2009 Florida Volleyball Season Preview
Friday, August 14, 2009 | Volleyball
Experience Matters
Experience.
It's an element of team competition that's intangible and hard to completely put into words, but it's a facet of success for which it is hard to compensate.
Coach Mary Wise's 2008 Florida volleyball team had nearly all of the necessary components to be a championship caliber team, and the squad did achieve its 18th consecutive Southeastern Conference regular-season championship, but what the team was lacking was experience.
“Although last year's team didn't have a great deal of collegiate experience, they certainly had played a lot of volleyball throughout high school, club and USA events,” Wise said. “Although we will still be young overall this year, we will feature players who actually have collegiate game experience now.”
With four sophomores and a redshirt freshman on the team, the Gators look to see vast improvements in the performance level of their underclassmen headed into the 2009 campaign.
“Some of the biggest changes we see in players occur between their freshmen and sophomore seasons,” Wise said. “One of the reasons for improvement is because, for many players, this is the first time they are exposed to the benefits of training year-round. That includes what Coach Matt DeLancey does in the weight room and what is learned working with our nutritionist Anna Grout. Combine that with being in the gym in the spring and you can see why players make the jump heading into their second year of play.”
Florida ranked second in the SEC a year ago in kills per set (13.47) and hitting percentage (.253), and led the conference in hitting percentage (.258) in league matches only. Wise expects that the 2009 Gator squad will exemplify that same type of exciting offensive attack.
“The team will be a high-flying, physical group of hitters,” Wise said. “Our goal is to field a team that can kill balls at different tempos from all spots along the net.”
The offense will be directed by 2008 AVCA National Freshman of the Year Kelly Murphy at right-side and setter, while the defense will be anchored by senior libero Elyse Cusack, the school's all-time career digs leader.
“We were so young last year and we hope those players learned how hard it is to win in Lexington, Columbia, Baton Rouge, Knoxville and so on,” Wise said. “We know there is no substitute for experience.”
Outside Hitters
5 Callie Rivers OH 6-1 Jr. Winter Park, Fla.
6 Kristy Jaeckel OH/RS 6-2 So. Littleton, Colo.
16 Colleen Ward OH 6-2 So. Naperville, Ill.
4 Mariah Woodson OH 6-0 Fr. Atlanta, Ga.
One of the facets that will continue to make Florida's offensive attack so potent this season will be the versatility of three talented players who can function interchangeably depending on the opponent. The Gators return every player from their outside-hitting corps from a year ago, looking to build on the successes of that position.
“One of our strengths will be the depth at the outside hitting position,” Wise said. “We have three quality outsides who all will get lots of swings.”
Junior outside hitter Callie Rivers, known for her competitiveness, is the veteran of the outside hitting corps, after ranking fourth on the team with 1.81 kills per set a year ago. She also was third on the squad in digs per set with 1.69 and is second on the team in active double-doubles with eight during her career. Rivers' improved serving and blocking during her sophomore season have made her a multi-faced threat on the outside heading into the 2009 campaign.
“Callie Rivers is the fastest player on the team and took her game to another level her sophomore season when she made a huge difference for us in her blocking and serving,” Wise said.
Sophomore Kristy Jaeckel, who redshirted during the 2007 campaign, was named to the 2008 SEC All-Freshman Team and had a breakout rookie campaign. She was second on the team with 2.91 kills per set and was named to the All-Tournament Team of both of Florida's regular-season tournaments last year. Jaeckel demonstrated impressive physical strength after intense conditioning during her redshirt year. She led or tied for the team lead in points on 11 occasions and posted 15 double-figure kill performances.
Sophomore Colleen Ward, also a member of the 2008 SEC All-Freshman Team, was third on the team in kills per set with 2.30 and was one of the team's most consistent attackers last season, charting seven or more kills in 21 of the squad's 31 matches.
Freshman Mariah Woodson is a 6-foot outside hitter from the Atlanta area, who is expected to redshirt in her first season in Gainesville.
