| WEB |
|
|
As the 1997 season unfolds, the Clemson Tiger volleyball team looks to make its mark in history. In its fifth year under the direction of Head Coach Jolene Jordan Hoover, the Tigers look to continue their four-year winning season streak.
By the conclusion of the 1996 season, the Tigers had faced nine nationally ranked teams in their 32-match schedule, the most challenging schedule in Clemson history. With all the seniors, such high expectations, and such a tough overall schedule, things just did not play out quite as expected. Clemson finished with a 17-15 record.
Fortunately for the Tigers, this does not diminish their confidence heading into the 1997 preseason. Hoover noted that during the Spring, the players worked and trained incredibly hard. All this hard work certainly paid off in the handful of matches that the team played during Spring competition.
"The Spring season was extremely competitive, especially in facing one of 1996's top nationally ranked teams in the University of Florida. We came out and won in the first game, and that gave them the feedback that they needed. When a team trains hard, and then finds success, it is a tremendous motivator and wonderful positive reinforcer. We competed well the entire Spring season. The team realized that even with the loss of the three seniors, we are returning a lot of strength."
The Tigers are returning 10 letterwinners for the 1997 season. The 10 veterans are joined by four incoming freshmen. With these 14 players, the Tigers are looking to be very competitive in not only the non-conference play, but also in the ACC matches.
Four returning starters bring outstanding experience to the court. Jill Heavey, Michelle Thieke, Cindy Stern and Stephanie Schulz have all been in the starting lineup over the course of a season.
Heavey, a fifth-year senior, was an ACC All-Freshman selection in 1993, and brings four years of experience to the right side. "She is one of our best defensive and ball control players on this year's team. Jill works extremely hard, and has done a great job of stepping up as a leader with the graduation of last season's captains Julie Rodriguez and Ashley Self."
Opposite Heavey is returning setter Michelle Thieke. Thieke is also in her senior year and returns with two year's experience as the starting setter. The native of Chatfield, MN, was a second team All-ACC Performer, as well as an AVCA All-District selection in 1995.
Also playing in the setting position is sophomore Mary Trull and incoming freshman Missy Kudelka. "This year we will be extremely deep in the setting position. Michelle, Mary and Missy will be constantly competing for playing time."
The middle blocking position returns junior Stephanie Schulz and sophomore Cindy Stern. "We are very fortunate to return two middles who have been recognized as two of the top middles in the ACC. Cindy was an All-ACC Freshman team selection last season, and Stephanie was the ACC-Rookie-of-the-Year during her freshman year." Also looking to compete for playing time in the middle is freshman Jackie Dallaska who comes to Clemson after playing for the Sports Performance team, one of the top clubs in the country.
Looking to fill the shoes vacated by four-year starter Julie Rodriguez is sophomore Alison Coday. "Coday saw limited playing time last fall; however, she improved every day throughout the Spring season. We are all looking to see great things from Alison, especially after her impressive performance in the Spring."
Competing for the other outside hitting position will be junior Marci Caudle, sophomores Emily Gorla and Skye Frost, and freshman Lea Beckemeyer. "Emily, Skye, and Marci have excellent ball control skills, and Skye and Lea are both very versatile players and could contribute on both the right as well as left side."
All in all, the lineup should prove to be very strong at all positions with the bench being extremely tough as well.
Looking to the beginning of this year's schedule, the Tigers find themselves competing in three tournaments. First they will travel to Auburn where they will play the first matches of the 1997 season against Auburn and Pittsburgh. The first weekend in September the Tigers will play host to the annual Big Orange Bash in Jervey Gym where they will face William & Mary, Drexel and Saint Louis. In its final tournament, the team will travel to Dallas where they are scheduled to battle with SMU, Mississippi State and Sam Houston in the SMU Tournament.
After an eight-game tournament schedule, the Tigers will play three other non-conference games before playing host to Wake Forest in their first ACC matchup. From September 26th until the climax of the regular season, it is basically one ACC matchup after another.
This year's ACC matches should prove to be quite exciting. According to Hoover, "The ACC is extremely competitive and grows stronger and stronger every year. Being ranked as the #3 conference in the nation has certainly shown the high caliber of competition that exists in the ACC."
Besides the 10 returning letterwinners, and the four returning starters, there is one other element the Tigers are blessed with and that is the return of the entire coaching staff. As mentioned above, Jolene Jordan Hoover is in her fifth year as the Tigers head coach, while both Becky Kanitz and Heather Kahl are returning for their second year as assistant coaches.
Hoover comments, "This is definitely one of the best and most enjoyable coaching staffs I have ever worked with. Becky and Heather are very supportive, loyal and hard-working. I could not ask for more. We have all put a lot into this team, and are really looking forward to watching them in a successful season, and contend for the first ACC title in Clemson history."
"The 1997 season looks to be a great four months of volleyball. This team possesses an incredible work ethic and with our entire coaching staff back, we should definitely have a successful year."
  
|
