August 18, 2008
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Season Preview: Malone Volleyball Returns 10 Athletes For Its 2008 CampaignWith virtually its entire roster returning from last year, the Malone College volleyball team will be looking to replicate its 2007 success with another strong season this fall.
Although the squad had just five returnees and no seniors on its roster at the start of last season, the Pioneers were able to put together an impressive campaign, finishing the regular season with a 21-16 overall record and an 11-3 mark in the American Mideast Conference North Division. Malone then went on to play some of its best volleyball of the year at the NAIA Region IX Tournament as the unit advanced all the way to the regional title match before it fell to then NAIA No. 13 Mt. Vernon Nazarene University by a final tally of three games to one (33-31, 30-20, 26-30, 30-26).
Following her young squad’s strong performance down the stretch last year and the wealth of talent that is returning this fall, tenth-year head coach Tanya Hockman is optimistic about continued success in 2008. “Our team really started to hit their stride at the end of last season,” stated Hockman. “They are confident and believe that they can do what they have done in the past.”
Back to lead the Pioneers in 2008 is a gifted group of young starters that includes sophomore outside hitters Jennifer Gahagan (Ravenna Southeast H.S.) and Lori Ickes (Smithville H.S.), junior middle hitters Kristen Schoolcraft (McKinley H.S.) and Erica Gann (Meadowbrook H.S.), and junior setter Alyssa Dibell (Fairless).
Gahagan and Ickes each made an immediate impact last year as both represented Malone on the six-player All-AMC North Division Freshmen Team. Gahagan also received All-AMC North First Team and NCCAA All-East Region recognition in 2007 after averaging a team-high 2.97 kills per game to go with 55 service aces, 101 total blocks, and 3.29 digs per contest. “Jennifer is a dominant outside hitter and one of the best passers in the conference,” said Hockman. “As an outside hitter, we rely on her as one of our go-to players. She proved that she could handle the pressure last year as a freshman.”
Ickes also proved herself in 2007, garnering All-AMC North Second Team and NCCAA All-East Region honors after hammering 2.50 kills per game while pacing the squad in digs (3.52 per game) and service aces (79 total). Following this fine performance as a freshman, Hockman also had plenty of praise for Ickes. “Lori brings superb defensive skills to our team,” said Hockman. “She has a libero mindset and plays a vital defensive role as our primary middle-back passer. She really stepped it up defensively for us last year.”
Playing vital roles up front will be the 5’11” Schoolcraft and the 6’3” Gann. Schoolcraft collected All-AMC North Honorable Mention accolades last season after smashing 2.01 kills per game and leading the team with 169 blocks (1.19 per contest). According to Hockman, Schoolcraft’s “net play is certainly one of the things we’ll lean on heavily this year.”
Gann, a 2007 All-AMC North Honorable Mention and NCCAA All-East Region Honorable Mention selection, recorded a team-best .241 attack percentage a year ago while averaging 2.34 kills and 0.85 blocks. Speaking of Gann, Hockman said, “I love her approach to the game. She will do anything we ask of her and she gives us everything she has when she’s out there”
After being asked to move from outside hitter to setter prior to the start of the year, Dibell flourished in her new position, tallying 9.66 assists and 2.44 digs per game. “I give her all the credit in the world for being so coachable,” said Hockman. “She made the switch wonderfully last year. To have her back after the excellent season she had last year is a great thing for us.”
Also returning to the Malone lineup this fall is senior defensive specialist/libero Kristi Beun (Kidron Central Christian H.S.), senior setter/defensive specialist Bethany Thompson (Tusc. Central Catholic H.S.), junior server/defensive specialist Julie Finley (Western Reserve H.S.), sophomore outside hitter Tabitha Streby (Fredericktown H.S.) and sophomore right side hitter Emily Beiting (Fort Thomas, KY). Beun and Finley shared time as back row defenders last season, Thompson was second on the team with 57 service aces and Streby saw limited action in a reserve role. Beiting was voted All-AMC North Honorable Mention as a freshman last year after playing in all 41 of the Pioneers’ matches and averaging 1.88 kills and 3.08 digs per game.
New to the squad this year will be three freshmen -- right side hitter Megan Fisher from Massillon Perry High School, defensive specialist/libero Nicole Lecon from Dalton High School and outside hitter/setter Hannah Riley from Minerva High School.
Fisher, a Second Team All-Federal League selection in both 2006 & 2007, will compete for playing time on the right side. “Megan has a powerful arm swing and will provide balance and depth at the right side position,” said Hockman.
Lecon garnered District Player of the Year honors for Dalton in 2006 and will look to make immediate contributions as a back row specialist/libero. “Nicole will be able to serve aggressively and back row attack,” stated Hockman. “She will hopefully bring some stability to our serve receive.”
Riley arrives at Malone after an accomplished high school career in which she garnered numerous awards including Northeastern Buckeye Conference, Stark County and Ohio District IV Player of the Year honors. After fully recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, Riley will begin her collegiate career by platooning for the Pioneers as a setter or outside hitter. Regarding Riley, Hockman stated, “We are overjoyed to have her because she can bring so many skills to the team. Hannah is slightly undersized at the outside hitter/setter position, otherwise, she would likely be playing at the NCAA Division I or II level.”
With a large number of experienced returnees and the influx of three talented freshman recruits, Malone is aiming for another strong performance in 2008. However, there are a few areas of concern for the squad, including a lack of depth at the middle hitter position (Gann & Schoolcraft are the only two middle hitters) and the overall health of the team as Finley is coming off a major illness and Riley is still working her way back from shoulder surgery.
The squad will also once again be challenged by a demanding schedule this season as the American Mideast Conference moves from a two-division format to a 15-game round-robin conference schedule with challenging matches slated against perennial conference powers Walsh University, Mt. Vernon Nazarene University, Cedarville University, and Ohio Dominican University. “The AMC will be a tight race from the first match to the end of the year,” said Hockman. “I’m excited for another great season.”
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