Aug. 24, 2010

After putting the same lineup on the floor for the past three seasons, Saint Louis volleyball will have a new look in 2010. The latest edition of the Billiken volleyball team returns just two starters and six letterwinners from a 2009 squad that earned a share of the Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season title and was awarded its first at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Fans will enter Chaifetz Pavilion not recognizing more than half of the players wearing a Billiken uniform this season, and not knowing what to expect from this unfamiliar group. Most programs have to "rebuild" following the graduation of a large class. But, according to SLU head coach Anne Kordes, that won't be the case for the 2010 Bills. Saint Louis has "reloaded" with one of the largest and most talented freshman classes in the nation. PrepVolleyball.com voted Saint Louis' rookies as the No. 18 recruiting class in the nation. The 2010 freshman class, which consists of seven rookies and one redshirt freshman, was assessed based on the cumulative impact of the group in four to five years with the program.

"I'm excited about having one of the youngest teams in the country," Kordes said. "What's so fun about a young team is that you see the progress happen so quickly. You're witnessing people getting better every day. When you have mainly juniors and seniors, you're fine-tuning things. With a young team, you spend more time training fundamentals and technique, and getting them adjusted to the pace of the game.

"Our team is going to be a lot different this season, but the core characteristics of our teams are the same every year. We are always competitive, and our roster is consistently filled with hard-working players. This season we must execute at a higher level. With new players in nearly every position, there will be a lot of learning on the job. Each time we step on the floor will be another opportunity to learn and get better."

The Billikens received 18 votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Top 25 Poll. And despite the loss of four starters, SLU has been chosen to finish second in the A-10 this season, according to a poll of the league's head coaches. The last time the Bills lost to a conference team other than Dayton was in 2007.

"For us to be picked second behind Dayton is fair and shows that our program is well-respected by the other coaches in the conference," Kordes said. "At the same time, we have a larger target on our backs this year. After losing more than half of our starters, teams are probably thinking that this is the year they'll be able to get us. I am proud of our team and the respect our players have earned. We appreciate the rankings from our fellow coaches.

"We are going to have to work extremely hard to defend that ranking, and we know that because the A-10 programs have done nothing but get better. Coaches have done a phenomenal job of recruiting and training, and the rivalries and competitiveness in the league are at an all-time high. I'm excited to have a team that is going to have some major work cut out for it this year. That puts a lot of pressure on us as coaches and means we're going to have to do everything we can to get our players prepared."

Outside Hitters
Every team needs a leader who has been with the team through wins and losses and can impart wisdom to less-seasoned players. Megan Boken, SLU's lone senior and the only six-rotation starter returning to the lineup, will be called upon to fulfill that role. As a freshman in 2007, Boken got her first real taste of collegiate volleyball when she filled in for former Billiken standout Sammi McCloud following an injury. Boken performed admirably and has been a constant in the SLU lineup ever since. Last season, she turned in a career-high 20 kills at Temple and established herself as one of the team's top defensive stoppers at the net with 18 solo blocks. Boken finished third on the squad with 2.58 kills and 2.53 digs per set.

With five heralded players in the class ahead of her, Boken was often overlooked at the end of the season when conference awards were being doled out. But she has steadily improved over the past three seasons and, in 2009, garnered A-10 second-team plaudits in addition to being named to the A-10 All-Championship squad.

"Megan Boken had a phenomenal junior year," Kordes said. "She is undeniably one of our strongest leaders, both vocally and by example. She is versatile enough to attack from the inside or outside of the court, and she's got a strong back-row attack. Boken has incredible ball control and is one of our most intense competitors. In her three years as a starter, she has proven to be one of the most exciting players on the court."

"Boken is also a great defender, and she gives her full effort on every single ball. We're always in a good position defensively when she's in the back row. She is extremely steady and consistent. When she's got the ball, we know she's going to take care of it."

