2009 record: 23-21 (2-6 MCC, T-7th)
Starters returning/lost: 4/2
Letterwinners returning/lost: 10/6
Notable returners:
Emily Stanton Sr. Oskaloosa
(First-team all-MCC, 450 kills, .256 pct., 546 digs, 55 blocks)
Morgan Bailey Sr. Oskaloosa
(335 kills, .263 pct., 59 aces, 81 blocks)
Caitlin Hadden Sr. Oskaloosa
(794 digs, 37 aces)
Krista Pettit Sr. Grundy Center
(1,092 assists, 383 digs)
Notable losses:
Shantelle Brown
(Two-time all-conference)
Sandra Silvera
(Two-year starter)
Notable newcomers:
Matala Keiki Fr. Waianae, Hawaii
Alanna Connors Fr. Libertyville, Ill.
Jeanette Cunningham Fr. Mt. Orab, Ohio
Brittany Rohling Jr. Thayer, Kan.
A group of experienced seniors will be seeking a storybook ending to their collegiate careers as the William Penn volleyball squad enters the 2010 campaign.
A forgettable 2009 season (23-21 overall, 2-6 Midwest Collegiate Conference) is in the past and the Lady Statesmen are looking to the future as three-time first-team all-league performer Emily Stanton (Sr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) leads the way this fall.
Jeremy Wise, in his third year at the helm, hopes Stanton and fellow seniors Morgan Bailey (Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS), Caitlin Hadden (Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS), Krista Pettit (Grundy Center, Grundy Center HS), and Rachel Walker (Janesville, Kirkwood CC) will guide the team back to nationals, two years removed from the program's first-ever NAIA postseason appearance in 2008.
Wise believes a strong recruiting class will help fill voids to make 2010 another elite season.
"We finished below our team goals and expectations last year and that fueled our offseason workouts," Wise said. "The team is determined to return as conference champions and make another trip to the national tournament."
"This is by far the largest group of upperclassmen that I have had here and they give us lots of leadership," Wise added. "When you combine that with a large and very talented crop of newcomers this year, I am anxious to get into the gym and put all the puzzle pieces in place."
Outside Hitter
Three years of collegiate success makes Stanton a no-brainer to lead Penn from the outside hitter position. The senior led her 2009 team with 450 kills and will again be the first option on attack.
"Emily will again be asked to lead our team as captain this year," Wise said. "She stuffs the stat sheets and contributes in all areas. I look for her to have a great senior year and end her career on a high note."
Fellow returners Katy Hingtgen (Jr., West Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) and Jennifer Sourice (Jr., Vertou, France, Shorter) add depth at the position, while newcomers Alanna Connors (Fr., Libertyville, Ill., Libertyville HS) and Paige Echimovich (Fr., O'Fallon, Mo., Fort Zumwalt West HS) look to claim playing time in their inaugural seasons.
Hingtgen put down 82 kills, while Sourice managed eight kills in limited time.
"Katy has good ball control and places her shots nicely," Wise said. "Jennifer had a great spring and improved a lot. She learned the system better and made big improvements in all areas to complement a strong jump serve."
"Alanna has played the right side her whole life, but she has graciously accepted the move to outside hitter," Wise added. "She is left-handed so it will be difficult for opponents to defend her shots. Paige has all the tools to be a very good player and could play any position I ask of her."
Right Side Hitter
As she has continued to improve at Penn, Bailey is expected to have her best campaign this season. The senior connected on 335 kills a year ago and utilized a strong serve to pace Penn with 59 aces. She is also the top returning net defender with 81 blocks.
"Morgan has been a mainstay on our right side," Wise said. "She can be one of the best right side hitters in the conference as she brings great power and can stuff opponents. We are also working to add to her already strong serve."
Walker has been moved to the right side and is coming off a season where she tallied 191 kills with 75 blocks.
"Moving Rachel to the right side puts her back to a more natural position," Wise said. "She still has the ability to run a lot of different play sets and we can then utilize her blocking on opponents' main hitters."
Fellow returners Jenny Wuertz (Jr., Crystal City, Mo., Crystal City HS) and Hillary Fisher (So., Tucker, Ga., Tucker HS) and newcomer Corrie Bailey (Fr., Fayetteville, Ark., Home School) will add depth, while newcomer Emily West (Fr., Rock Island, Ill., Rock Island HS) will learn the system in a redshirt year.
