2003 Charlotte Volleyball Preview

Jessica Kelly

Expectations abound for the Charlotte 49ers' volleyball team heading into the 2003 campaign. The coaches and players are eager to get the season underway, and people around campus are looking forward to seeing what the Niners can do not only during the regular-season but also in the conference tournament. Things like these happen when you increase the number of wins for a third-straight year, put together back-to-back seasons of .500 or better for the first time in nearly a decade and tie the school record for conference victories. All of those happened at Charlotte last season.

"I have been looking forward to this season since the end of last season," head coach Lisa Marston said recently. "We made a lot of progress last season and with the addition of some talented newcomers, we are capable of making a significant jump."

Experienced, versatile and talented are all words that could be used to describe this most recent edition of the 49ers. Five starters and nine letterwinners return from last season's squad that won 18 matches and earned the sixth seed in last year's tourney. Since then, the team has added six skilled newcomers, making it anybody's guess as to who will be on the floor at the start of the season.

"Depth is going to be a huge factor for Charlotte this fall," Marston said. "We have five players training in the outside position, five in the middle position, four in the right side position, three as setters and four as liberos. The competition to win a starting position will be stiff, which will help us move forward. It is hard to predict our starting line-up and as a result the second team will be very talented. It is important that the first team has tough competition in practice and our second team should challenge every day."

Even with competition for a spot in the line-up wide open at this point, there are some certainties that bring comfort. Charlotte has two seniors on the roster that will be relied upon to lead the team, both of whom has helped transform the Niners into winners.

Jessica Kelly (San Antonio, Texas) enters her final season as one of the most experienced players on the team. During her career she has been one of the team's top blockers and could crack the school's career top 10 before the end of 2003. She is also capable of knocking down kills, posting a career high last season.

"Jessica has been working out faithfully all summer and will be ready to compete from day one," Marston said. "She is a solid player for us in the middle and on the right side. She is probably our best blocker on the team and we need that against our tough competition. Jess was voted a captain, by her teammates, this spring. The thing that I love about Jessica is that she will find a way to get into the line-up. She wants it that badly."

The other senior who has proven herself as a capable hitter is Chanda Waller (Sr., Atlanta, Ga.). She has seen action as a starter and reserve over the previous three seasons and has excelled in both roles. In 2002, she posted a career-best 131 kills and finished third on the team in kills per game, despite playing in only 54 games.

"I believe that this is going to be Chanda's year," Marston said. "She has gone back and forth from starter to back-up, but with a performance like this last spring season, she should lock herself into the line-up. Chanda is a fierce competitor and asks the same of her teammates. She is an explosive attacker who will score a lot of points for us."

Katie Hall (Louisville, Ky.) is among a group of three juniors expected to play a significant role in the team's success this season. Slowed by injury early last season, she came on strong toward the end of September, reaching double figures in kills three times and recording four or more blocks seven times down the stretch.

"Katie has progressively grown into a dominant force in the middle," Marston said. "She is able to hit with power and place the ball when necessary. With her added jump serve and improved lateral quickness, Katie should score a lot of points for us this fall."

Holly Kreyling (Jr., Fort Wright, Ky.) is another player that has put up solid numbers for Charlotte in two seasons with the program. An all-tournament pick at last year's SpringHill Suites Classic, Kreyling topped double figures in kills eight times, including three times in the last four matches. She had five double-doubles and finished second on the team with 30 service aces. She was voted a captain by her teammates.

"It is rare in collegiate volleyball, with such specialization, for a player to be as versatile as Holly is," Marston said. "She is a true utility player which means that I can put her into any position on the court and she is able to compete at a (high) level. She has played defensive specialist, middle, outside and right side for us during her last two years. This year, I see Holly competing for time at the libero and/or the right side position. She is the type of player that you have to have on the court for the sake of chemistry."

In her first season as the team's starting setter, Molly McDonald (Jr., Santa Cruz, Calif.) proved herself as one of Conference USA's best, ranking fifth in the league for all matches with 11.99 assists per game. In conference play, she turned it up a notch, ranking fourth among the C-USA leaders. She joins Kelly and Kreyling as team captains, as voted by their teammates.

"Molly was our starting setter all last year and made great improvements in her physical and mental game," Marston said. "She is motivated by competition, therefore with Katie Griffin and Abra Geissler training as well, we should see Molly make steady improvements this year as well. Molly is a fluid athlete who will makes a lot of sets look easy. She was voted a captain by her teammates."

