University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Volleyball Begins Practice Today
08.07.2012 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville volleyball team begins preparations for the 2012 season today. Below is a preview of the upcoming season.
Despite only nine healthy players and a new head coach hired six weeks before practice started, the UNC Asheville volleyball team enjoyed another winning season in 2011.
The Bulldogs finished with a 15-14 overall record and in fourth place in the Big South Conference. Asheville advanced to the semifinals of the league tournament for the sixth time in the last seven years. The Bulldogs under the direction of first-year coach Frederico Santos, accomplished a great deal in 2011 but want to do more in 2012.
"I really thought we had a successful year last season," declared Santos. "It is never easy when a new coach comes into the program but overall we achieved a great deal.
"Now, our goals are to achieve even more in the future starting with this season," added Santos. "You always want to accomplish more than you did the previous season."
Asheville returns much of its line-up from last season and only graduated two seniors. However, both seniors were starters and a key to much of what the Bulldogs accomplished last season. Setter Hallie Morse led the Asheville offense and finished with 1000 assists. Outside hitter Cindi Miller was a first- team All-Conference selection and one of the best ever to wear the Blue & White.
The Bulldogs had just 10 players last season so Santos has brought in six new players to the Asheville program. The newcomers are talented and could make an impact right away. The second-year coach is preaching patience.
"We are a much deeper team this year than last season," admitted Santos. "However, we're a much more inexperienced team than we were a year ago.
"The big key for us this season is our chemistry," Santos also said. "How will our new players mesh with our returnees? I feel really good about the recruiting class, and I like the newcomers we have coming back, as well. But it's a process putting our returnees together with our new players. How well we do that this year will determine how far we go."
Asheville returns two seniors in Chelsie Kenley and Holly Shelton. Kenley is one of the Bulldogs' tallest players at 6-2 and has steadily improved her game during her career. She plays the right side for Asheville.
"We were pleased with the job Chelsie did on the right side a year ago," commented Santos. "She gained valuable experience and will be one of our leaders this season."
Shelton moved from the middle to an outside hitter position in 2011 and did a great job. She was third on the club in kills (2.42) and blocks (0.42).
"Holly had to move to the outside last season and really played well there," explained Santos. "She enjoyed a fabulous spring and looks like she's ready to have a big senior year."
Heading up the junior class is middle blocker Meredith Foster. The Hendersonville native came on strong at the end of last season and earned a spot on the Big South's All-Tournament team for her play. She led Asheville in hitting percentage (.314) and was second in blocks (0.70).
"Meredith found her game at the end of last year and really grew as a player," admitted Santos. "She is a dominant performer in the middle and there's no limit to her potential."
Junior Anna Moore transferred to UNC Asheville last year from N.C. State. She began the year on the right side before being moved to the middle. Things worked out pretty well for Moore as she was named Big South Player of the Week late in the season and was a second- team All-Conference selection. Moore finished the year as the Bulldogs' second leading hitter with 2.57 kills.
"Anna's game began to take off when she moved to the middle," commented Santos. "I'm looking for continued growth from her this season. She still needs some more playing experience but has the potential to be an All-Conference player for our program."
Alex Stewart has been Asheville's starting libero the past two seasons and been among the Big South's dig leaders during that time. She topped the Bulldogs in that category (4.35) in 2011.
"We like the job Alex did last season as our libero," said Santos. "We expect her to be even better this year. Alex learned a different philosophy of defense last season but handled it well."
Junior Rachel Wells was the Bulldogs' most versatile player in 2011. She played in the back row and was a defensive specialist. Wells sparked Asheville with her defense and serving. With injuries to the Bulldogs, she jumped in and played on the outside and right side.
"Rachel did a good job in all the positions she played last season," stated Santos. "She was ready for any challenge. Rachel is a hard worker who just finds a way to be on the court."
Jamie Dorfman was a pleasant surprise for Asheville in 2011. She earned a spot in the back row and became one of the Big South's best servers. Dorfman led the Bulldogs and was third in the Big South in service aces at 0.36. However, she could have a new role in 2012.
"Jamie was great as a server last year and got us a lot of points with her serving," explained Santos. "Her role this season may be a little different as we'll want her to focus on being a setter. She has the skills to be our setter.
Sophomore Lisa Riggsbee didn't play much as a freshman. She'll provide depth as a setter and in the back row.
"Lisa made progress in the spring and works hard," stated Santos. "She'll potentially see some playing time this year in the back row and as a serving specialist."
The Bulldogs have added six freshmen to the roster and all have the potential to play right away for the Blue & White.
Start with versatile rookie Katie Davis, who can play both as an outside hitter and a setter.
"Katie understands the game quite well and is a phenomenal player for us to have in our program," admitted Santos. "She is very good at both hitting and setting and she'll do both for us this season."
Bryn Pfeiffer is a libero from Raleigh who should battle for playing time right away.
"Bryn is an excellent defensive player who will challenge for playing time on the court," said Santos. "She's a hard worker who we're looking forward to watching play this season."
Santos has brought in two freshmen from Florida who could make an impact as rookies. They are 6-2 right side Catherine Fischer and 5-11 outside hitter Christine Lakatos. Fischer is from Miami, while Lakatos hails from Lauderhill.
"When I was coaching at Barry (Miami), I first saw Catherine Fischer play and was very impressed," declared Santos. "She's a lefty who plays on the right side. We believe Catherine has a tremendous amount of potential. She's also played as a setter and could possibly do that this year in our program.
"Christine provides us with a lot of depth on the outside," explained Santos. "She is a solid all-around player who can pass, hit, play defense and block. Christine will work hard to be o the floor this year."
Santos has two local players as a part of Asheville's freshman class. They are 6-1 right side Emily Bare and 5-11 outside hitter Jenny Sims. Bare played at Roberson HS, while Sims excelled at Carolina Day.
"Emily gives us depth on the right side," stated Santos. "She's a versatile player who is physically very gifted.
"Jenny gives us depth in the middle and is also a good all-around player," added Santos. "She's a hard worker and is always ready to play."
Santos believes his 2012 team has potential, but there are some questions that need to be answered.
"First and foremost, we have to establish who our setter will be," said Santos. "We have some options and could even go with a 6-2 attack if we need to, but we have to figure out what to do there.
"We also need to figure who are outsides are going to be," added Santos.
"As I said earlier, we've got to have good chemistry and find our best combination to win on the floor. That may take a few matches, but I think once we get there we have the potential to have a good team."
