Experienced Charger volleyball team opens season in Hawaii
By Barry Poe, Journal sports writer | Posted: Tuesday, August 21, 2007
More than likely, the Briar Cliff University volleyball team will have little time to enjoy the surf and sun, but nonetheless the Chargers have a rather pleasurable season-opening trip this weekend.
Coach Mary Schroeder-Miller's squad, coming off a 20-11 2006 season, will compete in the Hawaiian Style Classic in Hilo, Hawaii, Friday and Saturday.
Before packing up the sun tail oil and bathing suits, the BCU team met the media on Monday and heads into the 2007 campaign with high hopes. The Chargers return six starters and with a strong recruiting class, Schroeder-Miller is confident her team can contend for the Great Plains Athletic Conference title.
"We want to be better than last year and finish higher in the conference," said Schroeder-Miller, whose team was picked to finish fifth in the preseason coaches poll. "There are about eight teams in our conference that on any given night we have to watch out for.
"If we don't have injuries and keep progressing, I think we'll be in the mix."
Northwestern, Hastings, Doane and Dordt were the top four teams in the preseason coaches poll.
A key position on any volleyball team is libero and the Chargers are fortunate to have one of the league's top players returning at that spot.
Kate Boettcher, a 5-9 senior from Owatonna, Minn., was Briar Cliff's lone all-region selection last season, landing second-team honors, and was also a first-team All-GPAC performer.
Boettcher tied her season record for digs with 733 and set a new match dig record with 50 against Doane on Nov. 21. She is only 58 digs shy of tying the school's career digs mark of 2,086, set by Molly Moberg from 1997-2000.
Schroeder-Miller said Boettcher and Alex Anstine, BCU's other all-conference performer, will trade off between left side hitter and libero. The versatile Anstine, a 5-9 sophomore from Hastings, Neb., finished with 301 kills and 599 digs a year ago.
Another key will be the play of junior Kayla Bessmer, a 5-9 setter who has started every match in her collegiate career. The Battle Creek, Neb., product has led the team in assists each of the last two seasons, including 1,701 as a freshman, which was second most in school history for a first-year performer.
"We look for Kayla's experience as a freshman and sophomore to give her the leadership and confidence to run the offense this season," said Schroeder-Miller, beginning her 12th season as Briar Cliff head coach. Schroeder-Miller, owner of a 930-484-14 career coaching mark, also thinks senior middle hitter Micaela Borer is ready for a breakout season.
"Mic's improved strength will make a big impact on her contribution this season," said Schroeder-Miller.
Borer, a 5-10 senior from Mead, Neb., had a team-high 138 blocks to go along with 285 kills last season.
Schroeder-Miller also has high hopes for Geri Heimann, a 6-foot sophomore middle hitter from West Point, Neb., who contributed 212 kills and 77 blocks.
Megan McMillen, a 5-6 senior setter and defensive specialist from MOC-Floyd Valley High School, was also a part of the regular rotation last season.
Newcomer Nicole Hoogeveen, a 6-foot freshman from Sioux Center, Iowa, has already gotten her coach's attention. Schroeder-Miller said Hoogeveen, who will start at left-side hitter, will give the Chargers more offensive punch and called her a "great blocker."
The Chargers are also looking for contributions from senior hitter Whitney McCollum (5-9), junior setter Nicolle Donovan (5-8), sophomore defensive speicalist Chelsie Englund (5-6) and freshmen hitters Rikole Santin (5-9) and Chehala Pace (5-10). Pace played at Treynor, traditionally one of the top small-school programs in Iowa.
Briar Cliff plays the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Rollins College, California State-Monterey and Texas Women's College on its Hawaiian trip. The home opener is Sept. 5 against Dana.
Coach Mary Schroeder-Miller's squad, coming off a 20-11 2006 season, will compete in the Hawaiian Style Classic in Hilo, Hawaii, Friday and Saturday.
Before packing up the sun tail oil and bathing suits, the BCU team met the media on Monday and heads into the 2007 campaign with high hopes. The Chargers return six starters and with a strong recruiting class, Schroeder-Miller is confident her team can contend for the Great Plains Athletic Conference title.
"We want to be better than last year and finish higher in the conference," said Schroeder-Miller, whose team was picked to finish fifth in the preseason coaches poll. "There are about eight teams in our conference that on any given night we have to watch out for.
"If we don't have injuries and keep progressing, I think we'll be in the mix."
Northwestern, Hastings, Doane and Dordt were the top four teams in the preseason coaches poll.
A key position on any volleyball team is libero and the Chargers are fortunate to have one of the league's top players returning at that spot.
Kate Boettcher, a 5-9 senior from Owatonna, Minn., was Briar Cliff's lone all-region selection last season, landing second-team honors, and was also a first-team All-GPAC performer.
Boettcher tied her season record for digs with 733 and set a new match dig record with 50 against Doane on Nov. 21. She is only 58 digs shy of tying the school's career digs mark of 2,086, set by Molly Moberg from 1997-2000.
Schroeder-Miller said Boettcher and Alex Anstine, BCU's other all-conference performer, will trade off between left side hitter and libero. The versatile Anstine, a 5-9 sophomore from Hastings, Neb., finished with 301 kills and 599 digs a year ago.
Another key will be the play of junior Kayla Bessmer, a 5-9 setter who has started every match in her collegiate career. The Battle Creek, Neb., product has led the team in assists each of the last two seasons, including 1,701 as a freshman, which was second most in school history for a first-year performer.
"We look for Kayla's experience as a freshman and sophomore to give her the leadership and confidence to run the offense this season," said Schroeder-Miller, beginning her 12th season as Briar Cliff head coach. Schroeder-Miller, owner of a 930-484-14 career coaching mark, also thinks senior middle hitter Micaela Borer is ready for a breakout season.
"Mic's improved strength will make a big impact on her contribution this season," said Schroeder-Miller.
Borer, a 5-10 senior from Mead, Neb., had a team-high 138 blocks to go along with 285 kills last season.
Schroeder-Miller also has high hopes for Geri Heimann, a 6-foot sophomore middle hitter from West Point, Neb., who contributed 212 kills and 77 blocks.
Megan McMillen, a 5-6 senior setter and defensive specialist from MOC-Floyd Valley High School, was also a part of the regular rotation last season.
Newcomer Nicole Hoogeveen, a 6-foot freshman from Sioux Center, Iowa, has already gotten her coach's attention. Schroeder-Miller said Hoogeveen, who will start at left-side hitter, will give the Chargers more offensive punch and called her a "great blocker."
The Chargers are also looking for contributions from senior hitter Whitney McCollum (5-9), junior setter Nicolle Donovan (5-8), sophomore defensive speicalist Chelsie Englund (5-6) and freshmen hitters Rikole Santin (5-9) and Chehala Pace (5-10). Pace played at Treynor, traditionally one of the top small-school programs in Iowa.
Briar Cliff plays the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Rollins College, California State-Monterey and Texas Women's College on its Hawaiian trip. The home opener is Sept. 5 against Dana.
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