Volleyball Preview Part 9: Milwaukee

Aug. 23, 2007

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's volleyball program is very much used to high expectations, and the hopes for 2007 aren't looking any different.

Even with a new head coach and the loss of four key seniors, the Panthers are once again poised to fight for the Horizon League title and a return to the NCAA Tournament.

In fact, after four-straight regular season league titles, many hardly even think about it before penciling UWM in as the league favorite. Susie Johnson, who has taken over the program after 10 years as an assistant in Milwaukee, wouldn't have it any other way.

"I think it is a great bonus to have won before," Johnson said. "There are certainly pressures to it for everyone, including myself. I'm in my first year and we're coming off of 10 great seasons and especially last season, winning both the regular season and the tournament. That is so hard to do. I am excited about that, but there is the pressure. But if we channel it and just stay focused on the now, which is what we have always done in the past, we'll be fine."

UWM will field a team with a strong mix of young and old in 2007. The Panthers have five seniors on the roster, yet eight of the 14 players are in either their first or second years in the program.

"We have five seniors, and they are just very excited. Every time I have talked to them this summer, they just can't wait for the season to begin," Johnson said. "Part of the challenge will be in having them channel that energy so they don't get ahead of themselves. We need to make sure we take the season in stages, starting with the preseason and moving into the regular season and beyond. But I think that excitement is going to immediately impact the younger players and the new players, and that is only going to help get them excited and help them understand what this is all about."

Reason number one for the high expectations in 2007 is senior All-American Leanne Felsing. Felsing enters this season looking to become UWM's first two-time All-American since 1985 after earning honorable mention honors from the American Volleyball Coaches' Association a season ago.

Felsing spent most of the 2006 season at setter, averaging better than 10 assists per game. But, she also added 170 kills, 326 digs and 62 blocks while recording 18 double-doubles and the seventh triple-double of her career. After an off-season collarbone injury kept her sidelined through the spring, she is 100 percent entering the fall. She will likely start the year at setter again, but her flexibility should provide Johnson with plenty of options.

"Leanne spent time as a captain starting in the spring and I think that has really helped her grow, because she had to help deal with some other situations and she couldn't just worry about herself," Johnson said. "She has been worrying more about the team and I think that has made her more mature and has really helped her playing. She also has the confidence, having won a lot of awards last year, to come in and prove herself. She doesn't want anyone beating her out. She is very determined and she is one of the most competitive people we've ever had in our program."

Felsing isn't the only starter returning for the Panthers, though. Outside hitter Jamie Gabrielsen also returns for her senior campaign.Gabrielsen finished fourth on the team in kills last season, collecting 239 while appearing in 29 of UWM's 30 matches. The Menomonee Falls native was the Panthers' starting libero her freshman season before battling with injuries during her sophomore campaign. She then reached double figures in kills 10 times last season while hitting a collegiate-best .272."She could be one of the best hitters in the league," Johnson said. "She has one of the strongest attacks and we just need to keep her healthy. She is very determined and very competitive, but she hasn't been healthy for a whole season yet. So, I think she is very excited to have that opportunity and to last through the season."

UWM's other three seniors are hoping to make their final season in Milwaukee their best. Nicole Vilter and Kelley Olson will be counted on to shift from back-ups to regulars, while Breit Nelson will fight for playing time in the back row. Vilter showed great signs of promise late in the 2006 season. She recorded a collegiate-best 14 kills in a win over Butler in mid-October and had 11 kills five days later against Oral Roberts. She wound up with 92 kills and started seven matches. Olson, meanwhile, played very well during the spring season and should get plenty of chances for increased playing time this fall. Nelson played a fair amount in the back row early in her career and appears determined to breakthrough again this fall.

"What we have had here in the past is a surprise player that no one really knew about, someone that hasn't played much but has evolved into someone who is really good," Johnson said. "That is what I see in Kelley. Before she had surgery in the middle of the spring, she was the best hitter on the team. Nicole is one of those who has shown some greatness and I think Nicole will be consistent and can have a very big impact in the fall. She hits at one of the highest points on the team, so I think if she can keep that up she can be one of the top hitters on the team. Breit is really fast and really determined and she could make an impact, too."

UWM's strongest point will likely be its defense, with the return of junior libero Becky Peters and sophomore back-row specialist Lauren Felsing leading the way. Peters collected 458 digs a season ago and already has 975 in two seasons as a Panther. She has also reached double figures in digs 57 times in 59 career outings. Felsing, meanwhile, recorded 216 digs while playing in the back row as a true freshman.

