Fresno State Athletics
2000 Volleyball Outlook
8/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
It's a fresh year and a new millennium. An opportunity to transcend the standards set by their predecessors, the 2000 Fresno State volleyball team is ready to take that challenge and establish a present form of commitment.
Fresno State will take that step by fielding one of its largest teams in years with 17 Bulldogs suiting up this fall. The competitive atmosphere will be present on the court from the beginning of preseason practice through postseason. Because there is no guarantee of a starting role, all 17 will be looking to fill a spot that totals no more than six.
The pace at which the Bulldogs find the answers for a successful season will begin with a 14-match non-conference slate in September, which includes three tournaments. Picked third in the coaches' preseason poll, the `Dogs will then take on a 16-match Western Athletic Conference agenda which runs solid through the months of October and November.
The rate at which Fresno State drives itself to win matches and bid for a postseason berth will rest on how well a very young squad gels and matures with a lean upperclassmen group that is just six strong. The Bulldogs return three starters, including an All-WAC performer, who will be looked upon to give direction and challenge their teammate's desire.
Combining the influx of new talent and putting together an aggressive squad that plays hard is tenth year head coach Lindy Vivas. Vivas, who is approaching the 300 career win plateau, has the Bulldogs coming into the 2000 season off a successful ending in 1999. Winning their last four conference matches and 10 of their last 13 contests overall, the `Dogs will take that momentum into a season that is filled with cautious optimism.
The Buck Stops Here
Seniors Malia Malu, Leilua Satele and Tina Milburn along with juniors Shauna McQuaid and Kristin Pierpont comprise the most experienced group of the returning Bulldogs.
Malu, who has endured some injuries during her career, has been a solid three-year starter in the lineup when healthy. Earning that rare starting opportunity as a freshman, Malu is expected to anchor the right side of the court on the outside and be one of the Bulldogs' best all-around performers. As the top defensive returning player who led the team with career-high 309 digs, Malu also is one of the most versatile players returning.
"The key for Malia is to be injury free," said Vivas. "Coming off a very successful spring season, especially in the front court, she has worked hard on hitting from both the left and right sides. She has such great versatility and knowledge of the game. We'll be counting on her to be more of an offensive threat for us. Also, she is one of the best blockers on the team when its comes to forcing the opponent to hit around her. She's a quiet leader and certainly leads by example."
One of four all-Western Athletic Conference selections for the Bulldogs last season, Satele had a break out year as a defensive specialist. Satele returns as the team's top server after leading with a career-best 30 service aces. A vocal leader for the `Dogs, Satele also is the only player returning to have played in all 98 games last season.
"Leilua really blossomed last year in terms of providing defense for us in the back court. Besides her defensive capabilities, she is a very strong passer and a tough server who can put together runs of points for us. She really benefited from the experimental rule (using more substitutions) which allowed her to get more court time. Leilua made the most of it and we were able to reap the benefits of her defensive efforts."
McQuaid returns as the team's top kill and block leader. Averaging more than one block per game, she also notched a .301 hitting percentage as a first year starter.
"Shauna really started to figure it out last fall. She has become more comfortable and confident at the net. As a result she has developed a real good instinct for blocking as well as becoming a big offensive threat. She hits in front and behind the setter very well and when she connects she has a lot of power. In learning to turn her shots, Shauna has become more effective and has developed an array of both power and finesse shots. She plays even keel and stays mentally focused."
Pierpont benefited as a part-time starter on the outside, playing in 25 of the 28 matches. Posting career numbers in every category, she returns as one of the team's top defensive players and servers.
"Kristin has always been a solid performer. She struggled with injuries last season but she stayed in good shape. Kristin is an intelligent and strong player. Her strengths on the court are her passing and her defense. Her defensive play was critical for us last year and she had numerous spectacular digs, which helped us win some games. She also has the ability to swing at the ball and continues to enhance a good serving game."
In her first year with the Bulldogs last season, Milburn saw time in both the middle and the outside. This time her strengths are being switched full time to the right side.
