Aug. 22, 2005

Terminator (noun): a player who consistently and aggressively records kills for a volleyball team.

Every highly successful volleyball team has at least one player who is capable of delivering a rocket to the opponent's side of the floor. In 2004, Lewis University finished 18-10 overall, fifth in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and possessed great defensive ability. But, the team lacked the superior firepower wielded by the programs in the upper third of the league.

"Last year we could rally people to death because we would dig balls left and right, but we weren't able to consistently end rallies because we didn't have a true terminator," said Lewis head coach Karen Lockyer. "This year, we've looked a lot smoother in preseason. Our talent is tighter, the competition is greater, and the result is we have people who can terminate the ball."

The 2005 Flyers return 10 players who saw action last season, including five players who started at least 10 matches. With just two freshmen and a sophomore transfer comprising the team's new faces, Lewis will look similar to last season's team. The greatest difference is that nine of the 10 returnees saw action in at least 12 matches last year. Thus, much of the team has match experience and a hunger to claim a starting spot.

"We had five new players last year," said Lockyer. "I knew we had players with potential; they just needed to refine their skills. With a year or two under their belts, we have a host of players who should be ready to have breakout years."

Lewis' primary offensive weapon remains unchanged from last season as junior Theresa Nugent will be expected to pace the Flyers from the outside. Nugent, who was named All-GLVC second team in 2004, led Lewis in kills, kills per game and aces and was second in hitting percentage.

"Theresa has some unbelievable shots," said Lockyer. "She hits the ball hard and has a quick arm. She does really well when the game is tight. Where she can improve the most is in her consistency. If she can refine her focus, it will help her consistency."

Lockyer has always contended that the teams that play at the top of the GLVC are the ones who have a solid core of senior leaders. Lewis has just two seniors on this year's squad--Abby Hodge and Val Olis--but both are experienced players who will have an impact on the team.

Hodge was the team's starting setter her sophomore year and served as a defensive specialist last season. Meanwhile, Olis has been a reserve outside hitter with unharnessed power.

"Every year you have to have a senior who realizes it's now or never," said Lockyer. "Val and Abby realize they're nearing the end of the road and both are capable of making that leap where they can have a big impact on our season."

A group of juniors who have seen a smattering of playing time throughout their careers are in position to step to the forefront. Melissa Dobry, Charisse Steckling, Lindsay Grim and Sarah McKinney are all poised to help the team in different areas.

Of the group, McKinney is the only one with extensive playing time. She's averaged 210 kills per season the past two years while hitting .256. In addition, she is capable of setting and has filled that role in small stints.

Steckling is a middle hitter with strong blocking skills and an offensive game that has developed the past two seasons. Grim entered the program as a middle blocker but may ultimately be most successful as a right-side hitter. Dobry has shown flashes as an outside hitter (13 kills vs. Wisconsin-Parkside) and also has excellent ball control that may earn her the defensive specialist or libero job.

The Flyers' five newcomers in 2004 made an immediate imprint on the team with Andrea Morrone claiming the setting duties, Becca Lisle and Jenna Sayers splitting time in the middle and Jessica Lockhart starting at outside hitter. Lockhart is not returning for 2005, but Morrone, Lisle, Sayers and redshirt Sylvia Ciezak comprise a talented sophomore class.

Morrone started 23 of 28 matches, registered 860 assists--the most by a freshman since Stacy Moss in 1999--and ranked second on the team in digs.

"Andrea takes the ball early and establishes a good block," said Lockyer. "The one negative about her is that she plays too much defense. Because she digs so many balls, she is not able to set as often as she could."

Sayers and Lisle ranked second and third, respectively, in blocks per game last season. At 6-3 Sayers utilizes her height to her advantage, while Lisle is a great leaper. Neither player had a spectacular offensive season, and that will be a point of emphasis for both this season.

Ciezak, who redshirted last year to gain strength and experience, has solid ball control skills and hits the slide shot well. She will battle with Steckling, Sayers and Lisle for one of the middle-hitting positions.

New to the program in 2005 are freshmen Aubrey Dondlinger and Lauren Hatten and sophomore transfer Stacy Hameister. Dondlinger hits a heavy ball and is expected to contend on the outside, while Hatten and Hameister are defensive specialists who may push for the libero job.

"I'm anticipating that we'll finish in the top third of the GLVC," said Lockyer. "At worst, we're a mid-level team in the conference. We have a strong schedule that includes seven teams that are ranked or receiving votes in the preseason top 25 poll. We play four of them in the first three weeks of the season, so if we get off to a good start, we should be able to earn an NCAA bid."