Aug. 24, 2009

Do you think the Lewis women's volleyball program has a target on their back?

Consider this, the last school to win a Great Lakes Valley Conference championship before Lewis' three straight was Southern Illinois Edwardsville in 2005. With Southern Illinois Edwardsville no longer a GLVC member, the only current players in the GLVC with conference titles wear Lewis red and white.

Head coach Lorelee Smith knows opponents circle her squad on their schedule, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

"I want Lewis to be that team that opponents gets psyched to play," Smith said. "They strive to have their best match against us, but when push comes to shove, we fight harder and get the `W'."

The three titles and a 47-6 conference mark during the last three years are a testament to Smith's belief that her squad, more often than not, pulls out the win.

"We have the best of both worlds here," Smith said. "We have a great history and we are making history. Some schools can only talk about when they won. This squad is making their own legacy. Maintaining that success is the really difficult part and so far we've been up to the challenge. We are aware it will only get harder, but are practicing as such."

Fueling the Flyers' success has been an impressive 44-2 mark at Neil Carey Arena over the last three years. Lewis enters the season with a 27-match home winning streak dating back to the 2007 season. The streak, which ranks 18th all-time in Division II history, will get an early test on Sept. 11 when California University of Pennsylvania comes calling. The Vulcans advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals in each of the past two seasons and were the only Division II team in the nation to post 40 wins last season.

Lewis kicks off the season at the West Florida Comfort Inn-vitational. West Florida finished the 2008 season ranked 15th in the nation. The following weekend Lewis travels to Denver to participate in the Colorado Premier Challenge where No. 8 and No. 11 teams from last year's final poll await in West Texas A&M and Central Missouri State, respectively.

"Another coach in the conference joked to me that my goal had to be to create the hardest schedule possible," Smith said. "But when planning it, that wasn't the goal. I know we are an experienced team and can play tough competition. Even if we falter I believe we will come back in the next match with the right attitude."

Leading the experienced Flyers are seniors Stephanie Sagat, Sara deBuhr and Kim Richards. Sagat, a three-time All-GLVC selection at outside hitter, could have a record breaking season in 2009. Her 1,279 career kills ranks fourth all-time in Lewis career history. She needs just 280 kills to become Lewis' all-time leader.

"Stephanie looks great so far," Smith said. "She is jumping higher than ever but she is also stepping up as a leader and talking more. She's wants a fourth title and is going to fight for it."

deBuhr, a 6-1 middle hitter, suffered an injury early last year but played the best volleyball of her career down the stretch of the season. She finished the season hitting a career high .355 and averaging just over a block per set. Her play was rewarded with an American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Midwest Region honor.

"Sara wants to start this year right where she left off last year," Smith said. "She is showing signs of doing that immediately. She not only works hard but also plays very smart, like a senior."

Richards totaled 224 kills last season as a middle hitter. The former All-GLVC selection is a force at the net offensively and defensively.

"Kim is going to have a phenomenal senior season," Smith said. "She is in the best shape of her career, looks really quick and is jumping well. She is going to be a stud in the middle."

"LaKeita Jones and Jessica Guest round out the Flyers' 2009 senior class. Jones, a junior college transfer, struggled with injuries most of last season.

LaKeita looks better now than at any point last year," Smith said. "She has great energy and is an asset to have on the team. Her block height and ability alone will be an asset to this team."

Guest missed last season due to injury as well.

"Jessica is that teammate you want to be around all the time," Smith said. "She will do anything to make the team better. It is very hard to find players with this type of mentality."

Joining deBuhr and Richards at a stacked middle hitter position is junior Danielle Mount. Mount's promise was on display in several matches last season. None more than her 14 blocks against Quincy, which tied for the most blocks in a single contest in the GLVC last year.

"Danielle has worked very hard and it shows," Smith said. "She does everything right and can be a huge force."

The 2009 season welcomes libero Ashlee Lindish back to the court. The 2007 All-GLVC Third Team selection, who missed last season due to a torn ACL, set a single season record with 638 digs.

"She's looked excellent in the preseason and I'm super excited to have her back," Smith said. "She brings that extra fight in every single point to never let the ball hit the floor. Ashlee makes our defense better as a whole."

Also back is junior Lauren Seliga. The versatile outside hitter has the ability to play almost anywhere on the court.

"She looks great and is hitting harder and smarter," Smith said. "She tends to get overlooked when it comes to post season awards but I can't take her off the floor. Lauren does the things that don't always show up in the box score, but matter most."

Junior Rachel Ruedi returns after earning All-GLVC honors during her first season as the starting setter in 2008.

"Rachel had a great summer," Smith said. "She has pushed herself into great shape. I'm anxious to see how much stronger the team will be with her now having a full season of experience."

Sophomore Katie Crawford saw significant time at setter last year and was subbed in to serve in several key moments.

"Katie set for the team this past spring and worked really hard all summer," Smith said. "She is constantly asking how she can improve. She will put up a to fight for the starting setter role."

Fellow sophomore Colleen Mitros played in all but seven matches last season as a freshman. The outside hitter saw significant time in significant matches, playing every set of the Flyers' GLVC Tournament run.

"Colleen played sand (volleyball) this summer which has opened up her range of shots," Smith said. "She returned a smarter hitter with no loss of athleticism or quickness. She is strong, dynamic and can change the momentum of a game with one swing."

Falling in the NCAA Midwest Regional thanks to a sweep from conference rival Northern Kentucky was a bitter ending to 2008 that has stayed with this group according to Smith.

"The loss has been talked about in the spring, summer and so on," Smith said. "It has motivated the team and motivated me to rethink some of my strategies. Hopefully I've improved just like they have so we can take that next step."

The Flyers will try to take that next step with some new faces. Daniel Laure, who won an NAIA men's National Championship with Lindenwood last year joins the Flyers' coaching staff. In the ultimate tip of the cap to the Flyers' success, former assistant Natalie Wildes is now the head coach of Division III Cardinal Stritch in Milwaukee, Wis. David Heller returns to the coaching staff for a third year.

"We'll miss Natalie's work ethic and personality, but her opportunity is the product of our success," Smith said. "Dan is a great addition and provides us a lot of energy. David coming back to finish his masters is a great blessing and has been huge for the continuity of the staff."

It will be Smith and her staff's responsibility to keep the Flyers on the right track through the grind of a long season.

"We have all the talent and skill needed to reach all of our goals," Smith said. "We have tremendous depth so I just need to find the right players at the right time to get that needed balance and chemistry on the court. That will determine how far we go."