Saint Louis' only other returning starter is junior Alyssa Deno, who will shift back to her natural position on the outside after fulfilling a need in the middle in 2009. Deno truly showed what she was capable of at the State Farm Classic. She registered a career- and match-high 19 kills in the tournament opener against Illinois State. Deno posted a team-high 15 kills vs. No. 14 Illinois en route to All-Tournament honors. In her first season as a starter, Deno played in every set and tied for team-high honors with 55 total blocks. After averaging 2.27 kills per set, she will have the chance to play a full six rotations this season.

"Alyssa is a great leader on and off the floor," Kordes said. "She has been a team player her entire career, filling whatever role the team has needed. Alyssa has played on the right side and in the middle since she's been at SLU, and this fall she'll get time on the left side.

"Alyssa has a high snap and a fast whip of an arm. She can be successful from every position on the floor, including the back row. She has been working extremely hard in the back row on her defensive and passing skills. Plus she's got one of strongest serves on the team. We will look to have Alyssa in a point-scoring position whenever she's on the floor."

Freshman Emma Goldschmidt, who is returning from a knee injury, will also compete for playing time at the outside-hitter positions. Goldschmidt excelled on the court and in the classroom as a PrepVolleyball.com High School Academic All-America first-team selection. In 2009, she achieved Under Armour Girls' High School honorable mention All-America status in addition to earning a spot on the Champaign News-Gazette All-State second team.

"Emma tore her ACL in the spring and, due to her dedication and hard work rehabilitating her knee, has made one of the fastest recoveries of any athlete I've ever seen," Kordes said. "She is just getting back into the groove, but there's no question that once Emma gets her bounce back, she will battle for a position on the floor. Emma is a great right-side hitter, but she's got such power and control that she'll also be fighting for a left-side spot. In addition to being a standout athlete, she's also a standout person. We're grateful to have her as a part of our program."

Freshman Lauren Baumet, who was named to the 2009-10 Under Armour Girls' High School All-America Watch List, was also expected to be in the mix for playing time on the outside this season. But an injury during the second week of preseason practice will sideline her for the entire 2010 campaign. Baumet was ranked among the Top 100 Senior Aces by PrepVolleyball.com in 2009 and was nominated as the Gatorade Indiana Player of the Year. She also earned All-State first-team laurels as a senior.

"After Lauren missed part of her senior season due to injury, she enjoyed a terrific summer and preseason," Kordes said. "With Lauren being out for so long, it was exciting to see her back on the floor. In the first week of preseason, she showed that she was going to be a force on this team, fighting for a starting spot on the right side. Her injury was a huge mental blow for our players and coaches because it's hard to see someone you care about injure herself and then be told her season is over. Lauren will have the full support of our medical team, players, coaches, staff and the volleyball community as she recovers from her injury."

Setters
In a 6-1 offensive scheme, the setter is involved in every play. With that role being fulfilled by the same person for the last four years, Kordes and her staff undoubtedly have their hands full replacing three-time A-10 Setter of the Year and career assists leader Whitney Roth. But they believe the job is in more-than-capable hands with the arrival of freshman Hannah Kvitle, who enrolled at SLU during the spring semester. Early enrollment gave Kvitle the invaluable experience of competing with the Billikens last spring.

As a senior in high school, Kvitle piloted her team to a 36-5 mark and a fourth-place finish at the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 4A state tournament. She finished her career ranked among the top 10 on the IHSA career assists list and was a finalist for PrepVolleyball.com's Andi Collins Award presented to the nation's top senior setter. Kvitle, who received PrepVolleyball.com High School All-America plaudits, was also selected as one of the top 250 recruits for the 2010 season by PrepVolleyball.com.

"Hannah is coming off a successful high school career," Kordes said. "She had the opportunity to graduate early and play with us in spring, and we've seen tremendous improvement just from the spring to the summer. With her work ethic and natural ability, Hannah will be one of the strongest setters in the conference and in the nation this season and for years to come.