"The great thing about Becky is that she takes her role very seriously both on and off the court," Johnson said. "She is also a captain and I think she is going to do a great job helping the younger players while being one of the older ones. Lauren has really gotten more comfortable on the court. She is lightning fast and she reacts faster than anybody."

Sophomore Kellye Zaporski found her way on the floor for 29 of 30 matches a season ago and provides Johnson with plenty of options in the coming year. Much of Zaporski's time on the floor last season came in a defensive role, as she collected 135 digs. But recruited as a setter and likely to step into that role full-time upon the graduation of Leanne Felsing, Zaporksi also tallied 287 assists while allowing Felsing to spend time at outside hitter.

"Kellye set all spring because Leanne was hurt, and that was a huge benefit to her to get that experience and spend so much time on the court," Johnson said. "She is really working hard and she wants to play. She wants to get on the court, but she is really determined to set, so I think she'll really battle for her position. I do see her getting time setting because she was so good during the spring, but exactly how that will play out is probably still to be determined."

Meanwhile, the Panthers have assembled another stellar group of newcomers - six in all - that could have an immediate impact in 2007. Redshirt freshman Maddie Sueppel should see her first collegiate action this fall after sitting out last season while recovering from a knee injury. Sueppel, a 6-foot-1 middle blocker, was a three-time all-state selection in high school.

"Maddie is a little tricky because she is still in the midst of her rehab so she is not 100 percent. She is clearly someone we need and someone we want on the court, but we know we will work around it and incorporate her whenever she is ready," Johnson said. "She has the potential to be the best middle blocker we have ever had here."

UWM's other additions could all see time either defensively or in the front row. Sarah Sliva comes to Milwaukee from Shawnee, Kan., where she was a two-time all-state honoree. Kerri Schuh is a 6-foot right-side hitter from Appleton who earned second-team all-state accolades after her senior season. Natalie Chery comes to UWM from Wheeling, Ill., where she was a two-time all-league and all-area performer. Chery actually graduated early from high school and spent the spring at UWM. Milwaukee's other incoming middle is 6-foot-2 Natalie Schmitting, who joins the team after a stellar career at Neenah High School. Finally, Lauren Hintze joins the Panthers as a walk-on after an all-state career at Menomonee Falls High School.

Johnson isn't having her team shy away from any challenges during the 2007 season. From the opening match with Wisconsin to a home tournament that includes teams from the Big East, ACC and Missouri Valley, the Panthers will have few chances to take a deep breath during non-league play.

"It looks like one of the toughest schedules we have faced in recent years," Johnson said. "With five seniors back, it is a good time to have a difficult schedule. Our veteran players all have a good understanding of what we need to do to be a national contender, and they will help the younger players understand that. They realize how every match we play can lead to where you are seeded or if you even get the chance to play in the NCAA Tournament.

"Having Wisconsin as the first match on the schedule will be a challenge. But, it is a great opportunity to play them again and I know our players are looking forward to playing in Madison."

UWM's non-league slate includes three matches in Madison during the opening weekend of the season before a trip to Buffalo for the Western New York Invitational. Then, Milwaukee makes its home debut in the Panther Invitational, welcoming Virginia Tech, Cincinnati and Bradley to the Klotsche Center. The Panthers will then get an early start on league play with matches at UIC and Loyola Sept. 14-15. With the addition of Valparaiso to the league, the slate includes 16 league contests and the race for the regular-season title should be tighter than ever.

UWM is also set to host the Horizon League Tournament for the second time in school history. The 2001 event saw the Panthers roll to three-game sweeps on three-straight days, earning the tournament title and an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

"The league just keeps getting better and better," Johnson said. "The addition of Valpo definitely helped the league become even deeper. I am sure since they are used to going to the NCAA Tournament they have no plans to back down in the Horizon League, and they'll add to the list of teams that could compete for the league title this year."

Long before the focus turns completely toward the run for another league title, Johnson sees a number of questions to be answered. And, she says, those answers will likely be formed during the three weeks of preseason practice in August.

"Preseason is extremely vital to our season, because it will be about the only time where we have our entire team together for practice. We'll have a lot of class conflicts during the season, so people will be in and out of practice," Johnson said. "There are a lot of unknowns, our middle position for sure, but really all of the positions. We are really, really good and have a lot of talent, probably better than we've ever had, so there is going to be a lot of competition and a lot of battling for positions. So there isn't any one solidified position, which is interesting, and most of it is an unknown. The interesting side is the group of newcomers. They are going to up the competition because they will come in fired up and wanting to play, and they will push everyone else to be better. Our team usually thrives on competition, so I don't think this year will be any different."

--Story provided by Milwaukee Office of Sports Information