Volleyball Opens Season Friday with Northern Colorado
8/27/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The Cal Poly volleyball program will open the 2013 campaign at the Northern Colorado/Colorado State Tournament Friday when they play host Northern Colorado. The Mustangs will conclude tournament play on Saturday with a pair of matches against Baylor and at Colorado State.
Northern Colorado compiled a 24-10 overall record last season in advancing to the NCAA Tournament as the Big Sky representative. Baylor was 20-12 overall and 7-9 in Big-12 play while Colorado State was 21-8 overall and 13-3 in Mountain West play and also advanced to post season play.
Second-year head coach Sam Crosson returns 12 letterwinners off last season's squad that will include two-time All-American senior Jennifer Keddy and six freshmen.
Returning from last season's squad is senior outside hitter Chelsea Hardin (2.18 kills), sophomore outside hitter Hannah Schleis (1.73 kills) and senior outside hitter Megan McConnell (1.52 kills, 2.33 digs). Marianne Gera returns for her senior year at middle blocker where she tallied 1.09 kills and 0.66 blocks.
Sophomore Maddie Kuber and senior Kate Walters return at setter where they recorded 5.59 and 5.14 assists per set respectively. Kuber added 0.97 kills and 2.07 digs per set. Also at setter will be junior Shannon Garrett who added 5.43 assists per set.
On the defensive side the Mustangs return two solid liberos in senior Steffi Sooter and sophomore Nicole Kessler. Sooter played in 103 sets and tallied 326 digs (3.17) while Kessler played in 108 sets and averaged 3.06 digs.
Newcomers include Shannon Fouts, a 5-7 setter, from Sisters, OR. Kristen Witous, a 6-1 outside hitter, from Rancho Santa Fe. Middle blocker Taylor Gruenewald (6-1) from Southlake, TX. Outside hitter Anna Gorman (5-10) from Sammamish, WA.
Rounding out the freshman will be Lexi Reddick, an outside hitter (6-1) from San Diego and local product, Lauren Pluim, a 6-3 middle blocker, from Lompoc.
