SMC VOLLEYBALL: Belles look to large class for improvement
Chris Federico
Sports Writer
Someone observing a practice session of the Saint Mary's volleyball team would never guess this was the same team that struggled to survive in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association last season. The courts are filled with enthusiastic young players hoping to make the team and turn it around in its 2001 season.
The large number of talented freshmen at preseason practices, at 13, tops the total number of first year athletes last season. That number gives class of 2005 the largest representation on the court, a number which excludes any students who hope to walk on to the team but have not arrived on campus.
"I don't think I've ever seen such a large, talented group come out," senior captain Angela Meyers said. "They are very hard working and enthusiastic about joining the team."
The intense competition among the new recrutis will make second-year head coach Julie Schroeder-Biek's job of narrowing down the roster Tuesday difficult.
"It's going to be tough to make cuts Tuesday because the players are all so talented," Schroeder-Biek stated. "It will be very close down to the end."
Schroeder-Biek credits the large number of first-year students in tryouts to her staff and their focus in the off-season on recruiting.
"Having more consistency in both the coaching staff and the overall organization of the program from last season to this one allowed us to go out, recruit and bring some more girls in," Schroeder-Biek said. "Before last season, we really didn't have the chance to recruit or arrange the team the way we'd have liked before we came in."
After a disappointing 2000 season in which the Belles finished near the bottom of the MIAA with a 7-22 record, Schroeder-Biek sees improvement on the horizon.
"We're in a much better situation this year than last," Schroeder-Biek said. "Last year, we really didn't have a chance to recruit players, and we didn't even have a chance to make a true cut before the season began."
After cuts are made on Tuesday, the freshmen will be expected to step right in.
"We have a solid core of upperclassmen returning, but we did lose two players to our overseas program, and one transferred out," Schroeder-Biek said. "So we're hoping for some of these freshmen to come in and contribute right away."
Returning to play is last season's leading defensive player, Meyers. Last year, Meyers was the team MVP and was named Second Team All-Conference in the MIAA.
Meyers can already see the impact that the freshmen could have on the team. After a rough season last year, she believes the newcomers could make a big difference in the team's success.
"They could make a really big difference," Meyers stated. "They have such great heart and desire to improve the team. I think they could help to make for a great final year for the other returning seniors and myself."
All Sports Stories for Sunday, August 26, 2001
