Volleyball Opens Season with No. 19 and No. 2 at Texas Tournament
8/24/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
This Week....: The Mustangs will travel to the 26 West Longhorns Classic this weekend and will open with No. 19 San Diego on Friday and follow up with No. 2 Texas and LSU on Saturday. All games will be available on GameTracker through GoPoly.com... The match with Texas will also be available on TV through Longhorn TV...
What's coming up: Following the trip to Texas, Cal Poly will return home to face Idaho on Aug. 30 and then play a neutral match against Northeastern in Santa Barbara... Cal Poly will then return to tournament play when they head to Los Angeles to play Notre Dame, USC and San Diego for a second time on Sept. 7-8.
A Quick Look at the Teams...: University of San Diego holds an 8-6 advantage over the Mustangs in the all-time series including a five set win last season... vs. Texas, Cal Poly holds a 5-4 advantage over the Longhorns with the teams last meeting coming in 2006 with a five set win in Pepperdine.... Against LSU the Mustangs hold a 4-1 advantage with the last meeting in 1990...
What's in Store: The Mustangs will have some big shoes to fill as the Mustangs will be without two-time All-American Jennifer Keddy (surgery), Catie Smith to graduation and Kristina Graven to transfer. Crosson will look to senior outside hitter Molly Pon (1.91 kills per set) as the leading returning hitter (third on the team). The candidates to replace Keddy at middle blocker include senior Megan McConnell, junior Marianne Gera, sophomore Crystal Dedes and incoming freshman Hannah Schleis. McConnell, 6-1, is a former Big West all-freshman team honoree who had 93 kills last season. Her 72 blocks were third on the team. Gera, 6-1, played in 19 matches as a true freshman filling in for then-injured Dominique Olowolafe but stayed mainly on the bench last season, and Dedes, saw limited action her freshman season. Schleis, 6-1, the former Boise Borah (Idaho) High standout averaged 20 kills, 10 digs and five blocks last season, according to the Idaho Statesman, including a 39-kill match. Senior outside hitter Chelsea Hardin averaged nearly a kill a set (0.98) in 19 matches last season and will have competition from sophomore transfer Megan Groess (UMBC) who played in 20 sets and averaged 1.43 kills per set. Junior Kate Walters will return at setter after averaging 10.25 assists last season before sidelined with an injury. She will face completion from incoming freshman, Maddie Kuber (Clovis East HS) who dished out 1,945 assists during her high school career. Sophomore Stacia Williams will return after averaging 1.46 digs per set, but will face incoming junior transfer Steffi Sooter (Minnesota) who averaged 1.94 and 2.12 digs over the last two seasons. Nicole Kessler (Patrick Henry HS) and Katie Conroy (Archbishop Mitty HS) will also challenge for the libero position.
• In 2012, Big West volleyball expands to 10 teams with the addition of the University of Hawai'i. The Rainbow Wahine competed in the Big West from 1985-95 and posted a 165-31 Big West record and an overall mark of 302-68.
• Cal Poly, Long Beach State, UC Irvine and Hawai'i all kick off the new season facing Top 25 competition. The Mustangs, under the guidance of first-year head coach Sam Crosson, battle No. 2 Texas and No. 19 San Diego at the Burnt Orange Classic and LBSU faces No. 13 Kentucky at the Wildcat Classic. The Rainbow Wahine entertain No. 6 Stanford as part of their home event.
• This year is set to showcase a multitude of talent as 11 2011 All-Big West First Team members return to their respective teams in 2012.
... The Mustangs have not made a postseason since the 2007 season... Overall the team has made 14 appearances and post a 13-14 overall record.
Newcomers...
Steffi Sooter, Jr.-Tr 5-9, Libero, Watsonville, Calif. University of Minnesota/Aptos HS... As a sophomore, Sooter played in 25 matches and 81 sets at the University of Minnesota. She averaged 1.94 digs per set while committing only 10 reception errors for the season. As a freshman she played in 91 sets and averaged 2.12 digs per set.. .. At Aptos High School she played libero where she was named the Most Valuable Player of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League by league coaches. She also received Junior of the Year and Sophomore of the Year honors the two previous seasons. Aptos finished undefeated in SCCAL play in 2009 and reached the Central Coast Section Division III semifinals. As a senior, Sooter recorded 953 digs and tallied 87 service aces. Also collected 601 digs her junior season for a total of 1,554 digs in her final two seasons at Aptos High School. Played club volleyball for the Vision 18 Gold Volleyball Club out of Los Gatos.
