Volleyball Preview Part 5: Green Bay
Aug. 16, 2007
There are a plenty of reasons to be optimistic when it comes to the 2007 Green Bay volleyball program. With five starters plus its libero returning and coming off its best Horizon League finish in school history, the Phoenix has all the ingredients to make a run at the league title this season.
Mix in a group of talented newcomers and the opening of the brand new Kress Events Center on the horizon and there may not be a better time to be associated with Green Bay Volleyball.
After being picked to finish seventh in the Horizon League last season, the Phoenix surprised just about everyone by winding up in a second-place tie despite a lineup depleted by injuries.
Now armed with one of its deepest rosters in school history, Green Bay and 11th-year head coach Debbie Kirch have every reason to believe that they can challenge for their first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2003.
SETTER
Every successful team needs a solid floor general and the Phoenix has one of the best in the Horizon League and the region in senior setter Betty Slinger. Entering her third year running the Green Bay attack, Slinger has earned All-Horizon League honors each of the past two seasons and led the nation with 11 triple-doubles in 2006.
"Betty has had a successful career thus far," Kirch said. "She has done a great job leading our offense the last two seasons, and now she wants to finish her career by leading her team to a conference championship. We are looking for her to take on more of a leadership role on the court this season."
The addition of junior Rochelle Meulemans to the roster last season after transferring from DePaul proved to be important to the team's success a year ago as it provided Green Bay versatility in its attack.
"We're expecting Rochelle compete for the setting position and also give us an added dimension in going between a 5-1 and a 6-2," Kirch said. "That versatility helped us win some matches last year. Rochelle is a great communicator, leader and competitor."
LIBERO/DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS
The defensive specialist position is the deepest on Green Bay's roster this season. Megan Elfering saw the most action at libero last season and responded by posting a school single-season record average of 4.68 digs per game. Chelsea Lyga also appeared in 92 games a year ago and posted 13 or more digs in five of the team's last six matches of the season. Meulemans will also be competing for the libero position as well.
"Each player brings something different to that position," said Kirch. "We're looking for someone who can provide us with serve receive, defense and leadership. Each of them is strong in one of those areas. It's going to be a matter of which one of them can bring us the best combination of all three of those things. Being so deep in this position will be a huge strength for us."
Katie Polzin, a very athletic freshman, will also challenge to see time on the court.
OUTSIDE HITTER
The Phoenix has been thin in terms of depth on the outside the past few years, but now has the enviable challenge this season of trying to find playing time for all the talent this particular squad possesses.
After being forced to sit out the 2006 campaign due to injury, Liesl Tesch returns to the lineup for her junior campaign and appears primed to put all of her talent and athleticism together.
"I've never seen as much improvement from an athlete who had to sit out five months than I did from Liesl," Kirch said. "When you look at where she was her sophomore year and where she is now - it's just amazing. We always knew what she was capable of athletically and now we are seeing it on the court."
Sophomore Holly Visser stepped up as a freshman and showed the opposition that she was ready to compete at the collegiate level from the get-go. She ranked second on the team with an average of 3.05 kills per game a year ago and posted double-figure kill totals in 11 of the team's final 13 matches of the season.
"Starting in the No. 1 outside hitting position put a large load on Holly's shoulders," said Kirch.
"But she handled it very well because she is so even-keeled emotionally. She proved she's ready to carry this team offensively." Green Bay also welcomes two newcomers to the roster for 2007 in sophomore transfer Nikki Hintze and freshman Carlie Willison, both of whom could make an impact right away.
Hintze was forced to sit out last season after transferring to Green Bay from Northern Michigan University where she was the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and a first-team all-conference pick in 2005.
"Nikki's a competitor and a gamer and she knows how to get it done on the court," said Kirch. "She's going to find a way to get a kill. And, she's strong in the back court as well."
Willison, a first-team all-state selection in Wisconsin as a prep senior, also enjoyed an outstanding spring season on the club level as a member of the perenially strong Milwaukee Sting program. Her squad went on to finish second at the Junior Olympic National Tournament in July.
"Carlie is the type of freshman who is going to want to make an impact right away," Kirch said. "She is coming off of one of her best club seasons ever and she's ready for the transition to the college game."
RIGHT SIDE
Along with Green Bay's increased depth on the outside, the right side position will also be very competitive. Hillary Kirking is the incumbent on the right side after being thrust into the lineup as a freshman. The southpaw handled the role admirably, starting 22 matches while finishing fifth on the team in kills.
"Hillary gained a lot of confidence last season," said Kirch. "We saw a big difference in her by the end of the season as she became more comfortable on the court. She also made huge strides physically during off-season workouts. She is one of the most unselfish players I have ever worked with." Another left-hander, freshman Stacy Staudt, could also push for playing time.
MIDDLE BLOCKER
Green Bay's top hitter from 2006 returns to headline the middle of the attack once again in junior Abby Bergsma. As a sophomore, Bergsma led the team with 3.21 kills per game last season and capped the year by being named to the Horizon League all-tournament team.
"What Abby has done, given her limited high school club experience, has been phenomenal," Kirch said. "She has proven she can be this team's go-to player. Her challenge now is to stay healthy and become more consistent from start to finish this season." Leah Steinbauer is also back for her senior season and already ranks in the top 10 in school history for career blocks. After missing 12 matches due to injury last season, she is primed to be a presence in the middle once again and finish her career strong.
"Leah is one of the strongest athletes to ever play in this program," said Kirch. "Her blocking has always been her strength, and this season we are looking for her to contribute more consistently on offense." Sophomore Lynsey Thiel was forced to develop quickly while filling in for Steinbauer last year and will provide the Phoenix with another experienced body in the middle after making 17 starts in 2006.
"When Leah got hurt, Lynsey had to be ready to play," said Kirch. "Her lateral speed makes her a strong blocker and by the end of the season she became very efficient offensively. I'm excited to see where she is this fall after a solid off-season."
Freshman Alison Bohnen is a very athletic middle and although she has limited volleyball experience, she may be able to contribute by the latter part of the season.
--Story provided by Green Bay Office of Sports Information
