Aug. 25, 2011

UVU Volleyball Game Notes

OREM, Utah - After finishing second in the Great West Conference for the past two years, the Utah Valley University women's volleyball team has its sights set on winning its first conference title in 2011.

"We want to win the conference," 13th year UVU head coach Sam Atoa said. "We want to win the regular season and the conference tournament. That is a goal that we have fallen short of the last couple of years. Hopefully we will have another good year, however we need to be able to finish at the end of the season."

Despite losing four, four-year standouts to graduation last year -- one of which that includes multiple school record holder Kayli Doxey -- Atoa is hopeful that his mix of veterans and newcomers can get the job done in 2011.

"The past is the past, and Kayli and the other seniors did a wonderful job for us. However this year we have a different dynamic and a different group of kids. I'm encouraged with how we are looking and how things are coming together. We don't look back; we look forward with what we are going to do and with whom we have now."

In all Atoa welcomes back eight letterwinners, four of which who were starters a year ago. He also has added seven talented newcomers to mix into the fold as well.

"We have a large group of freshmen coming in and I have been impressed with every single one of them. They are playing very well right now and I really like the energy and effort that they are putting in. They have all looked better than I expected and as time goes on I think the chemistry will just keep getting better."

This season UVU will suit up four seniors in Rachel Anderson (S), Sarah Clement (MB), Chelsey Heaps (OH) and Jaicee Kuresa (OH/RS). Atoa recently appointed Anderson and Heaps as team captains and will look for their experience along with all of the seniors and their leadership to lead their teammates on the court.

"You have to have good leaders to succeed and I feel that all of our seniors will be looked upon as leaders on the court. Whether it is the captains or whether it is the upperclassmen they need to be positive role models for our new kids because they are our future."

Others returners that will see plenty of court team include junior Erica Nish (MB/RS), sophomores Lindsay Barker (OH), Brookelyn Campbell (S), Patti Flagg (L/DS) and redshirt freshman Tawny Hughes (DS).

The seven newcomers to join the Wolverine volleyball squad in 2011 are sophomore-transfer Katie Fritzler (OH/MB) and freshmen Jaramey Barney (MB), Erin Jolley (DS/OH), Kalani Norris (OH), McKenna Tait (L/DS), Kaysie Taylor (OH/RS) and Cassie Wahlin (S/RS).

UVU will begin the season by hosting two tournaments at the Activity Center this weekend (Aug. 26-27) and next weekend (Sept. 2-3). In all the Wolverines will have nine home matches in the first two weeks of the season. This weekend the Wolverines will welcome Illinois State (Fri. at 7 p.m.), CSU Bakersfield (Sat. at 12 p.m.) and Northern Arizona (Sat. at 7 p.m.) as part of the Wolverine Invitational.

"We are very excited to have this many home matches this year," Atoa added. "This is the most that we've ever had at 17. When you play at home there is an added comfort and we really feel that it will help us be successful."

Live video and live stats will be available online for all home matches. Please visit the UVU schedule page by Clicking Here for links for both.