"Hannah is a hard-working, competitive player who is extremely athletic. She is also offensive-minded and a strong blocker, which puts us in a position to have another attacker on the floor when she's out there. Hannah is showing early signs of great leadership skills, and we feel she's going to have an extraordinary career."

Junior Amelia Karges and freshman Sarah Knouse will add depth at the setter and defensive specialist positions this season. Karges enters her third season as a back up setter for the Billikens. When illness affected the SLU lineup midway through the 2009 season, Karges filled in admirably. Meanwhile, Knouse paced her high school team in assists and service aces the past two seasons.

"Amelia has an exceptional team attitude and commitment to team. She has shown that through her hard work and dedication in the spring and summer seasons and on into preseason," Kordes said. "We are unbelievably fortunate to have a person with such high character and integrity on our team. Amelia is also one of our strongest leaders. She leads well by example, she's competitive and she has displayed a commitment to wanting this team to succeed. She's also made huge strides defensively with her ball control and passing.

"Sarah Knouse comes to us from Chicago, which has one of the most competitive high school and club scenes in the country. She is a great all-around player because she's been playing for a long time. Sarah has the ability to impact our lineup as a libero, defensive specialist or setter. In the short amount of time we've worked with her during preseason, she has drastically improved. We're excited to allow her the chance to compete for multiple positions."

Libero / Defensive Specialists
In addition to replacing a four-year starter at setter, Kordes and her staff will also be charged with finding a suitable replacement for four-year starting libero Whitney Behrens, the program's career digs leader. Ball control will be key for the Billikens, particularly within serve receive.

The Billikens will have some experience to draw upon in junior Ashley Gaillot and sophomore Andrea Bolt, who each averaged nearly one dig per set as defensive specialists last season. Gaillot has been a serving and defensive option for Saint Louis since her freshman year, including one match filling in at libero last season. Bolt's playing time steadily increased throughout the season. She showed her range and commitment to the team against La Salle, stepping in as a setter when illness affected the starting lineup. By the end of the season, she had become a fixture in the lineup as a defensive specialist.

"In the spring, Ashley earned a lot of time at the libero position after playing as a defensive specialist last season," Kordes said. "She is one of the best passers in the conference with one of greatest platforms of any player I've ever coached. Ashley is also one of the strongest kids in our program and has worked hard to improve her defense. She is a great example for the young players on our team. Ashley is positive, dedicated and hardworking, and one of the most vocal players on the floor at all times. I look forward to her getting increased playing time this fall.

"Andrea Bolt is another player who will be fighting for playing time at the libero position. She made incredible improvements over the fall and into the spring with her passing and range. There's no question she will see increased playing time this fall. Plus now that she's gotten more comfortable, Andrea is also developing into more of a vocal leader.

"Bolt is one of the scrappiest defenders in the program. It's tough to get a ball down on her. Not only does she read and anticipate, but she's also extremely quick and courageous, diving on the floor for any ball. She can step on the floor now and cover a lot of ground within serve receive."

The last time the Billikens had a freshman starting in the libero position was in 2006 when Behrens earned the job. However, that could be the case again this season as freshman Grace Bonoma challenges Gaillot and Bolt for the nod at libero. Bonoma, a two-time All-State designee, was also named to the 2009-10 Under Armour Girls' High School All-America Watch List. She became the only libero in the history of the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) to earn Player of the Year honors when she received the distinction as a senior in 2009.

"Grace is our first South Side (of Chicago) recruit, and with that comes toughness and a gritty desire," Kordes said. "South Side players have a reputation of being hard-core, and that's the way she is. She's sweet as can be but she's tough. Grace goes full out in practice, and she's improving considerably every day. She's just a good all-around volleyball player.

"It wouldn't surprise me to see Grace get the (libero) job this fall even though we haven't had a freshman in the position since 2006. Grace is an incredible competitor. She is doing a great job listening and applying everything she's being told, whether it's learning a new technique or learning a new position."

