Sports

Volleyball's new mission

By Armando Manzanarez
manzanaa@mscd.edu

Since Aug. 8, when the volleyball team is "allowed" to arrive on campus, head coach Debbie Hendricks and her coaching staff have been vigorously training the team and getting the players to pre-2005 season functionality.

Last year can be dubbed a "rebuilding year," which included nine new players; six of them freshmen. "That's an awful lot of newness on a team," Hendricks said.

Although the team might seem rookie, expect a few exceptions; Hendricks is no rookie.

She is starting on her sixth year of running Metro's volleyball program. This will be her fourteenth year as head coach of volleyball in Division II and she broke through the ever-coveted 300 win mark last season. Her total coaching record is 316 wins and 122 losses (.721).

Metro has had five appearances at the NCAA Division II Southwest Regionals, reaching the semifinals three times. The team has also won the RMAC tournament, crucial to reaching regionals, three of the past five years as well.

With other numerous accomplishments, like Division II Coach of the Year and having coached All-American, All-Regional and All-Conference players, Hendricks has dominated coaching statistics in Division II for more than 10 years.

But it's the players who must execute her game plan on the court, and this year it will be up to the team to get Metro back on the map.

"Last season much effort was put into developing team chemistry, understanding the level of play and maturing and growing together," Hendricks said. "I don't think any of us, from the coaches on down to the players, have put that much into a team rebuilding."

After two weeks of camp, this season has Hendricks grinning luridly.

She says her main weapon will be executing the same system they ran prior to the 2005 season - a very fast tempo, dynamic play and being able to spread the ball well.

"Already in the two weeks of camp, it's like night and day from last year. We look like an old Metro State volleyball team," Hendricks said. "We're going to see the reward this year."

She said the team is still young. This season they added four brand new players to the team and two players that red-shirted last season.

The team's sophomore setter, Gabrielle Curtis, didn't play much at all last season, but, according to Hendricks, she has grown and gotten stronger.

She notes that her team has had a year in the weight room and is conditioning to be strong enough to last a full college season.

"We're very physical this year," Hendricks said.

Other notables to look at are: junior Stefanie Allison, sophomore Julie Green and freshman Kylie Schmeeckle.

Allison, an RMAC preseason selection, was also given an honorable mention as an AVCA All-Southwest Region player. Green fought through injuries last season and is expected to get time as an outside and right-side hitter. Schmeeckle was chosen the RMAC Preseason Freshman of the Year.

Overall, Hendricks feels the team is strong in every position.

"I think it's very exciting to see both the growth of our team on the court and their understanding of our system and the ability to run the system. But then also the maturity of our team off the court. We have grown a lot and it's exciting for all of us because we put a lot of energy into it and to see the fruits of our labor; it makes it all worthwhile," Hendricks said.

"It's a good position for the team this year; there is no pressure on the team coming off other than from themselves," she said.

Metro's only preseason ranking this year comes from the RMAC - they're No. 3.

Out of the gate, Metro's abilities will be matched against six of the top 26 teams in Division II volleyball. Within the first three weeks of play, Metro faces off with No.s 1, 3, 7, 9, 10, 23 and 26 of the national preseason ranking teams.

Twelve of the top Division II teams are set to play at the Premier Challenge, Metro's annual preseason tournament hosted with Regis University on Sept. 2-3 on both campuses. Metro will play defending Division II champion Barry University of Miami, Fla. at the Auraria Event Center. "If you like volleyball, this is the tournament not to miss," Hendricks said.

Metro will play No. 1 preseason ranked Nebraska-Kearney for their first conference match on Sept. 9 at Nebraska-Kearney.

"We've got not only the maturity in this group and the skill but also the weapons that I think this year we'll be able to (play well) again," Hendricks said.

Does that mean championships? That remains to be seen.