PREVIEW: New-Look Bruins Counting on Newcomers to Fuel Climb in NWC in 2011

NEWBERG, Ore. – Bolstered by eight newcomers to their 2011 roster – well over half of the team members – the new-look George Fox University Bruins will count heavily upon some fresh faces to fuel a hoped-for climb in the Northwest Conference women’s volleyball standings during the upcoming season. 

“Yes, we’ll be young,” admits Bruin coach Steve Grant, who enters his 30th season at George Fox with a 567-380 record that ranks his 12th nationally among active NCAA Division III coaches in wins.  “We will rely a lot on some freshmen, who make mistakes, of course – but if we can hang onto a collective sense of purpose and stay focused on our goals, we’re going to make other teams work hard to beat us.”

The Bruins, who went 11-15 overall last year and tied for fourth in the conference at 6-10, are not entirely bereft of experience, however.  Four starters are gone, including honorable mention All-Conference setter Ali Toedtemeier and the middle blocking tandem of Eliza Pledger and Isabel Valentine, but the Bruins do return libero / defensive specialist Patti Reeves (Sr., Everett, Wash. / Archbishop Murphy HS) and starting outside hitters Stephanie Kerr (Sr., Brookings, Ore. / Brookings-Harbor HS) and Betsy Wilhelm (Jr., West Linn, Ore. / West Linn HS).

Reeves, who collected 500 digs, the second-most ever by a Bruin in one season, and set a team record for digs per game (5.88), “may go down as the best defensive player ever at George Fox before the year is over,” states Grant.  “She is healthier after playing last season with a toe injury that required off-season surgery, and will be more of a threat this season as she has improved her hitting from the back row.  Defensively, she literally covers the floor – she wants every ball and goes and gets ‘em.”

Kerr averaged 2.27 kills and 0.65 blocks per game last year, while Wilhelm had 2.20 kills with 3.05 digs a game, the latter number second on the team.

“Stephanie will definitely be a force on the right side with her blocking and efficient arm swing,” says Grant.  “She has worked on her timing and velocity and hitting at a higher percentage this season.  We are setting to her more this year and she has responded.  Betsy has the potential to deliver a big season for us as her confidence is growing.  She is a smarter and more experienced player, and has worked hard to improve her hitting and receiving percentages.”

Two other front-line hitters the Bruins welcome back are Cassie Irwin (Jr., Vancouver, Wash. /Prairie HS) and Amanda White (So., Vancouver, Wash./ Union HS).  Irwin posted figures of 1.75 kills and 1.11 digs per game, while White had numbers of 1.82 kills and 1.90 digs an outing.

“Cassie is a very smart hitter and a force when the ball is set to the right spot for her,” assesses Grant.  “She reads blocks well and has a strong sense of where the holes are in the defense.  Amanda is more focused and more consistent after a year of college ball, and has improved both her receiving and her vertical jump.  She will be a significant contributor for us this fall.”

The Bruins’ sixth returnee, Chelsea Wilson (So., Ewa Beach, Hawai’i / Campbell HS), is a defensive specialist who will be adding a setter’s role to her repertoire this year.  She made 2.50 digs a game in limited action as a freshman.

“Chelsea is excited about her additional role as a setter and we have been really pleased with how quickly she has adapted to it,” notes Grant.  “She locates the ball well, makes good decisions, and doesn’t get rattled.  Her versatility will be a plus for us this year.”

With four starting slots open, Grant believes two of them will be filled by rookies Erin Campbell (Fr., Covington, Wash. / Kentwood HS) as an outside hitter and Mackenzie Teigen (Fr., University Place, Wash. / Curtis HS) at setter.

“Erin is a left front hitter who I watched for two years in club ball and really thought she’d go to a higher level,” admits Grant.  “She has great hitting and jumping ability, is an efficient hitter, serves and receives and plays defense well, is a hard worker and intense – she is the ‘complete package’.  Like Erin, Mackenzie comes with a great pedigree from a top-notch club program where she had a great setter coach.  She has great technique and hands, makes good decisions and locates the ball well for a freshman.  We are extremely pleased with her skills set.”

Brooke Molloy (Fr., Spanaway, Wash. /Lake Tapps HS) will also vie for time at outside hitter.  Says Grant, “Brooke played for a not-very-tall club team that competed like crazy and never gave up, and she brings that same attitude to us.  She is a smart player who pursues every ball and locates holes in the defense well.”

The least-experienced segment of the Bruins’ game in 2011 will be in the middle, where five newcomers will compete for the two blocking positions: Kylee Adderson (Fr., Medford, Ore. / St. Mary’s HS), Tiffany Burk (Fr., Baker City, Ore. /Baker HS), Kyla Keeler (Fr., Bothell, Wash. / Inglemoor HS), Jessie Vahalla (Fr., San Diego, Calif. / San Dieguito Academy), and Ameena Bossier (Fr., Lancaster, Calif. / Lancaster HS). 

“Kylee is simply an athlete; she is strong and jumps well,” observes Grant.  “Size-wise, she is more of an outside hitter and may be a bit out of position in the middle, but she is a smart player with good footwork and blocking skills and a powerful arm swing.

“Tiffany is our tallest middle at 6-1, with raw talent and a tremendous upside; she could be someone to remember for a long time around here.  She has a long body, with great elevation, and is quickly learning how and where to hit the ball.  She is enthusiastic and brings a wonderful attitude with her.

“Kyla is another long body from a good club level who is working on her quickness and elevation.  She has a good arm swing, and is getting her timing down but can put the ball on the floor when it is right.

“Jessie has been a big surprise; I had only seen her once before she came.  She gets excellent elevation on the block, is pretty quick, and is getting her footwork and timing down on blocks and approaches.

“Ameena has been hampered by a hip flexor from day one, but will be a solid player for us when she is healthy.  She has good elevation, and is quick to the ball on defense.”

The Bruins will take their young roster into a conference scene filled with veteran ballclubs, and Grant knows his team will have to rely on the players’ innate athleticism instead of experience in the early going. 

“Overall, I think our outside hitting corps will be better, and we have a solid right side in Stephanie and Cassie,” sums up Grant.  “Our middles played well last year, and we have a ways to go and will have to work hard to rise to that level again this year.  I believe our defense overall is better than last year, but we do need to sharpen our passing and we are working hard on that.

“All in all, though, I think we will have an exciting team to watch this year, and our best days are just ahead.”

The season tips off for the young Bruins on Thursday, Sept. 1, when they host Simpson University from Redding, Calif., at 7:00 p.m. in the Wheeler Sports Center’s Miller Gym.