The Ball State University women's volleyball team opens up its 2008 campaign today against the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay in its first game of the Comfort Suites Sam Houston Invitational.
The Cardinals play two matches each today and Saturday in a field that also includes Drake University, Centenary College and host Sam Houston State University.
Second-year coach Dave Boos said he expects his team to be relaxed in its first action of the season.
"When we came out for the alumni match, you could definitely see some nerves," Boos said. "I think playing here at home was a little bit of a scary thing for many of us, but I think that this weekend it will be good to be on the road - not a lot of distractions - playing teams that I think will be a good challenge at this point of time in the season to allow us to work through some of the things we've been doing in practice."
Scouting the field
- In its first match today against Wisconsin - Green Bay, Ball State defenders should expect a strong showing from the opposition's attacking front court.
The Phoenix (6-20 overall last season) return their top two attackers from last season in outside hitters Liesl Tesch and Nikki Hintze. Tesch, a senior, led the team in kills (332) and points (368.5), while Hintze, a junior who was selected to the 2007 Horizon League All-Newcomer Team, was second on the team in several statistical categories, including kills (313), kills per game (3.16), aces (23), digs (273) and assists per game (0.88).
- In their second match today against Drake, the Cardinals will once again face a team looking to improve on its 7-23 overall record from last season.
Sophomore outside hitter Angela Bys, a 2007 All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, will lead the offensive charge for the Bulldogs. Bys lead Drake last season in kills (463), kills per game (4.13), total attacks (1265), service aces (37) and aces per game (0.33).
- Ball State opens up on Saturday against a young Centenary College team.
The Ladies, like Ball State, also feature 10 newcomers to their team that finished 2-28 overall. They are led by lone senior Ashlee Freeman.
Freeman, a middle blocker, is the school's all-time leader in total blocks (273) and block assists (236). She also topped last year's team in kills (286), blocks (73) and hitting percentage (.141).
- The Cardinals will play host to Sam Houston State in their final action of the weekend Saturday night.
The Bearkats feature the best overall record from last season in the entire field (11-19) and boast a 2006 junior college All-American transfer in senior middle blocker Haley Thomas.
Thomas had 242 kills and 122 blocks for Sam Houston State last season playing with fellow middle blocker Katie Phillips, who led the team in blocks (102) and service aces (52).
Getting on the same page
With 10 new players on this year's team learning a system of offensive and defensive schemes, Boos said the first 10 days of practice preparing for this weekend's invitational were focused on "trying to get everybody on the same page."
"There's a lot of offensive and defensive systems that we have to put together with all the new people that we have - and that's the biggest challenge that teams have early on is that we're all so new to each other," Boos said. "There will be mistakes made, but these matches give us an opportunity to work on some of those mistakes early on."
Junior defensive specialist Rachel Alcorn hopes a strong start this weekend will help erase the memory of her team's 5-25 record last season.
"It's especially important for those of us who were here last year to come out with a good start and just to see a complete change in our team, and we're hoping for a great year," Alcorn said.
Junior opposite hitter Elaina Kakatolis said she is simply ready to battle it out with opponents who are not on her own team.
"I'm ready to go play another team," Kakatolis said. "I think it will be a fun and a new challenge for everybody - it's just different than playing our own teammates in the gym every day."
Team statsWisconsin- Green Bay PhoenixConference: Horizon League2007 Record: 6-20Conference Record: 4-12All-Time vs. BSU: BSU leads 1-0Last Meeting: 3-0 BSU victory; 9-12-97
Drake BulldogsConference: Missouri Valley2007 Record: 7-23Conference Record: 4-14All-Time vs. BSU: BSU leads 1-0Last Meeting: 2-0 BSU victory; 11-3-73
Centenary LadiesConference: Summit League2007 Record: 2-28Conference Record: 1-15All-Time vs. BSU: First meetingLast Meeting: First meeting
Sam Houston State BearkatsConference: Southland2007 Record: 11-19Conference Record: 5-11All-Time vs. BSU: SHSU leads 1-0Last Meeting: 2-1 SHSU victory; 12-14-73
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