2016 VOLLEYBALL PREVIEWSt. Edward’s University volleyball head coach Mary DeJute returns for her second season on the hilltop with confidence and high hopes. The 2015 Hilltoppers started and finished the season with victories and ended in sixth place in the Heartland Conference. Coach DeJute hopes to improve on that finish this season. Preparation, combined with practice in the offseason, has put the Hilltoppers in a position to do just that.

“I am confident this year’s team will be highly successful,” said DeJute. “Everyone worked extremely hard through the spring season, and they made major improvements as a team. The whole team is on the same page with high expectations, and they are willing to do the work to make success a reality.”

The 2015 campaign was filled with adversity in many forms. However, the difficulties of injury and sickness failed to deter the young team. In 2016, the Hilltoppers look forward to putting the past behind them and using the strength drawn from their past experience.

“Adversity builds character,” said DeJute. “This team stuck together through last season’s challenges, and they focused on making positive steps. They showed great character by not allowing adversity to lead to negativity and tear the team apart. Last season did not meet our expectations, and we are determined not to have a repeat. So we have focused on getting stronger, faster and smarter on the court. During the spring, the players and staff grew together and continued to raise the bar at every practice. This strength of character will lead us to excellence.”

THE TEAMOUTSIDE HITTER/RIGHT SIDEThe graduation of Hannah Rauch marks the departure of a former All-Heartland Conference player. However, Mikayla Grill returns after a strong freshman season. She will aim to lead the team in kills yet again. Junior Katie Martin, despite being limited by injury in 2015, still ranked second on the team in kills. She will join Grill to provide the core of a potent offensive battery.

Madison McClurg is also coming off of an injury-riddled sophomore season. However, long strides in the offseason have her ready to return even better than before. Kate Hendrix will provide significant support after seeing plenty of playing time as a true freshman. Redshirt freshman Alexa McAndrew and true freshman Hailey Reier round out the hitting battery as major threats off the bench.

SETTERWith seniors Jaclyn Billie and Avalon Frantz returning as floor generals, the Hilltoppers should be strong at the setter position. Billie returns after ranking third in service aces and second in assists, and Frantz continued developing her impressive understanding of the 6-2 system. The most significant return of all, however, may be Julia Hartley who is coming off of a stellar freshman season. She led the team in assists and provided consistency and defense. The trio as a whole will provide a powerful rotation as DeJute’s floor captains.

LIBERO/DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTThe key to the Hilltopper defense will be sophomore Morgan Beckham. She appeared in every single set for St. Edward’s as a true freshman and turned in more than 500 digs. The Flower Mound, Texas, native also made appearances as an outside hitter, serving as a cornerstone piece for the Hilltoppers.

MIDDLE HITTERDespite graduating Jessica Bushong, the Hilltoppers return senior Tabitha Elder, who has started 54 matches over the last two seasons. Sophomore Mikayla Parker also brings experience to the middle core. The two should improve on the team’s 188 blocks from 2015.

“This team’s strengths will be defense and court intelligence,” said DeJute. “Leadership improved over the last year, and I have seen several players step up when needed. Many of these women have characteristics that make them strong leaders who are able to lead in different ways on and off the court. Additionally, we have two freshmen who will compliment the team wonderfully. They are solid students and players with much success on their résumé already. They’ll bring depth to their respective positions and also have the potential to compete.”

SCHEDULEIn 2016, the Hilltoppers will travel abroad to open their season. A mission trip to Nicaragua will feature a total of three matches played in Managua, San Juan del Sur and Granada. St. Edward’s will continue as road warriors on the team’s return to the states, playing all 15 of its matches in September on the road.

Tournaments at Angelo State and Midwestern State will open the month, followed by the start of conference play in the Battle of the Saints on Sept. 15. Nonconference tilts against Western New Mexico, Texas A&M–Commerce and Arkansas Tech will slot in between road conference matches at Newman and defending Heartland Conference champion University of Arkansas–Fort Smith.

The Hilltoppers will play at home on Oct. 6 against Lubbock Christian, marking the start of a three-game home stand. A trio of matches against teams from the Lone Star Conference round out the team’s nonconference schedule, along with the usual gamut of Heartland Conference challenges. The team will start its season as it began, on the road, with the campaign finale against Dallas Baptist.

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VOLLEYBALL2016 season preview

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“The 2016 schedule features tough, regional matches,” said DeJute. “We will be on the road a great deal, starting with our pre-conference tournaments. Our first match against consistently-ranked Angelo State will be followed by more great regional matches against strong teams from the Rocky Mountain and Lone Star Conferences. Our second tournament at Midwestern State features four more road matches against some intense competition. Once conference matches begin, it is safe to say there will be significant challenges.”

HEARTLAND CONFERENCEAs always, the Heartland Conference won’t be easy. University of Arkansas –Fort Smith continues as the team to beat with four-straight regular-season championships. However, in 2015, only six games separated Newman and Lubbock Christian from the top spot. It was the same story in the middle of the pack; just four games made up the difference between reaching the conference tournament and staying home. The loss of significant personnel around the league may prove to be the difference in the 2016 race.

“UA–Fort Smith and Newman lost their starting setters and a big hitter to graduation,” said DeJute. “However, the remainder of their squads have experience and talent. Lubbock Christian didn’t lose much and will prove to be a contender. While Dallas Baptist lost its setter, the core of the team still returns. As always, time will tell, but the conference is always tough. I expect there will be several teams contending for the championship.”

FINAL THOUGHTS“I have watched our players buy into a new program culture along with new offensive and defensive systems,” said DeJute. “They trust the staff and each other. That led to focus in the weight room, during conditioning and on the court. Last season, we had many players with little or no collegiate experience. However, due to last year’s injuries, everyone received a significant amount of game experience. That experience is crucial for consistency. Each returning player knows what it will take to win at this level and in this conference: maturity and drive from January to August. I believe that will bring a significantly better team to the floor this fall.”

Learn more about Hilltopper volleyball at:GoHilltoppers.com

VOLLEYBALL2016 season preview