ABILENE – Consistent play from the freshman class combined with the quality performances of several veterans have created an eased atmosphere for the Abilene Christian volleyball team during their three-week training camp.
“This has been a fun change,” said seventh-year head coach Kellen Mock, who led last year's team to 21 wins and a NCAA Tournament berth. “This is a team with a lot of personality and they collectively bring a nice dynamic to the court. Sometimes a team can go through a lot of emotional ups and downs, but so far we haven't experienced any kind of mental lapse or lack of focus. This is a very hard working bunch.”
The Wildcats skew young, but their four freshmen and five sophomores have all been significant contributors at one point or another during the past several seasons. Freshman Jennie Loerch, listed as a 5-foot-10 outside hitter, has been a six-rotation player throughout her high school career and provides consistency from anywhere on the court, while another rookie,
Madison Hoover, served as the starting libero for her Texas Advantage club team that placed third at the national tournament.
Mock said Hoover will likely contend with junior Madelyn Robinette for the starting libero position, but expects both will see plenty of playing time. Robinette brings leadership and two years of experience learning from
Kelsie Edwards to the position, while Hoover is described as 'quick' and 'vocal'.
“I'm more pleased with our defense now than I was in the spring,” Mock said, “and those two freshman (Loerch and Hoover) gave us the help we desperately needed. They're relaxed in the back row and come in with more experience there than some of our returners. As for Madelyn, she had a great teacher in Kelsie and knows exactly what her role should be. She understands what needs to be done.”
Mock added that she's also seeing good things from Loerch along the front row. An all-state selection from Georgetown (Texas) High School, Loerch led her senior-year team to an overall record of 36-12 behind a school season record of 557 kills, while adding 345 digs, 65 aces and 61 blocks.
The resourceful youngsters will certainly be of value as the Wildcats look to replace Edwards, ACU's career record holder in digs, and All-America outside hitter
Jennie Hutt. Players also will have to spell junior middle blocker
Neely Borger for a short time as she recovers from a springtime injury. The 2010 Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year and last year's leading blocker is expected back in mid-September.
Borger's absence will somewhat hinder the ACU block, but Mock is certain her players can again come together like they did during last year's turnaround and become a good blocking team.
“ACU has long been known for its block, it's who we are,” she said, “but right now we're just a team of very good individual blockers. We need to switch on our volleyball brains and adjust our timing right to get into that specific zone that allows us to dominate at the net.”
Last year's team recorded just 252 blocks, but began the season's second half on a nine-match roll in which it outblocked the opposition, 70-44.5, and produced five matches of 10 or more blocks. ACU's season high was a 15-block effort in a 3-2 win over Texas Woman's.
Sophomore
Sara Oxford blocked five shots in that win over the Pioneers and comes in as the Wildcats' leading returner in several categories, including blocks (0.66), kills (2.89), points (3.30) and hitting percentage (.274). Oxford's season totals earned her a spot on the all-conference second team as well as the title of conference and region freshman of the year.
“Sara looks fantastic in practice,” Mock said. “We're all ready for her to have a big season even though it's expected she'll be the opposition's main target. But that's okay because we're going to surround her with great hitters.”
Sophomore
Rachel Riley, who was a high school teammate of Hoover's at Flower Mound, has been among the top players in camp and is one Mock predicts can help shoulder the load offensively.
Riley started only eight matches as a freshman in 2011 with a kills per set average of just over 1.3, but Mock said she has transformed into an 'offensive beast' this summer and is currently leading the team in kills.
“Rachel has looked great in two-a-days and is ready to go,” Mock said. “She is the type of player that's quiet but deadly and who's defense I've been equally impressed with. Rachel is going to be a fun player to watch this year.”
Setting the offense in motion will either be sophomore
Haley Rhoads or freshman
Sarah Siemens. Rhoads began last year on the bench before taking over two weeks into the season and still finished with 1,132 assists, which is the 10th-highest single-season total in ACU history.
Rhoads 10.11 assists per set average also ranked her fourth in the conference and 50th in the NCAA.
Siemens, however, has a four-inch height advantage over the 5-foot-9 Rhoads and comes to ACU from Stockdale High School in Bakersfield, Calif., where during her senior year she delivered 676 assists, 97 blocks, 216 digs, and 112 kills.
“This position once again is a real coin flip for us,” Mock said. “Haley gives us the experience and consistency, while Sara possesses more athleticism, speed and is great on the block. Haley also has made major strides in her middle game and when she's on the court she brings a calming presence to the team … Normally I'm tied into a lineup at this point of the year, but not this time around.”
The Wildcats will continue to practice throughout the week before playing host to an intrasquad scrimmage at Moody Coliseum Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m.
ACU's season begins next weekend, Aug. 31 to Sept. 1, for the St. Edward's/St. Mary's Tournament. ACU's opponents will include Southwestern Oklahoma, Colorado State-Pueblo, Southeastern Oklahoma and host St. Edward's.