Middle Blockers
For the first time in a few years, the Billikens will be bigger with a number of true middle blockers in their arsenal, which will allow Kordes to run a faster attack out of the middle. There are four options at the position, though none of Kordes' choices has a wealth of experience at the collegiate level. The most experienced middle blocker is sophomore Carly Marcum, who saw limited action in her freshman campaign. She played in 17 sets in 2009, accumulating 12 kills and four blocks.

"Though she didn't play much last season, Carly Marcum made huge strides in the spring," Kordes said. "She's unbelievably successful off one foot and has improved her blocking tremendously. Marcum, like Gaillot, is also one of the loudest players on the floor. If she continues to improve, she can be one of the best middle blockers in the conference this fall. We're excited about the career Carly is going to have at Saint Louis."

Another option for Kordes is redshirt freshman Carly Schumacher. Despite not making an appearance on the court during her freshman year, she filled a key role off the court. Dubbed the team mom, Schumacher tackled the responsibility of keeping her teammates organized - reminding them where they needed to be and when, what to wear, etc. Kordes will look for Schumacher to translate those off-the-court leadership skills into on-court guidance.

"I am so proud of Carly Schumacher and the work she's done in the weight room during the offseason to get herself ready for this year," Kordes said. "She has added about 20 pounds of muscle. I'm excited about her growth, and I think she's only going to continue to get better. Carly has also proven to be one of the smartest players we have. She's like a sponge. She just soaks everything in and applies it. We can tell her something once and she's got it. Carly is very much a leader with regard to helping her teammates with drills and keeping everyone on the same page. Last year even our seniors were calling her to make sure they were where they needed to be."

Vying with Marcum and Schumacher for playing time in the middle will be freshmen Andrea Beaty and Kelsey Toebben, who were each Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association (MHSVCA) Class 4 All-State picks last season. Beaty earned a spot on the 2009-10 Under Armour Girls' High School All-America Watch List and was chosen as one of the top 250 recruits for the 2010 season by PrepVolleyball.com. She garnered All-State first-team accolades as a senior after capturing second-team honors her junior year. Toebben picked up All-State second team laurels after helping her team to a 36-2-1 record and the state championship quarterfinals in 2009. She also received 2009-10 Under Armour Girls' High School honorable mention All-America accolades.

"Andrea Beaty is so natural in the middle. It comes easily for her because that's the position she's played her entire career," Kordes said. "She's a natural blocker and such a competitive attacker that it will be hard to keep her off the floor. Andrea also has good ball control and can play all six rotations, which is typically tough for a middle to do. We're looking for Andrea to find a position where she's comfortable for the fall, whether that's on the outside or in the middle. Then we might look to move her around in the future.

"Kelsey has a great work ethic and is such a good athlete that things come faster for her than for some other middles. She's already establishing herself as an incredible blocker, and she's going to have a great career here. Kelsey is still getting adjusted to the pace of the game, but she's picking it up pretty quickly. We're also excited to see what happens if we can speed her up and bulk her up in the weight room."

Saint Louis, like any other team loaded with young talent, will no doubt endure its share of growing pains and rookie mistakes in 2010 as players learn how to work together as a team and adjust to the pace of the college game. But Kordes feels that her hardworking squad is meshing well and will ultimately be successful.

"This group has already been a blast to work with," Kordes said. "There is such an eagerness and willingness to learn that things are coming together pretty fast. Everyone is pushing hard and bodies are flying all over the place at practice. I'm excited about the strides the upperclassmen have made, and I'm fired up about the young players coming in.

"One of our focuses right now is getting them ready to play four or five sets in a match. Over the last few seasons years, we've grown accustomed to going 3-0 so often. Most teams don't have that luxury, and this season we've got to be okay with going four or five sets to win a match. Our players are welcoming that. This is such a competitive group that I believe they'll be ready for the battles that lie ahead.

Saint Louis Billikens Women's Volleyball

• VB: Billiken Invitational