“Kristy Jaeckel and Colleen Ward have the potential to be two of the most physical outside hitters to come through our program,” Wise said. “We plan to redshirt Mariah Woodson, but know she will help us during practices this fall.”
Right-Side Hitters
12 Kelly Murphy RS/S 6-2 So. Wilmington, Ill.
17 Lauren Bledsoe RS/MB 6-1 Jr. Long Beach, Calif.
6 Kristy Jaeckel OH/RS 6-2 So. Littleton, Colo.
Florida will feature one of the top players in the nation at right-side hitter in Murphy, who will hit during three rotations on the front row and set during her three on the back row, as part of the team's 6-2 offensive scheme.
Murphy tied for the national lead in triple-doubles last season with six, ranked second in the SEC in hitting percentage with a .358 clip and eighth in kills per set with 3.22. She made her mark in the UF freshman record books, as she ranked in the top 10 in nine different freshman categories, including tying the school's freshman record for total kills with 357.
Junior Lauren Bledsoe, who split time between the right side and middle blocker last season, showed flashes of brilliance during her sophomore campaign, recording a career-high 14 kills at Alabama and a career-high seven blocks at Colorado. She looks to translate those stellar performances into consistent success from the right side during the 2009 season. Bledsoe features the versatility to play any of the three front-row positions.
Jaeckel also is equally effective on the right side as she is on the outside and will split time between the two positions in 2009. “In Kelly Murphy, we have one of the top right-side hitters in the country,” Wise said. “In addition, both Lauren Bledsoe and Kristy Jaeckel can score points for us. As good as we were offensively on
the right side last year, the next step for our team is to dominate blocking on the right side.”
Middle Blockers
15 Kristina Johnson MB 6-2 Sr. Indianapolis, Ind.
21 Cassandra Anderson MB 6-1 So. Bakersfield, Calif.
14 Betsy Smith MB 6-2 R-Fr. Atlanta, Ga.
17 Lauren Bledsoe RS/MB 6-1 Jr. Long Beach, Calif.
10 Chloe Mann MB 6-1 Fr. Gainesville, Fla.
After struggling with injuries and a lack of depth at middle blocker a year ago, the corps at that position in 2009 is much healthier and experienced.
Senior Kristina Johnson returns after a remarkable summer that saw her post a 401-pound squat in the weight room. Her commitment to improvement will help Johnson build on a junior season, in which she spent much time recovering from an ACL injury. In 2008, Johnson ranked third on the team in blocks per set with 0.82.
“A year removed from the ACL rehab, Kristina Johnson has trained her way into one of the strongest athletes we've ever had come through this program,” Wise said. “I don't know the next time we'll see a 401-pound squat like she did this summer.”
Sophomore Cassandra Anderson had a breakout rookie campaign, becoming the first Gator freshman since 2000 to lead her team in blocks, averaging 1.01 per set. She was just the seventh freshman in school history to average more than 1.0 blocks per set and her hitting percentage of .347 ranks second all-time in school history in hitting efficiency by a freshman.
Redshirt freshman Betsy Smith will see collegiate playing time after spending the past year conditioning on campus. In 2008, she was named the nation's 26th-ranked recruit by PrepVolleyball.com.
Freshman Chloe Mann joins the Gators from nearby Eastside High School, continuing a long line of Florida players from the local area. She was the 2008 Gainesville Sun Player of the Year and the 2008- 09 Gainesville Sun Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
“Cassandra Anderson had a huge freshman season and Betsy Smith now comes off her redshirt year after spending all summer in Gainesville training. We add the big time jumper Chloe Mann to the group and this is as fast a middle-blocking group as we've ever had at UF.
“The key for this group will be its ability to earn kills in transition and, as always, block balls.”
Setters
12 Kelly Murphy S/RS 6-2 So. Wilmington, Ill.
2 Brynja Rodgers S 5-9 Jr. Iowa City, Iowa
13 Sundai Weston S 5-8 Fr. Naples, Fla.
Florida will continue to employ a 6-2 offense during the 2009 season, but the setter position underwent a change during the offseason. Junior transfer Brynja Rodgers will join Murphy this season in splitting the setting duties, after coming to the Gators from New Mexico State.
