Volleyball Preview, Part 6: Cleveland State

Aug. 22, 2006

Many of the faces will be new for the Vikings in 2006, but the goal remains the same.

A pair of All-American selections, a berth in the 2004 Horizon League championship match and a school-record 11 league victories en route to a second place finish in 2005.

Just because Cleveland State graduated six seniors last season, don't expect the expectations to change for the 2006 edition of the Vikings.

"While it's true that we lost quite a bit from last year's team, our expectation level has not changed," head coach Chuck Voss said. "Our goal is to make it to the NCAA tournament. We have built the program to the point that freshmen come here expecting to compete for the league title.

"Yes, we lost a lot in sheer numbers of kills and digs from last year's team, but in Danielle [Siefker] and Mel [Snyder] we are in a really good position in terms of leadership," Voss continued. "Add in the emergence of Jenni [Ramminger] last year and we are really counting on those three to take as much pressure off of the newcomers as possible."

Ramminger is a good case study for this year's edition of the Vikings. Last season the staff had a question mark next to what they thought she would be able contribute. All she did was end up earning Horizon League Co-Newcomer of the Year honors.

If only a couple of the eight freshmen can step up and contribute in the same manner that Ramminger did, then Voss will be able to sleep a little easier this fall.

"I think from top to bottom, this is the most talented roster we've had in my seven seasons," Voss said. "However, with only a combined nine years playing college volleyball, this is by far the least experienced group we've had.

"My biggest concern heading into the spring was that we were going to have to replace our three primary passers. However, by the end I felt pretty good about our passing and I think we have a couple of freshmen that can help us out even more."

Setter

Preseason practice may have never carried more importance for the Vikings than this year. It's during that time that junior setter Mel Snyder will learn the strengths and weaknesses of the new hitters surrounding her.

"Mel is one of -- if not the best -- setter in the league," Voss said. "She was lucky to have so much experience around her in her first season, but we're going to lean on her heavily this year. Luckily, Mel is a great leader and is very coachable. The whole key for her this fall is her health."

If Snyder, who battled through various ailments last year, has to sit, then the staff has full confidence in freshman Natalie Bauer to get the job done.

"We hope to get Natalie some playing time this year, but we're going to take a wait-and-see approach," Voss said. "There's no doubt in my mind that by the end of preseason she'll be able to run our offense."

Middle Hitters

There's certainly no lack of experience or talent in the middle for the Vikings. Senior Danielle Siefker was a First-Team All-League selection last year and is on the verge of becoming the school's all-time blocks leader, while sophomore Jenni Ramminger burst onto the scene last season as one of the top two newcomers in the league. The duo is a big reason why the Vikings led the league by wide margins in both hitting percentage and blocks.

"Danny and Jennie are both very efficient offensively, despite playing completely different styles," Voss said. "And when they get on a roll blocking, they can completely frustrate the other team's hitters. I'd match them up with any other pair of middle hitters in the league."

Versatile freshman Beth Greulich could also see time at the position if circumstances warrant.

Outside Hitters

Young and talented. Young and athletic. Young and hungry. It doesn't matter how you slice it, the Vikings are going to be young on the outside -- just don't think for a minute that they won't be very good as well.

"We're going to be bigger this year on the outside which should help in being able to put a few more balls on the floor and with our blocking," Voss said. "The sets might not be as quick right away, but our height should more than compensate for the slower sets."

Having appeared in 50 matches over her first two seasons, junior Seanna Steinle is the only player at the position with any collegiate experience. A powerful player, her ball control has improved significantly over the last year.

Freshmen Liz Fazio and Alexis Korovich both redshirted last season due to the senior-laden log-jam at the position. Fazio is a great athlete with very good ball control, while Korovich is extremely confident and a real terminator.

In addition, newcomers Kayla Lefeld and Courtney Ripley will also battle for playing time. Lefeld is a very good athlete with the ability to end points, while Ripley possesses very good ball control but is learning on the fly as she switches over from middle hitter.

"The biggest thing we've been missing the past couple years is an outside hitter that is an absolute terminator," Voss said. "I think that we have a couple of people in this group that can get us a side out whenever we need it. If you can keep rotating, you're going to win a lot of matches."

Opposite

The void left by the graduation of All-American Nickole Kennedy at opposite is sizeable, but not an impossible one to fill.

Freshmen Sarah Parker, who redshirted last season, and Greulich will be the primary candidates to battle for the spot, with one of the outsides possibly competing for playing time as well.

Parker really finished the spring on a high note and is a strong hitter and good blocker. Meanwhile, Greulich is a phenomenal blocker and a powerful terminator.

"This position obviously won't see as many sets as Nickole did," Voss said, "but whoever wins the job will still be counted on, especially in a defensive role."

Libero/Defensive Specialist

As the libero position evolves and becomes a more vital part of the game, its importance grows each season. This year, senior Margot Frederick, sophomore Jordan Bateman and freshman Maggie Bonomini will handle the bulk of Vikings' defensive duties.

Bateman, who emerged as the team's best passer during the spring, enters the year as the odds-on favorite to handle the libero duties, while Frederick and Bonomini will be counted upon to play solid defense and provide a spark.

"Regardless of who's on the court, we need not just solid ball control, but we also expect that person to bring an extremely high level of energy to the court."

Schedule

The Vikings may be 18-6 over the past four seasons in Woodling Gymnasium, but they will hardly get to enjoy their home court in 2005, with the Sept. 16 match with Robert Morris serving as the only home contest outside of the league.

Prior to the home-opener with the Colonials, CSU will have already traveled to Philadelphia, Pa. (Temple Invitational), Asheville, N.C. (UNC Asheville Invitational), Rochester, Mich. (Oakland Invitational) and Toledo, Ohio (single match with the Rockets) for 10 matches that should have the relatively inexperienced team ready for the rigors of the Horizon League slate.

"Obviously, I'd like to have more home matches, but the way the schedule worked out, we will really get a good feel for who's ready to play and who might need a little more experience," Voss said.

Of course, CSU plays five of its first seven matches in the league away from home, including a Horizon League opening-weekend swing through Wisconsin to face UW-Green Bay (Sept. 22) and three-time defending regular season champion UW-Milwaukee (Sept. 23).

The Vikings will welcome Loyola and UIC to Woodling Gymnasium on Sept. 29-30 for their first home weekend in the League.

After a three-match road swing to close out the first half of the round-robin schedule, the Phoenix and Panthers pay a return visit to Cleveland on Oct. 21.

Following a Chicago swing the next weekend (Oct. 27-28), CSU wraps up the regular season with three straight home matches, including an Alumni Day affair with Butler on Nov. 4 and Senior Night festivities on Nov. 10 against Youngstown State.

For the first time in three years, the Horizon League Championship reverts to a straightforward three day tournament that does not provide byes for the top four seeds. This year's event will take place at Wright State on Nov. 17-19.

"Until someone figures out a way to beat UW-Milwaukee in the regular season, they will always be the team to beat," Voss said. "They're loaded again this year, but I think the league is very strong from top to bottom and anything can happen."

The Vikings are definitely one of those teams that hopes to make something happen in 2006. While it may appear to many that it's out with the old and in with the new, it's more like a solid core of gifted and hungry veterans meets an extremely talented group of newcomers. The ride may be a bit bumpy a first, but expect the Vikings to be playing their best volleyball when it matters most -- in mid-November.

Story provided by CSU Office of Sports Information