Coach Crosson on Steffi Sooter: "Steffi comes to Cal Poly from the University of Minnesota where she played libero. Her quickness on the court, her collegiate experience, and her ability to pass and defend at a very high level make her a very valuable asset to our program."
Megan Groess, So.-Tr. 5-11, Outside Hitter, Encinitas, Calif. UMBC/La Costa Canyon HS... As a freshman Groess played 30 sets at outside hitter for UMBC and averaged 1.43 kills recording 43 kills on 159 swings. Added 23 digs and nine blocks on the season. Helped lead her club Team, Wave Volleyball Club, to gold at the 2009 U.S. Junior Olympics National Division. Also helped her high school, La Costa Canyon, to the 2008 California Division 1 State Championship, as well as the 2008-10 Avocado League and San Diego CIF crowns. Named to the San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic Team.
Head Coach Sam Crosson on Megan Groess: "Megan comes to Cal Poly from UMBC where she was a starting outside hitter. She is an athletic player who can hit the ball with not only power but with range. Her experience as a collegiate player, and training from a very successful club program have given her the skills she needs to compete with the other outside hitters here immediately."
Maddie Kuber, Fr, 5-10, Setter, Clovis East High School... Four-year letter winner at Clovis East for coach Vicki Samarin while playing setter and opposite. Played six years of club ball for Jeff Wanderer and Kieran Roblee for Central Cal Volleyball Club.... In 399 sets in high school she tallied 1,945 assists, 1,028 kills, 941 digs, 184 blocks and 162 service aces. Served as co-captain of her high school team (2009-2011) while earning all-league three times, including Fresno Bee All-Star team twice... In club ball the team qualified for Junior Olympics 2009-2011 earning all-tournament honors in 2011.
Head Coach Sam Crosson on Maddie Kuber: "Maddie exemplifies what we look for from our setters. She is a leader on the court, she is selfless, and she is an extremely hard worker. Her athletic ability and skill sets are great additions to our program and she will compete for the starting setter position right away."
Hannah Schleis, Fr. 6-1, Outside Hitter, Boise, ID, Borah High School...Four year letter winner at Borah High School finishing third and fifth in state. Two-time all-conference first team selection and MVP (2011 and 2012). Named 2009 Outstanding Blocker and team MVP and repeated honor in 2010 while earning second team all-conference and setting record for most kills in a season... All-around athlete also included lettering in basketball and track and field.
Head Coach Sam Crosson on Hannah Schleis: "Hannah posses the skill set to play various positions in the game. She can attack the ball from every position on the court and she has a very high volleyball IQ, something we strive for in all of our recruits. Her athleticism, blocking ability, and range as an attacker will allow her to compete for a starting position this fall"
Nicole Kessler, Fr. 5-9, Defensive Specialist, San Diego, Calif. Patrick Henry High School... Four year letter winner at Patrick Henry High School, winning league championship all four years... Named all-league fist team in 2011-12 while named to the San Diego County All-Star Team. Named in 2010 team MVP and 2011. Named to the San Diego Union Academic Athlete three times.
Head Coach Sam Crosson on Nicole Kessler: "Nicole is a very technically proficient passer and digger, her ball control is outstanding. She comes from a very successful and competitive club program which has prepared her to step in and make a significant impact with our passing and defense. Nicole is a very hard worker, a great teammate, and will have an immediate impact on our back row success."
Katie Conroy, Fr. 5-11, Libero, San Jose, Calif. Archbishop Mitty High School.. Two year letter winner for head coach Bret Almazan-Cezar and a team the compiled 47 wins. Team placed second in league in 2011 and placed fourth in CCS in 2010... Earned San Jose Mercury News Honorable Mention in 2011 and All WCAL League honorable mention. Also named Archbishop Mitty MVP honors... Played club for Cision and qualified for Junior Olympics in 2010 and 2011...As a senior she tallied 292 kills on 722 swings and was ranked eighth in the Central Coast Section.
Head Coach Sam Crosson on Katie Conroy: "Katie also comes from a very successful and competitive club program and she has the ability to not only pass and dig the ball very well, but is also very competitive and a great teammate. Her serving, passing, defense, and ability to communicate make her a very good libero and we are looking for her to compete for a starting position this fall"
