1997 Volleyball Outlook
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| Head Coach Patti Snyder-Park |
The Arizona State volleyball program is looking forward to celebrating 25 years of Sun Devil volleyball in 1997. But that's not all the celebrating this young team is planning.
After a difficult 1996 season which saw the Devils post their first losing season in eight years, the '97 team is battletested and ready to experience success. Head coach Patti Snyder-Park, now in her ninth season at the helm of the Sun Devil program, feels this year's squad is back on track to make a run for postseason play.
"We feel we're going to be right back up to where we were prior to last year," said Snyder-Park. Arizona State returns five of six starters from 1996, including All-Pacific-10 Conference selection Terri Cox. With the addition of some new talent plus the services of redshirt sophomore setter Jolynn Faatulu, ASU will be as competitive as they have in seasons past.
"This squad is coachable and motivated," noted Snyder-Park. "They are a wonderful group who are hungry to get back to where we were two years ago."
The Devils only loss on the court from '96 will be senior setter Tracy Heflin, and Faatulu should have no trouble stepping in where she left off her freshman year before her season-ending knee injury.
The five returning starters include: senior Terri Cox (left side), senior Kirstin Mattson (middle blocker), junior Jen Lucero (left side), sophomore Jamie Peck (opposite) and sophomore Laura Hibsman (middle blocker).
But the starting jobs are by no means guaranteed. With nine letterwinners returning and six newcomers gracing the roster, competition will be fierce.
"For the first time in a couple of years we're going to have a lot of depth at every position on the court," Snyder-Park said. "Everyone will be challenging for time at each position. Our expectations, because of our depth, will be greater. I expect to see a lot of competition. It's going to be nice."
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| Outside Hitter Terri Cox |
On the Left
At the outside hitter positions, Arizona State will have no less than five
players vying for playing time. Leading this group is senior All-American
candidate Terri Cox. The 5-7 outside hitter, who led the team in both kills and
digs, finished 11th in the nation in 1996 in kills per game with 5.07 and was
second nationally in digs per game with 4.90. "Terri Cox is a returning
All-Pac-10 selection and one of two seniors on the squad," said Snyder-Park.
"She is a tremendous athlete and I think she can put up even better numbers
this season. Hopefully she'll go out with a bang."
Junior Jen Lucero and freshman Amanda Burbridge will most likely battle for the second left side spot. Lucero saw action in all 24 matches last year and finished third on the team in digs, racking up 240. She averaged 2.39 kills per game in 1996.
Freshman Amanda Burbridge, a 6-2 outside hitter from Scottsdale, Arizona (Chaparral High School), was a Volleyball magazine "Fab 50" selection and the 1996 Gatorade Circle of Champions Arizona Volleyball Player of the Year.
"Adding Amanda Burbridge, one of the top five high school outside hitters in the nation, along with Jen Lucero - that's going to give us three solid left side attackers," Snyder-Park said.
Joining the mix will be transfer Shawna Vanley, who was a middle blocker at Glendale Community College. Vanley, a 6-0 junior, was a first-team AVCA/NJCAA All-American and will do some training on the left side as well as work in the middle.
One player who is sure to figure into the rotation is junior Mindi Larsen. Larsen, a 5-10 outside hitter saw action in 23 matches last season averaging 1.78 digs per game. Larsen was involved in a car accident in the off-season and missed spring practice due to post-concussion syndrome. "We didn't get to see a lot of her in the spring because of her car accident and she is just now getting back into shape," said Snyder-Park. "Mindi is easily one of the best four players on the team because of her ball control, passing, defense and her shot selection in the front row - she's just a smart player. She's someone we have to have on the court.
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| Outside Hitter Jen Lucero |
"Now whether she's going to be passing and playing defense or if she's going to be swinging left side and/or opposite on the right side - we're going to have to find a place for her. She's just that valuable on the court.
"This gives us five legitimate 'high-above-the-net' attackers," Snyder-Park noted. "It gives us flexibility in the style that we need. We have some shot makers and we have some power players in those five."
The Sun Devils have also added junior transfer Kristal Blair (Tempe, Ariz.). The 5-10 hitter from Northern Arizona University, will bring experience and competitiveness to the outside hitting position. "She's someone who can possibly swing left and right, although her primary position will be on the left side," said Snyder-Park.
"Depending on what we need, it's nice to have so many people challenging for those two positions."
In the Middle
Leading the corps of middle blockers will be senior All-Pacific-10
candidate Kirstin Mattson. Mattson, a fifth-year senior and 1997 team captain,
led the team in blocks per game with 1.23 and was second on the squad in kills
with 2.47 per game. The 6-1 middle started in all 87 games last season and
posted a team-leading 35 block solos. "Kirstin Mattson has worked really hard
in the off-season and it has paid off," Snyder-Park noted. "She has added
muscle weight and is moving extremely well right now."
