2004 Volleyball Season Review
OREM, Utah -€“ The future of the Utah Valley State volleyball program is bright. In only its second season as a Division I program the Wolverines finished with an 11-16 record that included wins over Memphis, Central Florida and Montana. They also battled BYU, UNLV and Oklahoma very tough. -€śI was really proud of their effort this year,-€ť Wolverine coach Sam Atoa said. -€śAlthough we did not get the winning record like we had hoped we are improving and that is what we are trying to do each year.-€ť The improvement in the team showed in its first match of the year, a four game win over Central Florida. -€śThat was a match we played very well,-€ť Atoa said. -€śThat was a very good start to the season.-€ť Along with the solid team performances through out the season, there were also many solid individual performances. Deise Borghetti was our first four-year player to go through the volleyball program. Her final year wearing the green and gold was a special win. She led the team in kills with 403 and recorded eight double-doubles. She set a school record with 30 kills against Texas-Pan American on Oct. 16. Borghetti also was named to the First Team All-Independent team. -€śDeise's incredible play in Texas was exceptional,-€ť Atoa said. -€śShe is for sure going to be hard to replace. Her leadership, playing ability and friendship is what you want in a player.-€ť The only other senior graduating this year is Alina Wallauer. She finished the year with double figure kills in 14 of 24 matches played and had double figure digs in 18 of 24 matches. She had three 19 kill matches and one match with over 20 kills and digs. She was also named to Second Team All-Independent team. -€śAlina added so much to the team in her two years here,-€ť Atoa said. -€śWe relied on her and Deise to carry the load. I'll miss not having them around.-€ť But Atoa still has a strong core of players returning next year. Lacee Koelliker, Maegan Hoyt, and Krystal Taylor are expected to anchor the Wolverine line up next year and middle blockers Stephanie McFarland and Jessica Endres return and will be steady. -€śI'm encouraged with who we have returning. I think we have a great nucleus for us to keep building,-€ť said Atoa. Koelliker was the only other Wolverine to receive All-Independent honors this season as she joined Wallauer on the Second Team. The sophomore setter captained the offense, finishing the season with a Wolverine single season record, 1133 assists (11.22 A/G). Her total assist numbers also ranked second among other Division I Independent players. Koelliker was named Division I Independent -€śSetter of the Week-€ť on September 21 st and October 12. Hoyt was tough on the back line. After starting the season with single digit dig marks in her first nine matches, Hoyt came on strong recording double-digit digs in 13 of the next 14 matches. On October 27 against Northern Colorado Hoyt set a school record for digs in a single match, notching 33. Four matches later she had 27 digs against Texas-Pan American. Hoyt was named Division I Independent -€śDefensive Player of the Week-€ť on November 2 nd . Taylor recorded nine matches with double figure kills this season. Her biggest output was a 19 kill night against Cal Poly. Taylor recorded one double-double (12 kills, 10 digs) against Westminster. Middle blockers, McFarland and Endres were young, but made progress throughout the year. McFarland had two 10 kill and two 9 kill matches during the season. She hit .471 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on November 13. -€śStephanie (McFarland) has played out of position every year. She comes back better and better every year,-€ť said Atoa. Endres had a nice freshman campaign. She had 10 double-figure kill matches, and two double-figure block matches. On October 27 th she recorded her only double-double of the year with a 12 kill, 12 block (2 BS, 10 BA) performance against Northern Colorado. She was named Division I Independent -€śNewcomer of the Year-€ť on September 14 th . Atoa looks to Endres to provide ample help in the middle down the road. -€śFor Jessica (Endres) to come in as a freshman and start and give us what she gave us was tremendous,-€ť said Atoa. Other returning players with experience are: Liberos, Anne Olsen (2.12 D/G), and Chelsea O'Neal (2.85 D/G), Middle hitters, Larissa Laycock (0.73 K/G), and Carlyn Cadmus, who red-shirted this season. Overall, Atoa is excited what the future holds for his volleyball program. -€śEverbody at certain points in the season showed us what this program will be like in the next few years,-€ť said Atoa.
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