"Tina provided relief help as a middle blocker and as an outside hitter. Even though she saw limited court time when she first joined the team, she has worked especially hard in the spring to develop her play. Refining her skills to be consistent offensively, she has the ability to put heat behind the ball and by swinging on the outside this season she will be able to help us more. Tina has developed her blocking and ball control skills which gives us another option in our offense."
Sophomore Quintet
The Bulldogs' sophomore class is a mixture of positions -- a setter, an outside hitter, a defensive specialist and a pair of middle blockers.
Leading the charge and taking over at the setter position is Brittney Pearson. Appearing in 13 matches, which included three starts, Pearson took time to be an understudy as a freshman. Fresno State will be looking to run a faster and a wider variety of offenses under her reign.
"We were very pleased with Brittney's progress last fall. She was able to play in a handful of matches a year ago and did a very nice job in the spring. With a really good instinct for setting, Brittney knows whom to set, what to set, has a good feel for the flow of the game and is absolutely not afraid to set the middle. As she improves her peripheral vision and set location, Brittney could develop into one of the best setters we've ever had here."
Appearing in 25 of 29 matches as a freshman, Christy Burnett is one of the best pure jumpers on the team and will use that strength to spark a quick offense on the outside. Not afraid to take a lot of swings, Burnett contributed three double-doubles as a rookie while collecting ten-plus digs in four matches.
"Christy is such a great competitor who absolutely loves the game. She has worked diligently to become stronger offensively. Deceptive and very quick, she has developed a great shot selection and can hit a wide variety of sets. We will utilize her in a lot of combination plays and it's her overall competitiveness and enthusiasm that allows her to be an effective player. Christy is a very good all-around player and its exciting to watch her mature into a skillful athlete."
If it's true that defense sparks offense then Lindsay Closs is ready to re-emerge as one of the top middles in the conference. Set back by a stress fracture and the flu that restricted her time to just two appearances out of 14 WAC contests and 16 match showings overall, she still finished second on the team in total blocks and notched her first career triple-double in just the second match of the 1999 season against Nevada.
"Lindsay was penciled in as a starter as a freshman. She came in and worked hard. She blossomed in her level of play and was contributing a tremendous amount to our team in the front court before she was injured. Lindsay has a good instinct for the game, communicates well, and, for an underclassman, has a good rapport with other players on the court. She's a fast learner who has good solid skills and footwork. If she can continue to develop her strength she could become one of the top performers in the region."
Heather Farr was active last year for the Bulldogs after playing in every match but five as a defensive specialist. Learning under Satele, Farr also benefited from the experimental substitution rule and provided a solid defensive one-two punch in the backcourt with Satele.
"We saw a lot of good things in Heather last season. She is very tough on the court mentally. She also has improved her skills and got better as the season went along. Even though we have several players who could fill the role as a defensive specialist this year, Heather can compete in that role and be a leader in that capacity for us."
Amanda Seibert did not compete last year for the Bulldogs but is being penciled in as a solid back up who will provide a different look in the middle.
"Even though Mandy did not compete as a freshman, she worked out on her own to develop her game. She has great jumping abilities and is very quick. She just needs to play more and we expect her to improve quickly once she sees time. Definitely adding depth in the middle, Mandy's strength is in the front court and that gives us another tool to utilize in keeping the opponent off balance."
Magnificent Seven
For the first time in a long time, Vivas has a true freshmen class that is seven strong, a class that averages 5-11 in height and expected to make an immediate impact on a ball club. They also are a group that has the ability to lead the Bulldogs back to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years.
This next generation of Bulldogs is represented in every position on the court. They include outside hitters Kara Verwey and Kristen Fenton, a pair of middle blockers in Carrie Hartt and Taneisha Tilque, outside hitter Stefanie Taelman, setter Chelsey Duley and an outside hitter/defensive specialist in Annie Eropkin
"There's a lot of talent in this recruiting class. This incoming group is as good that we've ever had as a true freshmen class. Each one is athletic and plays and understands her position well. They all bring a lot of experience from the club level in addition to their prep career. All should have an immediate impact and we expect them to have successful careers at Fresno State."
