2008 Woodie Awards
Starting from scratch
Zachary Groves
Issue date: 8/21/07 Section: Sports
If the SIUE volleyball team's successful 2006 campaign is the topic of conversation these days, SIUE Head Coach Todd Gober and company may not want to hear about it.
As junior setter and captain Mallory Clements put it, it's a "new season" and the team is "starting from scratch."
Even so, the Cougars wrote a winning recipe last year with a 29-6 record, an undefeated record in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and a trip to the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Championship. This season also boasts a team that's a year older and returning several starting players, including Clements, who earned All-American honorable mention kudos after posting at least two kills and dishing more than 11 assists per game.
Gober said the team prefers to focus on "this year" over anything else.
"This team is so grounded," Gober said. "We haven't once talked about last year … being one game from the Elite Eight (and all). It's been very humble."
The Cougars return with at least three starters in juniors middle hitter Kelsey Hubert and outside hitters Kate Hofeldt and Emily Rahn. With mainstay Kim Potthast's departure, the right side hitter is open to competition as well as middle hitter and the libero, otherwise known as a defensive specialist.
Senior captain Sadie Zurliene, sophomore Tiffany Turner and freshman Diane Schmidlin are currently in the mix for the libero position. Sophomore Jenny Gilman, who is returning from a medical red shirt season last year, is also competing for the spot.
Meanwhile, senior Ruth Shurts, Schmidlin, sophomore Candice Kummer and freshman Sydney Winslow are vying for Potthast's old job.
Gober said the team's depth gives him the flexibility to entertain possible lineup changes throughout the season and the idea of an expanded defense. Possiblities are endless for the Cougars this year.
combinations and field a very strong and competitive team," Gober said.
The Cougars serve up the start of their season in Memphis, Tenn. when they take on Ouachita Baptist University and Fort Hays State Friday afternoon and Harding University and Christian Brothers University Saturday afternoon in tournament action. Their fourth opponent is hosting the event.
The back-to-back matchups look to be a major test of the team's endurance to start the season, according to Gober.
"I do expect to come away with a reasonable amount of success," Gober said.
In Gober's opinion Clements could be in the best shape for her position. The Cougars may also do some additional damage on the court this season.
"These guys will compete and you can bet this will be a team to (beat)," Gober said.
As junior setter and captain Mallory Clements put it, it's a "new season" and the team is "starting from scratch."
Even so, the Cougars wrote a winning recipe last year with a 29-6 record, an undefeated record in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and a trip to the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Championship. This season also boasts a team that's a year older and returning several starting players, including Clements, who earned All-American honorable mention kudos after posting at least two kills and dishing more than 11 assists per game.
Gober said the team prefers to focus on "this year" over anything else.
"This team is so grounded," Gober said. "We haven't once talked about last year … being one game from the Elite Eight (and all). It's been very humble."
The Cougars return with at least three starters in juniors middle hitter Kelsey Hubert and outside hitters Kate Hofeldt and Emily Rahn. With mainstay Kim Potthast's departure, the right side hitter is open to competition as well as middle hitter and the libero, otherwise known as a defensive specialist.
Senior captain Sadie Zurliene, sophomore Tiffany Turner and freshman Diane Schmidlin are currently in the mix for the libero position. Sophomore Jenny Gilman, who is returning from a medical red shirt season last year, is also competing for the spot.
Meanwhile, senior Ruth Shurts, Schmidlin, sophomore Candice Kummer and freshman Sydney Winslow are vying for Potthast's old job.
Gober said the team's depth gives him the flexibility to entertain possible lineup changes throughout the season and the idea of an expanded defense. Possiblities are endless for the Cougars this year.
combinations and field a very strong and competitive team," Gober said.
The Cougars serve up the start of their season in Memphis, Tenn. when they take on Ouachita Baptist University and Fort Hays State Friday afternoon and Harding University and Christian Brothers University Saturday afternoon in tournament action. Their fourth opponent is hosting the event.
The back-to-back matchups look to be a major test of the team's endurance to start the season, according to Gober.
"I do expect to come away with a reasonable amount of success," Gober said.
In Gober's opinion Clements could be in the best shape for her position. The Cougars may also do some additional damage on the court this season.
"These guys will compete and you can bet this will be a team to (beat)," Gober said.
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