Mustangs to Host Idaho in Home Opener on Thursday, 5 pm
8/30/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
This Week....: The Mustangs will host former Big West Conference member Idaho in a non-conference match in the team's 2012 home opener on Thursday at 5 pm. Cal Poly enters the match 0-3 after facing two of the nations toughest teams at the Texas tournament while Idaho enters 2-1 after hosting its own tournament. On Sunday the Mustangs will play a neutral site match against Northeastern at noon at UC Santa Barbara. Northeastern enters the week 3-0 and will play in the UCSB tournament prior to facing the Mustangs.
What's coming up: Following tonight's match against the Vandals, Cal Poly will travel to Santa Barbara for a neutral site match with Northeastern on Sunday at 12 noon. The Mustangs will return to tournament play when they travel to Los Angeles and the USC Classic. Cal Poly will open play with Notre Dame on Sept. 7 (4:30 pm) and play host USC (10 am) and San Diego (5 pm) on Sept. 8.
A Quick Look at the Teams:
CP UI
Record: 0-3 2-1
Kills per Set: 10.3 13.1
Hitting % : .109 .200
Digs per Set: 13.56 16.1
Blocks per Set: 0.89 2.50
Service Aces Per Set: 0.56 1.3
Idaho: The Vandals enter the match with the Mustangs 2-1 having defeated Montana (3-1) and Washington State (3-2). UI lost its season-opener to Pacific in five sets. Allison Walker leads the team averaging 4.93 kills per set. Alyssa Schultz and Katelyn Peterson add 2.36 and 2.07 kills respectively. Ryann Carter handles the setting duties averaging 11.14 assists per set while Janelle Chow leads the team with 4.71 digs per set. Idaho will travel to the UCSB tournament following the match with the Mustangs.
The Holly and Molly Show.... : Junior Holly Franks and senior Molly Pon lead the team averaging 2.44 kills per set ... Pon's kills (22) have come on 76 swings with 12 errors (.132) while Franks' kills (22) have come on 75 swings and 15 errors (.093)... both outside hitters, Pon from the left and Franks from the right...
Pon's All-Around... : Molly Pon has also shown an all-around game with 20 digs and a 2.22 average per set.... Both her kills and digs are up from last season's numbers.. 1.91 kills and 1.28 digs....
Jump-start....: Outside hitter, sophomore transfer Megan Groess came off the bench in the match with No. 2 Texas to spark the team and push Texas in the third set.... She recorded seven kills on 16 swings with only two errors (.312)... In the LSU match she played in one set and tallied two kills on nine swings (one error)...
A True Freshman...: True freshman Nicole Kessler has made an impression in her first three matches as a Mustang.... Kessler, niece of former Mustang standout Lynn Kessler (1982-85), leads the team with 3.44 digs per set.. She has tallied 10 or more kills in two of the three matches....
And More Digs... : Junior transfer Steffi Sooter checks in with 2.62 digs per set while setter Kate Walters averages 2.00 digs....
Setting it Up... : Junior Kate Walters has handled the setting duties for the Mustangs in the first three matches and has averaged 8.22 kills per set....
Playing the Best.... : The Mustangs have already faced the No. 2 team (Texas) and the No. 19 team (San Diego) just three matches into the season.... This next week when the Mustangs travel to Los Angeles for the USC tournament... Cal Poly will face No. 5 USC and No. 19 San Diego (again)... During the BWC season Cal Poly will face No. 6 Hawai'i twice and Cal State Northridge twice who is receiving votes....
Missing in Action.... : Jennifer Keddy, a two-time AVCA All-America selection, was named the 2011 Big West Conference Player of the Year when she led the conference with 4.06 kills per set is sidelined for the season with a shoulder injury. The 6-4 middle blocker was also third in hitting percentage with a .339 clip and blocks with a 1.22 average. Keddy's 4.85 points per set average ranks first in the Big West and 22nd in the nation. Her all-around skills include 1.76 digs per set with her career-high 19 coming against UC Irvine. She was also selected for the national A2 team.
• 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"
