling and Jenny Schultz along with junior Alicia Kimbro and freshmen Lexi Leonhard and Becca Awaa comprise the outside hitter lineup for the Raiders.
Poling is coming off a season that saw her earn All-Horizon League honors as she was fourth in the League in kills per game and fifth in digs. She posted 19 double-doubles, including 10 in the final 11 matches of last season, and was named to the All-Tournament Team as she recorded 70 kills and 69 digs in four matches.
Poling, along with junior Tara Geegan, will serve as the captains for the upcoming season.
"Sarah and Tara have done a great job this spring and summer embracing the captain's role and being willing to take on responsibilities as leaders," says Smith. "Any captain will tell you it is a difficult job at times. I believe that attitude is defined by leadership, and I feel that Tara and Sarah have the right attitude and work ethic to lead this team."
After seeing action mostly in the middle her first two years, Schultz moved to the outside in 2005 and responded with 259 kills and 219 digs. Schultz was in double figures in kills in 10 matches, with half of those coming in League play, as did eight of her 10 double-figure dig matches.
One of four returnees with 250 or more kills in 2005, Kimbro tied for third on the squad in blocks and added 254 digs. She finished with 11 double-doubles, including two in the Horizon League Tournament against UIC and Loyola.
"Alisha has improved her shot selection and right side blocking since the spring," says Smith. "I look for her to be a major contributor on the right side this season."
Last year, Poling, Schultz and Kimbro combined for 54 percent of Wright State's total kills with a hitting percentage of .128. This season, the Raiders will work on decreasing the hitting errors and become smarter attackers.
Leonhard joins the Raiders after a successful prep career at Bedford High School in Michigan, one that saw her team win a state title and advance to the state semifinals the other three years.
"Lexi has the heart of a champion and is a good all-around player," says Smith. "She has good ball control and understands what it is like to win a championship."
Awaa, who will be a right side player for the Raiders, was the Gatorade Regional Player of the Year and the Mount Baldy League Player of the Year as a senior at Chaffey High School in California.
Middle Blockers
The Raiders feature four middle blockers this season in juniors Tara Geegan and Samantha Connor along with sophomore Lizzy Gunn and freshman Dae-Dae Ituah.
"I feel good about the middle position," says Smith. "Tara, Samantha and Lizzy all have a lot of matches on their résumé and that experience will be beneficial for us this season."
Geegan was third amongst the team regulars in hitting percentage in 2005, tied for third in blocks and was fourth in kills. She hit .300 or better in eight matches and was in double figures in kills 11 times.
"Tara can be one of the best attackers in the Horizon League," says Smith. "She has a quick arm swing and can terminate in serve receive and in transition."
One of two transfers on this year's roster, Connor comes to WSU after two seasons at Orange Coast College in California. She set a new school record for blocks in 2005 as the Pirates went undefeated and won the California Community College state championship.
"Samantha gives us more experience and an understanding of how the middle position should be played," says Smith.
Named to the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team and the All-Tournament Team, Gunn improved as the season went along, with 74 percent of her kills and 70 percent of her blocks coming during League play and the Horizon League Tournament.
"Lizzy can be the best blocker in the Horizon League," says Smith. "She should help us tremendously after having a year under her belt and understanding the speed of the game. She has worked hard this offseason on gaining strength and foot speed."
Ituah was named the Most Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year as a senior at Kempner High School in Texas.
Setters
The setter position will be led by junior Lindsey Frank with freshman Tina Paunicka also seeing action.
Frank finished seventh in the League in assists per game last season as she had seven matches with 50 or more assists. She was in double figures in digs 11 times and had five or more kills eight times. Frank was also selected to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team as she recorded 184 assists, 60 digs and 26 kills in four matches.
"I believe that Lindsey is one of the toughest competitors you can have on a team," says Smith. "She has improved on her footwork and understanding of our system and should have a great year."
Paunicka was a Second Team All-State performer in Illinois as a senior after being named Honorable Mention as a junior. She finished as Centennial High School's all-time leader in assists, aces and digs.
"Tina will grow in the position and learn from Lindsey," says Smith. "She comes from a respectable club program and her experience there should make the setter position very competitive."
Libero/Defensive Specialist
Sophomore Lili Williams, a transfer from Centenary, will be the main libero for the Raiders this season while Lexi Leonhard and Alicia Kimbro could also be called upon as well.
Williams recorded 279 digs and 32 service aces in 2005 and was selected as the Mid-Continent Conference's Defensive Player of the Week on August 29.
"It is the responsibility of the libero/defensive specialist to provide solid ball control and to be mentally tough in pressure situations," says Smith. "This is a very important position."
The Schedule
The Raiders will compete in four tournaments this season, starting with the Clarion Hotel Westgate Rocket Volleyball Classic in Toledo August 25-26. Along with the host Rockets, WSU will face Western Kentucky, Michigan and Binghamton.
Wright State will also compete in tournaments at Virginia and South Florida before hosting the Pepsi Raider Challenge after a one-year hiatus September 15-16. The Raiders will welcome West Virginia, Akron and Denver.
The rest of the schedule features the 14-match Horizon League slate along with nonconference matchups with Ball State and IPFW at the C.J. McLin Gymnasium and Dayton and Xavier on the road.
For the first time since 1998, Wright State will host the Horizon League Volleyball Championship November 17-19. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which begins on November 30.
"The components are in place to have a successful season," says Smith. "Some of our notable strengths are experience, discipline and a sense of eagerness and you need to have those things to reach the goals that we've set for this year."
Story provided by WSU Office of Sports Information