In addition to her offensive prowess, Murphy is a dynamic setter who has devoted extra time to that position during the offseason. Last season, she dished out 5.50 assists per set, which ranked fifth all-time in Florida freshman annals.
“The setter position is the one area where we have changed the most since last season,” Wise said. “As good of an attacker as Kelly is, she can beat teams with her setting as well. We really emphasized the setting aspect of her game during the spring season and we're certain to see those results this fall.”
Rodgers brings with her two years of collegiate playing experience and familiarity with the 6-2 offense, having run that scheme during her time at New Mexico State. In her inaugural campaign of 2007, Rodgers ranked second on her team in assists per set with 6.05 and she tallied 20 or more assists in 15 matches.
“In July, Brynja accepted our offer to join the Gator program,” Wise said. “She brings not only skills, but experience now entering her junior year. Brynja is a natural leader and our team is immediately better with her addition.”
Freshman Sundai Weston, a 5-foot-8 setter from Naples, Fla., also will help add depth at the setter position for 2009. Weston's skill set has been furthered by experience in the beach volleyball game, which will also help Florida during its spring season.
“Sundai Weston's game has benefitted from playing so much beach volleyball,” Wise said. “Our setting position has both depth and talent.”
Libero/Defensive Specialists
7 Elyse Cusack L 5-8 Sr. Melrose, Fla.
27 Erin Fleming DS 5-8 Jr. Orlando, Fla.
19 Elissa Hausmann DS 5-5 So. Tampa, Fla.
Florida's back line will be one of its strengths in 2009 with Cusack, the best libero in the history of the program, patrolling the back row for the final time in 2009.
Cusack, a two-time AVCA All-America honorable mention selection, became the school's all-time career digs leader last season, shattering a nearly 22-year-old record and doing so as just a junior. She has been named the SEC's Defensive Player of the Week a record nine times during her career, including four occasions during
the 2008 campaign.
Cusack ranked second in the SEC in digs per set last season with 4.61 and has tallied double-figure digs in 27 of the team's 31 matches last year. She has recorded double-digit digs in 87 of 92 career matches at Florida.
“We have been very fortunate these past three years to have a libero with the talent of Elyse Cusack,” Wise said. “She is one of the best in the college game and makes everyone around her better.”
Junior defensive specialist Erin Fleming will add an important backrow presence during the 2009 season after having several breakout matches last season, including a serving performance at Auburn that helped the Gators to the win. She and sophomore Elissa Hausmann will support Cusack on the back line.
“Erin Fleming has made huge strides and earned her way into the starting line-up last year providing us with an added dimension,” Wise said. “Although Elissa didn't see much playing time, she is an instrumental piece of our program.”
Schedule
Five opponents who participated in the 2008 NCAA Tournament and 14 home matches highlight the 2009 University of Florida volleyball schedule. The Gators also will play host to an NCAA Regional for the third time in the last four years, as the prestigious event will return to Gainesville, Fla., Dec. 11-12.
Florida opens the season by playing host to the Campus USA Credit Union Invitational, featuring Colorado, UNLV and Valparaiso. The Gators then travel to challenging tournaments at the University of the Pacific and the University of South Florida.
For the fourth consecutive year, the SEC volleyball schedule will be a double round-robin format in which each team plays the other 10 league schools both home and away in lieu of an SEC Tournament.
“Our non-conference schedule sets us up to play quality opponents to help us prepare for the SEC regular season,” Wise said. “It was our goal to face challenging competition from the opening weekend to the last weekend of the season. We anticipate the race for the SEC Championship to be every bit as competitive as it was a year ago. Teams in our league return so many great players that fans of SEC Volleyball are going to be in for a treat this season.”
What's Returning
Returning Departed % Returning
Kills 1366 129 91.4
Assists 761 628 54.8
Aces 129 41 75.9
Digs 1250 222 84.9
Blocks 158 92 63.2
END OF REPORT