"Jenny has been working hard as a defensive player and has improved a great deal," Wise said. "If her finesse game improves, she could see some more time on defense."
"After dealing with an injury-plagued freshman year, hopefully Hillary can contribute more on the right side this fall," Wise added. "Corrie will be looked at as a right side hitter at the start, but will probably be asked to train as a middle hitter to give us more depth at that position as well."
Middle Hitter
The loss of two-time all-conference player Shantelle Brown leaves a void that provided 804 kills and 244 blocks the past two years. Fortunately, Wise believes a pair of new faces can slide in and the team will not skip a beat.
Newcomers Jeanette Cunningham (Fr., Mt. Orab, Ohio, Western Brown HS) and Brittany Rohling (Jr., Thayer, Kan., Neosho CC) will vie for the starting spot alongside returner Katie Zunick (Jr., Kokomo, Ind., Kokomo HS).
Zunick had 44 kills with 27 blocks in 25 matches a year ago.
"Jeanette is a fierce competitor and excels in all areas of the game," Wise said. "Brittany is a smart player who reads defenses well and has great shot placement. Katie can run many different sets and we hope that will help us be more versatile this year."
Setter
Pettit returns to ‘quarterback' the offense for her final collegiate season, but she will have quite a challenge ahead in order to retain her position. She led the 2009 Lady Statesmen with 1,092 assists in addition to 383 digs.
"Krista led us in setting last year and we plan to use her again in that role or on the defensive side this year," Wise said. "She will provide great leadership wherever she plays and is a great example for her teammates."
Fellow returner Katherine Stumberg (Jr., Williamsburg, Kirkwood CC) shared time with Pettit last year in a two-setter formation, posting 401 assists and 224 digs.
"Katherine comes back after doing some setting for us and will have the opportunity to do that again this year," Wise said. "She needs to improve defensively, but if she does that, she could earn playing time. She has a great serve as well."
Matala Keiki (So., Waianae, Hawaii, Leeward CC) makes her way across the Pacific to Penn and is expected to be the top competition to dethrone Pettit.
"Matala is a natural setter and has a great sense of the game," Wise said.
Newcomers Kaitie Kent (Fr., Boise, Idaho, Marsing HS), Kristen Jensen (Jr., Lansing, Kan., Neosho CC), and Rachel Skinner (Fr., Felicity, Ohio, Ripley HS) will also make a case for the starting spot.
"Kaitie has been away from the game for a year, but she has game smarts and sees the court well," Wise said. "Kristen is smart and athletic and can make lots of plays. Rachel brings a lot of experience and is a born leader."
Defensive Specialist/Libero
If it ain't broke, don't fix it and there is certainly nothing wrong at the libero position as three-year starter Hadden hits the court one last time. Already the school's career leader in digs with 2,040, she picked 794 balls in 2009.
"Caitlin will be asked to lead our defense as our libero," Wise said. "We look for her to keep her great defensive skills, but also add some toughness in her serves. She will be our main person in serve reception."
Nicole Oaks (Fr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS), Kendyl Honeywell (Fr., Excelsior Springs, Mo., Excelsior Springs HS), Rosemary Bailey (Fr., Fayetteville, Ark., Home School), and Elley Neuzil (Jr., Ainsworth, Southwestern CC) will add depth at the position while any number of setters might also be used on defense.
Schedule
The Lady Statesmen open a road-laden 2010 slate with the Mount Mercy Tournament on August 27-28. Penn plays just five regular season home matches, highlighted by a meeting with defending league champion St. Ambrose on October 6.
"We have several challenging tournaments on our schedule this year," Wise said. "Hopefully, the tourney experiences and formats will prepare us well to make a historic postseason run, which is our team goal this year."
Conference
The Queen Bees of St. Ambrose are the defending champions, but Grand View and Viterbo did not make it easy for them in 2009. All three programs are all projected to be at the top again this year, while Penn hopes to be in the mix at season's end.
"Each squad in the MCC has loaded up on talent this year and most schools return a large portion of their 2009 roster," Wise said. "Other than St. Ambrose, who won last year's title, most teams return close to their entire starting lineup. I expect there to be about five teams, including St. Ambrose, Grand View, Viterbo, Ashford and of course us to push for the league crown."
"This team will add a few new wrinkles on offense and look to play at a faster pace and become more aggressive on defense," Wise added. "We have been working very hard since the end of last year and are excited to start the season."