The Niners also return a pair of sophomores with the potential to put up incredible numbers. Lisa Newell (Merrillville, Ind.) is the one fans are most likely to remember as a C-USA all-freshman pick, but Abbey Szlanfucht (Mishawaka, Ind.) had her moments as well last year and is coming off a terrific spring season.

As a freshman, Szlanfucht logged 11 double-doubles and was second on the team with 3.20 kills per game. In addition to being named to the league's all-freshman team, Newell was all-tournament at all four of the team's tourneys last season. She was third on the team with 302 kills and led the Niners with 110 blocks.

"Abbey had an incredible spring," Marston said. "She got much stronger and was virtually unstoppable against high level competition. Her ball control and defense has improved dramatically over the last year and I see her as a real force for us. Abbey has a way of raising her game as the pressure increases. Her teammates will look to her to finish during tough matches.

"Lisa was honored with an all-freshmen award last season and for that reason she will become a scouting report for other teams. This will be a big year for her in that she must be able to create offensive opportunities for herself against consistent double blocks in the middle. I see Lisa taking a huge step forward in her mental game this fall. She is one of the hardest hitting middles in the conference and will score big numbers for us."

Danielle Miller (So., Woodstock, Ill.) returns for second season at Charlotte. As a freshman, she most often made her way onto the floor to serve, registering 10 aces. She also saw time as a defensive specialist.

"Dani had a good spring, when she was able to really concentrate on the libero position. She made good strides and will be a legitimate contender for the starting position this fall. Dani has a very outgoing personality and if she can transfer that onto the court she will be a huge asset in our chemistry."

The final sophomore on Charlotte's roster is Katie Griffin (Austin, Texas), who joins the team after playing one season at Ole Miss. As a freshman with the Rebels, she was the team's back-up setter and accounted for nearly 30 percent of her team's assists.

"Katie transferred to us from Ole Miss where she was one of the starting setters in a 6-2 offense," Marston said. "Having college setting experience, especially against the competition in the SEC, will make her a contender for the starting position right away. Katie is a great athlete with good set placement. I am excited to start training her to see what offensive doors she will open for us."

Last fall, the 49ers signed Millicent Martin (Houston, Texas) and Jessica Oldenburg (Belle Plaine, Minn.) to letters of intent. Both bring impressive credentials.

Martin helped her team to a ninth-place showing at the USA Junior Volleyball Championships this past summer. As a member of her Stratford High School team, she helped the Spartans to the Texas 5-A championship game as a junior and senior, earning multiple all-state and all-district honors.

"Milli is an exciting athlete to watch," Marston said. "She takes a huge, explosive approach and has a nice jump. She has trained mostly on the right side in club ball, so she will need to make the transition back to the outside. As soon as she can do that she will compete for time right away. Milli is a very mature player and has an outgoing and fun approach to the game."

Oldenburg is a two-time all-conference selection and was named honorable mention all-state as a junior. Last season, she served as a co-captain for her Belle Plaine High School team.

"Charlotte hasn't had a leftie on the team in a while and so with Jessica's 6-3 presence as a leftie, she should be a unique choice for us on the right side," Marston said. "Jess has had great experience and training with her club program and I look for her to be a legitimate choice right away."

Since last fall, the Niners have added three more newcomers to the roster.

A middle blocker, Lynae Mulder (Fr., Ripon, Calif.) signed with Charlotte in May. She joins the team after playing for Delta Valley Volleyball Club, one of the top clubs on the West Coast. This past summer, she and her teammates competed at nationals.

"Lynae is a great utility player," Marston said. "We will be training her primarily in the middle, but she can and will train on the right side and the outside as well. I'm excited about Lynae's slide offense, which makes her a good choice for the middle or right side."

Charlotte also welcomes freshmen Meghan Brennan (Grosse Point, Mich.) and Rachelle Rostas (Charlotte, N.C.) to the team this season. Brennan is expected to see her first action at the collegiate level at libero, but could also make her way onto the floor at another position. Rostas is a local product, who graduated from South Mecklenburg. She will redshirt this season.

"Meghan is going to be training primarily in the libero position, but will be hitting on the outside for us some as well," Marston said. "She is what we call a 'glue' player as she has a mature, fun-loving personality and our chemistry will be better because of her. I am excited to see where Meghan will fit in our line-up."

"Rachelle will be redshirting this season. During the season we will help to catch her up to the mental part of the game. Physically, Rachelle is ready to compete now and we are truly excited about her potential over the next 5 years."