One of the most valued traits in a team is experience; the veterans that guide the newcomers to continue a long line of success.
The 2009 Cal State Stanislaus volleyball team is, in fact, far from experienced. But what the team lacks in journeymen, it holds a substantial advantage over other teams in another trait: Scrappiness.
Head coach Christina Lore, now entering her fifth year with the program, called her 2009 squad “scrappy” after an impressive preseason that saw the Warriors go undefeated in exhibition play, including a three-set sweep over Academy of Art, a team that beat the Warriors twice in 2008.
“That’s a good attitude,” Lore said about the young team’s competitive nature. “It’s better than I’ve had in past years. I have not heard ‘I can’t,’ yet.”
With just one senior on the roster, the Warriors have to find different ways to motivate each other and play as a team instead of leaning on the leadership of a starting core of veteran players.
“The older girls came back (this season) wanting to play hard and the incoming girls feed off of that,” Lore said.
Plenty of off-season work over the summer has inspired the players to make their own goals, even beyond the ones that Lore and the coaching staff have made.
“As a coaching staff, we’ve talked about being competitive every match,” Lore said. “The team has decided they want to be .500.”
Reaching an even record for 2009 is a tall order for a program that has not been .500 or better since 2002 when the team set a school record with 19 wins. The team has finished an average of 16 games under .500 since 2002 and an average of 14 games under .500 in Lore’s four years as head coach.
But Lore thinks this team, more than others in recent years, is up for the challenge.
“I’ve tried to stay away from telling the girls which team to beat. We’re trying to get away from that mentality,” Lore said. “Their other goal is to win at home. The returners have come back hungrier.”
Lore plans on focusing on having the team play a quicker offense and letting the veterans play defense in the back row, while mainly playing a 5-1 formation, using one setter the majority of the time.
Size will be the key for the Warriors this season – something that has been missing in past seasons. The 2009 team has nine players at 5 feet, 10 inches tall or over, including four girls soaring over the six-foot mark. Last season, the team sported just five girls at 5-10 or above, with no players at 6 feet or taller.
“We’re a lot bigger than we’ve been in past years,” Lore said. “We play bigger at the net, in blocking, and use our height in hitting.”
SETTERS
The Warriors have three setters this season with returners Nicki Brown and Colleen Sullivan, along with freshman Jessica Lehner. Lore has had problems choosing which player to use on a regular basis with all three of them owning strengths in different areas.
“They’re all very strong, all three of them, so it’s been really difficult to make a lineup,” Lore said. “I anticipate switching them all season, until someone steps up as the clear leader.”
Brown and Sullivan are both juniors having seen about equal playing time the past two seasons. Brown had 576 assists in 2008 in 22 matches played and Sullivan had 425 assists in 16 matches played. Lore calls Lehner a “great combo” between Brown and Sullivan, and all three should see playing time this season.
“Nicki has come a long way since her freshman year,” Lore said. “She’s setting more aggressive and getting better with her sets and dumps. Colleen takes more risks and moves the ball around more. Jessica needs to learn the (how to play) in the conference, but I don’t see it taking very long.”
OUTSIDE HITTERS
Sophomore Lianne Vicchio returns in 2009 as the offensive catalyst for the Warriors. As a freshman, Vicchio was second on the team with 310 kills, just one behind now-departed Jen Gee.
The Warriors have also added Janay Bankston to their outside hitting arsenal. Bankston comes to Cal State Stanislaus from the neighboring town of Denair as a three-time all-conference player in high school.
“(Bankston) is a great-get for this program in terms of local players,” Lore said. “She can get up to hit the ball nicely. She listens really well, to both coaches and players.”
It’s quite possible that after just one year, other teams in the CCAA have noticed Vicchio and will go right after her this season.
“I think she’s up to the challenge,” Lore said. “She has more tools and there’s more pressure (but) this year she’s more mature.”
Another local talent is Taylor Dawson, a 6-foot-1 freshman from Waterford, who attended Hughson High School. She figures to also be in the mix of outside hitters to be rotated in and out this season.
MIDDLE HITTERS
With 5-10 sophomore Victoria Costa returning to the middle, along with six-foot freshmen Andrea Fett and Melissa Bishop, the Warriors will have plenty of size in the middle. Costa returns after starting 17 matches in 2008 and notching 27 blocks – third on the team.
Fett stands at 6-2 and is “quicker and more athletic” according to Lore. Costa’s experience gives her vision as a good blocker and Bishop does well at turning the ball. These focus points give coach Lore another headache at this position in trying to choose a starter.
“They’re working hard and again, making it tough on the coaching staff. They’re all team players.”
RIGHT SIDE
Just as a baseball or softball coach would bring in a left-handed pitcher to throw a wrench in the opposing team’s rhythm, coach Lore has her own new look at the right side position with freshman lefty Jennifer Marsh joining the team in 2009.
“There are not a lot of lefty hitters so it’s harder for teams to block them,” Lore said. “She has real potential to grow.”
Marsh takes the title as tallest player on the team, standing at 6-2 along with Fett, but just a hair taller than her fellow freshman teammate. She was a four-year varsity player at Mission-Viejo High School in Trabuco Canyon and participated in the Junior Olympics.
Stephany Leonard, a freshman from Hercules, is aslo part of the puzzle from the opposite side.
DEFENSE
The lone senior on the team, Amanda Pielstick, is not even playing as an official “senior” this season. She is listed as a graduate student in her final year with the Warriors, and she, along with junior Megan Britton, will anchor the defense.
“I’ve been confident with them,” Lore said. “Our big surprise this year has been Lauren.”
Lauren Charles is the surprise Lore referred to. Originally a walk-on in 2008, Lore said that Charles worked extra hard over the summer and is passing better and playing a lot better defense.
“That allows us to sub out if we run a 5-1,” Lore added.
The Warriors begin the 2009 season Friday when they make their annual trip to Lore’s alma mater, Sonoma State, for the Seawolve Spike Invitational. Stanislaus will play Northwest Nazarene, Central Washington, Notre Dame de Namur and Dominican in the two-day tournament.