Fresno State Athletics
Another Dimension
8/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 20, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. - Every year could be a reflection of the previous but what is gazing back at you in the mirror can offer another vantage point, a different dimension and, perhaps, a new emergence.
The 2003 Fresno State volleyball team, which is coming off its ninth 20-win season, will be looking for "other ways" to secure another NCAA Tournament berth.
Before the spring season began the Bulldogs took a cruel blow to their returning squad. While losing three starters to graduation, the 'Dogs also lost their fourth starter in AVCA All-West Region and two-time All-Western Athletic Conference setter Whitney Arena, along with one of its top two blockers in right side hitter Taneisha Tilque for medical reasons.
However, you can't feel sorry for yourself in this game. Head coach Lindy Vivas, who enters her 13th season one victory shy of her 300th career win, knows just that.
"This year is going to be a little different for us offensively, including our look on the court," Vivas said. "The good news is that we have a solid nucleus of players coming back and we'll find additional ways to win. We are going to look for that combination of players who will work their way into starting positions. We'll use our preseason schedule to figure out who and how to fill in those spots. With a mix of new faces and proven starters, I am confident that we'll have players who will step right up and fill in; we'll be working on producing the same end result [advance to the NCAA Tournament] as we did in 2002."
Setters
Sophomore Robyn Keune is the new director of the Bulldogs' offense this season. Keune, who appeared in 14 matches and had 206 assists as a freshman, took over the starting role last spring upon the loss of Arena. Showing a confident demeanor on the court when called upon last season, the Bulldogs did not miss a beat under her touches of the ball.
In 2002 Keune made her first collegiate start against Radford (third match into the year) and responded with 36 assists, three kills, two aces, four digs and a block assist.
"Losing Whitney (Arena) is a significant loss," Vivas said. "It's significant because she was a two year starter, she came into her own last season, she was experienced, she demanded a high level of performance from her teammates at all times and her setting skills allowed her to be a good leader.
"However we feel Robyn will step right in and not miss a beat," Vivas stated. "She has a good head on her shoulders and an excellent demeanor for a setter. Robyn has inherited the starting position and will do a great job for us. What Robyn brings to the table is stability. She keeps her teammates in a rhythm and we saw that even more this past spring when she started every match.
As Keune's prot?g?, sophomore Brianne Stockwell will look to help the Bulldogs out after playing a year of junior college volleyball. Stockwell helped Fresno City College make its first state appearance while directing the Rams to a perfect conference slate (16-0) and title.
"Brianne has a very good volleyball background coming from Clovis West and Fresno City College," Vivas said. "She'll add to our depth and I expect she'll pick up our system very quickly."
Outside Hitters
Junior Kristen Fenton, a First Team AVCA All-West Region and All-WAC selection, will be the veteran leader on the outside as she is joined by senior Stefanie Taelman, junior Amanda Magalei, sophomore La'akea Campbell and freshmen Michelle Peters and Alison Pitton.
Hitting .301 after tallying 403 kills, 36 service aces, 292 digs and 66 total blocks, Fenton returns as the Bulldogs' top all-around player. She set the school's seventh-best hitting performance in a season last fall and currently ranks No. 10 in career hitting percentage (.261). A member of the 500 club (500 career kills/digs), Fenton ended the 2002 season with a streak of 16 double-figure kill matches.
"Kristen had a superb season last year and was publicly recognized for what she can do," Vivas said. "She still has a lot of upside, especially in her offensive game; she has the potential to dominate a game. She also is our best ball handler and very well could be one of the best hitters in the WAC, if not the country. She is a big impact player for us who we'll count on for leadership and consistency."
Having played more of a reserve role her last two seasons, Taelman is looking to assume a starting position her final season.
"Stefanie really has come a long way as a player," Vivas said. "She has improved her strength and she has shown us more of what she can do offensively. Stefanie has a talent to really work the court and work off the blocker's hands. A smart offensive player, she is very versatile with what she can do with the ball and that will give us a different look in the front court."
Campbell appeared in 22 matches and saw extensive play towards the end of the 2002 season as she recorded season high marks in virtually every offensive category.
"I was very pleased with La'akea last season," Vivas said. "She learned a tremendous amount and she comes back with more experience and an understanding of what it takes to compete at this level. Very much a competitor who loves to win, La'akea realized what you need to do to succeed."
Magalei, who played in 12 matches last year, will be important in the Bulldogs' blocking game this season. Already gifted with strength she will be looking to fill the void left by Tilque on the right side.
"Amanda is physically one of our most strongest players," Vivas said. "She has a lot of talent, a lot of upside, a quick arm and can hit a variety of sets. We're looking forward to her putting it all together by being consistent and being a big block on the right side."
