08 VB Preview: Outside Hitters
Tuesday, July 29, 2008 | Volleyball
Editor's Note: This is the second of a five-part position-by-position preview of the 2008 Florida volleyball team that will be posted on GatorZone.com daily during the week of July 28. Florida begins its 2008 season on Aug. 29, when it plays host to UAB at 7 p.m.
Despite the 2008 edition of the Florida volleyball team being one of the youngest teams in Mary Wise's tenure as head coach, the expectations for success have not changed. After all, that tradition has led to 17 Southeastern Conference titles, 17 consecutive NCAA appearances and seven Final Fours.
While the Gators will have to compensate for the loss of four All-America selections, who exhausted their eligibility following the 2007 season, the expectation for success is no different. In order for this year's squad to achieve the level of success that has become synonymous with Florida volleyball, the Gators will have to strike a balance between several experienced veterans and one of the most highly touted incoming freshman classes in program history.
“We will be able to find kills, blocks and aces, but it's the experience we will miss the most,” Wise said. “You can't put a price on experience. We have a freshman class with a boatload of playing experience, but none of it is at the collegiate level. The bottom line is, to be successful, we need contributions out of everyone. This team will be the sum of its parts.
| OUTSIDE HITTER | |||||
| 5 | Callie Rivers | OH | 6-0 | So. | Winter Park, Fla. |
| 6 | Kristy Jaeckel | OH/RS | 6-2 | R-Fr. | Littleton, Colo. |
| 16 | Colleen Ward | OH | 6-2 | Fr. | Naperville, Ill. |
The outside hitter position will be a deep and talented one this season, leading Wise to compare this year's collection of outside hitters to the best ever to take the court at Florida.
Callie Rivers, a member of the 2007 Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team, led the Gators in total aces and aces per game during the conference season, posting six double-figure kill outings during the league slate and four double-doubles. Her four double-dips marked the most by a UF freshman during the SEC season since the 2004 campaign.
Rivers, 6-foot, was a member of the US Women's National A2 Red Team, helping the USA capture the Open Division of the USA Adult Volleyball Championships, registering 16 kills and contributing a team-leading 17 points in the championship match.
“Callie Rivers had a great freshman season,” Wise said. “She had an even better spring and her production increased during her time with the USA A2 program. We expect her to continue along that path.”
Kristy Jaeckel, 6-foot-2, will be the nation's most experienced redshirt freshman after being the only player in the country without a season of collegiate playing experience to be named to the USA A2 Blue Team. She helped lead that team to the bronze medal. Jaeckel posted a breakout spring season that included strong performances against Florida State and Miami.
“Kristy Jaeckel might be the most improved player in our program after going from being a redshirt freshman to making the USA A2 team,” Wise said.
Colleen Ward, 6-foot-2, is the No. 7 recruit in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com and will make an immediate impact on the outside for the Gators. Ward was a 2008 AAU All-American as a member of Sports Performance with Murphy. She holds Naperville North's school record in kills (career and single-season) and ranks fifth in school history in career digs.
“Colleen Ward was the starting outside hitter for arguably the most successful club team in the history of junior volleyball,” Wise said. “With Callie, Kristy and Colleen, our qualify and depth on the left side is as good as we've ever had at Florida.”
| DID YOU KNOW? |
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GETTING TO KNOW FLORIDA'S OUTSIDE HITTERS
Hobbies and Community Service Away from Volleyball
· Callie Rivers – Music, dancing, reading and watching movies.
· Kristy Jaeckel – Wakeboarding, dancing, photography and hiking.
· Colleen Ward – Has participated in a diabetes fund-raising walk for two years during high school.
Gator Nation Tie-In
· Callie Rivers – Chose Florida over Southern Cal, Texas and Georgia Tech.
· Kristy Jaeckel – Chose Florida over Minnesota, UCLA and Tennessee.
· Colleen Ward – Chose Florida because of the coaching staff, team cohesiveness and strong academics.
Major or Career Aspiration
· Callie Rivers – Aspires to be a television sports broadcaster.
· Kristy Jaeckel – Is majoring in social and behavioral sciences.
· Colleen Ward – Aspires to be a businesswoman.