Sophomore All-Pac-10 candidate Laura Hibsman, who turned in a solid freshman campaign will challenge for a spot in the middle. Hibsman, who set a freshman record for most block assists in a single-season at ASU (83) was an All-Pac-10 All-Freshman honorable mention in '96. " I think Hibsman could go down as one of the best middle blockers in ASU history," said Snyder-Park. "She's strong, fast, coachable, intense and competitive. She's got a good quick arm for attacking and good lateral mobility for blocking. She's just a really nice solid package. I look for Mattson and Hibsman to challenge for those top two positions."
Sophomore Ashley Ottman and freshman Michelle Mortensen (Chandler, Ariz.) look to figure into the mix of middle blockers as well. Ottman, a 6-3 middle from Flossmoor, Illinois, was plagued with several minor injuries her freshman year but should rebound for the 1997 season. "Ottman has benefited from sitting out last year and has had time to learn the offense and the pace of Pac-10 play," Snyder-Park noted. "These two will push the other middle blockers."
Transfer Shawna Vanley could see some time in the middle as well. Vanley was named ACCAC Region Player of the Year in 1996. "She has tremendous blocking potential and experience," Snyder-Park said. "She's not an incredibly big middle, but very mobile and quick with really good range in the air."
On the Right
On the right side, non-setting, sophomores Jamie Peck and Lindsay Priest
will vye for a starting spot. Peck, a 6-3 opposite, was a 1996 Pac-10
All-Freshman selection and finished second on the team in block assists with 73
and third in kills with 196. She started all 24 matches on the right side for
Arizona State. Priest, a 6-0 opposite/setter, saw most of her action in the
back row as a defensive and passing specialist last year. She played in 21
matches for the Devils.
"Those two are really going to battle," noted Snyder-Park. "Jamie's a big block. She's got experience playing on the right side. Lindsay was mostly our back up setter last year, but she's going to challenge as an attacker rather than a setter. She's a great passer.
"We need to find another solid passer in our passing scheme. Terri Cox is our number one passer but we need to locate someone else. Lindsay might be the second-best passer on our team. She is also a very good blocker and obviously can set that second ball because of her setting experience. She's gotten much stronger in the past year."
Mortensen (Chandler High School) is another possibility on the right side. "Even though, Michelle Mortensen will be doing back up in the middle, she is someone we'd like to train as an opposite as well," Snyder-Park said.
In the setting position, redshirt sophomore Jolynn Faatulu will take over in the starting role. Faatulu was the Devils starting setter in 1995 when she went down with an ACL knee injury in a match with Southern California. She had been averaging 12.29 assists and 2.90 digs per game."She was golden as a freshman before she hurt her knee," said Snyder-Park. "We expect her to come right back in and be even better as a sophomore. She's had a year to rehabilitate and her knee should be strong.
"Faatulu is truly a gifted all-American-type setter. She's got the temperament and the consistency to lead a team. It's such a key position - to have somebody with those skills - it's just really exciting."
Backing up Faatulu will be freshman Carmen Fusco (San Clement, Calif.). The 5-8 setter from Capo Valley Christian High School is a quick and dynamic setter who can also DS for Arizona State. "If she's not setting, she's a great defensive asset on the court and she'll probably be out there," noted Snyder-Park.
Arizona State will also employ the talents of Traci Reiff (Glendale, Ariz.), a transfer from Glendale Community College. The 5-7 defensive specialist is a potential back up setter, but will mainly come in and play defense for the Devils.
1997 Schedule Highlights
Once again, Arizona State will face some of the top teams in the nation in
and out of conference. Defending NCAA Champion Stanford tops the list of
conference rivals which also includes Southern California, Washington State,
UCLA, Washington and Arizona. "Everybody is good," noted Snyder-Park. "There's
not a weak team in the Pac-10. I think we're all going to battle.
"There will be a lot of four and five game matches. I don't think anybody is going to beat anybody three games to zero. There are just so many good players in the conference. Every team has solid players and experience. "
ASU opens the 1997 season with three tournaments, including the Phoenix Airport Hilton/Sun Devil Challenge over Labor Day weekend. The team then travels to Nacogdoches, Texas for the Ladyjack Invitational, hosted by Stephen F. Austin University. Arizona State heads to Santa Barbara, California for the Judy Bellomo Classic hosted by '96 NCAA participant UC Santa Barbara to close out non-conference action. "The UC Santa Barbara tournament is a great tournament to have prior the start of Pac-10 play," said Snyder-Park. "It will feature several top 20 teams. "
" I think our nonconference schedule is perfect for us. It is going to challenge us but give us confidence going into conference play. Our tournament will feature some tough competition but no top 10 teams. that could stump a very young group. Stanford is the team to beat in the nation, not just in the conference. Two through ten is a tossup. It's going to be a battle every night."