A three-sport letterwinner out of Kahuku High School, Peters is the second Hawaiian to sign with the Bulldogs. Playing middle blocker before being moved to the outside her last two years, she was named the 2003 Gatorade Hawaii Player of the Year.
"Michelle is a good, dynamic outside hitter," Vivas said. "Her all-around skills are polished, she has a great jump serve and can hit a lot of different sets. Once she gets used to our system and the fast pace I am confident she will help our team this season."
Pitton, a three-year varsity starter out of St. Francis High School, guided her teams to a 68-11 varsity record while hitting better than .300 two of her final three years and posting 300-plus kill seasons.
"Alison comes into the program with solid all-around skills and has a good enthusiasm for the game," Vivas said. "She possesses a nice arm, has a good offensive and defensive game and is a consistent passer."
Middle Blockers
Senior Carrie Hartt, a First Team All-WAC selection, is the cornerstone of the middle blocker position as junior transfer Tiffany Bishop and four underclassmen in sophomore Andrea Thrower and freshmen Suzanne Ganem, Jessica Peterson and Kristy Brooks join Hartt.
Returning as the WAC's top blocker, Hartt had one of the best blocking seasons by a Bulldog as she set the fifth-best mark in total blocks (141) and established the second-highest number of block assists (118) as a junior. Also back as one of the team's top kill leaders after tallying 349, Hartt was nationally-ranked in blocks per game in 2002 while tying a 14-year old North Gym match record in block assists.
"Carrie anchors the middle and has the most experience of any of our players," Vivas said. "She did a great job in the middle last season and certainly proved to be one of the top blockers in the league. We're going to rely on Carrie for her experience and maturity, and she will carry a big load for us."
Bishop, a transfer from The U.S. Air Force Academy, brings instant stability in the middle. Finishing among the Mountain West Conference's top ten in hitting, kills per game and aces per game, she led the Academy in kills (345), hitting (.300) and blocks (89) as a sophomore.
"We are excited to have Tiffany join our program," Vivas said. "She's a very gifted athlete who brings in two years of Division I play and that instantly gives us more experience in the middle while allowing us more options in our lineups."
Thrower appeared in eight games as a redshirt freshman. In her Bulldog debut, she posted her first career double-figure kill match against Nicholls State at the Fresno State Invitational.
"Andrea received a lot of playing time in the spring and gained valuable court experience," Vivas said. "She's very quick, has excellent lateral movement and has developed good vision while her blocking has improved."
Out of Deer Valley High School, Ganem earned all-state honors as a junior and senior. The two-time all-region pick set the school's single-season hitting percentage mark (.410) while netting more than 100 total blocks as a senior.
"Suzanne has unlimited potential," Vivas said. "With a firm background in club volleyball, she brings height in the middle and we expect her to be a big blocker for us. We're anxious to work with her and watch her overall game develop."
Peterson tallied more than 600 kills and totaled more than 90 total blocks as a three-year varsity player at Sonora High School as she directed SHS to a 54-6 worksheet her final three seasons.
"Jessica comes into the program as a very polished middle," Vivas said. "Bringing in about as much as experience as you can as a freshman, she's a very active offensive middle and is excellent hitting off one leg, both in front and behind the setter."
Starting in the middle her last two years at Bernardo High School, Brooks garnered team most valuable player honors as a junior and senior while being named second team all-league as a senior.
"Kristy is going to be someone who we can test in a couple of positions," Vivas said. "She is very athletic and absolutely loves the game. Her versatility will be valuable to us."
Libero/Defensive Specialists
Junior Tina Brennan will spearhead the 'Dogs defensive backcourt as sophomore Briana Rempel and freshman Cassandra Mosely round out the Bulldogs' 17-player squad.
Posting double-figure digs in nearly half of the matches played last season, Brennan returns as the team's and the WAC's top digger (334) while setting Fresno State rally scoring school records for digs in four and five game matches.
"Really enjoying the challenge of not letting a ball fall, Tina sparks us defensively," Vivas said. "She also works extremely hard on her passing game. She's tough and is a factor every time she comes into a game."
Rempel, who appeared in two games and picked up a dig and a block, and Mosely, a local player out of Buchanan High School, will look to challenge in the back court as a libero or defensive specialist.
"Bree has continued to improve her play as her defensive skills have gotten better," Vivas said. "She is easy to play next to and has a full year of experience under her belt. Cassie should turn out to be a very strong defensive player. She has good court vision and is very quick. All three of our defensive players possess the same intense, competitive spirit."
Finding a Way
Having dealt with the loss of four starters and a top reserve, Fresno State will rely on their nine letterwinners to reach into their pocket of spring experience to lead the way. Eight newcomers bring promise into a season that certainly has doors opened for a starting role. Together they will mesh to find a way to be successful, a way that suits their make up, a way that offers an emergence of another dimension.