A two-time Fresno Bee all-star team selection, Verwey is a local standout from Kerman High School. The four-time first team All-North Sequoia League pick led the Lions to a perfect 40-0 record during her prep career. The 6-1 outside hitter was a two-time NSL most valuable player and was singled out by Student Sports Magazine in its "Fab 50: Student-Athletes Most Watched."
"Kara is going to be a player that will immediately turn heads. We're very pleased she decided to stay home. She will be able to come into the program and be an outstanding outside hitter. An excellent all-round player, her strength is an invaluable asset. Her talent is unlimited. Every top team needs a good left side hitter, someone to put the ball away, and she can hit a tremendous amount of sets in a match. As Kara matures she'll be a very difficult hitter to stop."
Fenton is the first Michigan native to wear a Bulldog volleyball uniform. The two-time first team all-state selection from Marysville High School led the Vikings to a phenomenal 232-1 prep record. Also guiding MHS to four state championships the 5-11 outside hitter tallied 1,267 kills, 270 blocks and hit.487 in her high school career.
"Kristen knows how to win and can take that mentality to a higher level. She strives for perfection and with her power on the right side she'll be a force to deal with right away. Possessing great knowledge of the game, Kristen reads the ball well offensively and defensively. She has a great swing and will be a great compliment to our outside attack."
Hartt, who is the second Bulldog out of Manteca to come in as a freshman under Vivas, was a three-year varsity starter for East Union High School. The 6-2 middle blocker captured most valuable player honors her last three years as she led her team in kills (266) and blocks (129) as a senior while ranking among the area's top three in kills and blocks her junior and senior season.
"Carrie brings more height to the line up and we can use her in the middle or on the right side. She can hit very well behind the setter. She's already a good blocker but as her speed increases she will become a formidable blocker. Having an aunt who played on the U.S. Olympic team and herself playing on the Junior Olympic 18-under national championship team this past summer, Carrie has had great experience and will play a big part in our middle attack."
As the second straight player out of Spokane, Wash., Tilque joins Closs as the representatives from the great Northwest. Out of Rogers High School, the 6-0 middle blocker was a four-year varsity starter who helped her team compile a 36-21 record as a prepster.
"Taneisha is an outstanding athlete. She possesses physical quickness, jumps well and has a good sense of where the balls are going. Coming from an excellent club program, Taneisha was recruited as a middle but she could probably play the right side. She has a tremendous work ethic and her desire to learn and improve will help her develop quickly."
Taelman, who brings European experience to the table for the Bulldogs, continues the trend of successful international players to wear a Fresno State uniform. She has been a member of the Belgium national team since 1997.
"We've had wonderful foreign born players in our program. They bring more experience at a higher level and are more mature with a very good work ethic. An excellent student, Stefanie is very well skilled in all aspects of the game. She'll be an overall stable presence on the court. Stefanie will quietly surprise people. She's not flashy but she will get the job done in all areas."
Duley is Fresno State's first left-handed setter in the history of Bulldog volleyball. A four-year varsity player at Sierra High School, Duley picked up first team all-league honors three times and was voted all-Valley her junior year.
"Chelsey will play a variety of roles for us. Primarily, she will add depth to the setting position and gives us a tactical advantage at the net with her being left-handed. She brings us a different look and that will help us change things up a bit."
Hailing from Clovis West High School, Eropkin helped her team to a Tri-River Athletic Conference title and a runner-up trophy in her final two years as a varsity starter.
"Annie fills a defensive specialist spot for us. At 5-8 she is a very quick and strong player who moves very well around the court. She possesses a lot of energy and has a great desire to play the sport. Annie will need to get used to the speed of Division 1 ball but over the long term she will dig a lot of balls for us and develop into a solid passer."
Collective Agreement
Dreams begin before every season. Goals are set before stepping onto the court. Fresno State, which is celebrating 30 years of organized volleyball, will look to capitalize on both its dreams and goals. The dream is to be a part of a team that makes history, to distinguish itself from those that preceded them. The goals are to capture its first WAC title and fourth NCAA Tournament appearance. The realization of those dreams and goals depend on the brand of volleyball the Bulldogs are going to showcase in the new millennium. It's a chance to set a new standard.
