By Brad Blume; Sports Information Director
RAPID CITY --- A year after hiring a new coach, installing a new system and making a run into the post season, the South Dakota School of Mines women's volleyball team is hoping to pick up where it left off and push even further as the 2010 Hardrocker volleyball season gets underway.
The Lady Hardrockers finished 9-19 in 2009, placed fourth in the Dakota Athletic Conference and delivered a strong performance in the post-season tournament making an appearance in the DAC semifinals match.
"We had a really tough go-of-it last year. But we also had a really good portion of conference play that hopefully we can build off of," said Lady Hardrocker head coach Tiffany Mastin-McCampbell. "We had a good run at the DAC tournament. We are just trying to pick up where we left off."
SD Mines has reason to be optimistic. With the loss of just one senior to graduation, the Hardrockers return six starters to go along with one of the best recruiting classes the program has seen in quite some time.
"Having eight returners --- six that started in 2009 --- that year of experience is going to be crucial for us. And to get those freshmen acclimated early to fill in a couple holes here and there will be big," Mastin-McCampbell said. "A year under the system, trying to execute a fast paced offense and with it being the last year for us being in the NAIA --- the team has a lot that they can prove."
South Dakota Mines was accepted into NCAA Div. II and will begin the transition to that level after the 2010 season. This year will be the last opportunity for the Hardrockers to qualify for the post season until 2014.
"This is going to be a building year too," Mastin-McCampbell said. "We are hoping this is the type of season that builds this program into the breakout year and what are expectations should be."
Graduated from the team is two-time all-conference player Katherine Hanson. As a middle hitter and four-year starter, her talents and leadership will be hard to replace.
Leading the squad this season goes to a group Hardrocker upperclassmen. Mastin-McCampbell picked senior Paige Corcoran and juniors Reanna Roberson and Madisen Lane as her team captains.
"All three together have different personalities but is a fantastic trio of leadership," Mastin-McCampbell said. "They have no trouble voicing their expectation and are all strong leaders by example."
Corcoran is a 6-foot middle hitter from Pierre, S.D. In 2009 she was 357-421 on the attack with 141 kills and 64 blocks. She also earned a DAC Scholar Athlete Award.
"Paige is in a place where she can be a great leader," Mastin-McCampbell said. "Athletically she has improved immensely over the last two years. She's not a flashy player but she works hard and puts herself in a position to make her teammates better."
Roberson is a 5-5 defensive specialist / libero from Windsor, Colo. who is a three-year starter. Last year, she tallied 343 digs, 41 receptions and 19 aces and was also a DAC Scholar Athlete.
"Reanna is a tough kid that will do anything to get to a ball and do anything to keep the team going," Mastin-McCampbell said. "She is the person that wants to win most on the court.
Lane is a 6-0 outside hitter from Fort Collins, Colo., who is a three-year starter and a very talented and powerful volleyball player. Last season she went 542-657 on the attack with 228 kills, 57 blocks and 205 digs and was a DAC Scholar Athlete.
"Madi is an excellent all-around player," the coach said. "She has worked hard this spring coming back from an injury. We are hoping she has a really good year - injury free."
Also returning this season are: junior Becky Keilholtz and sophomores Rachel Pekarek, Jessie Guthals and Brittany LaDue.
Keilholtz is a 5-5 setter from Gwinn, Mich., who has started the last three seasons. As the top setter in 2009 she tallied 374 assists and earned DAC Scholar Athlete honors.
"Becky has good quickness and her set selection is fantastic," Mastin-McCampbell said.
Pekarek is a 5-8 outside hitter from Plymouth, Minn., who had an outstanding 2009 season. As a freshman Pekarek was 513-597 on the attack with 167 kills, 26 aces, 222 digs and 26 blocks along with a DAC Scholar Athlete Award.
"Rachel had a great conference season last year once she was able to acclimate to our system," Mastin-McCampbell said. "She's a little bit small as an outside hitter, but held her own last year. I am looking forward to seeing her develop."
Guthals is a 5-8 rightside hitter / setter from Colorado Springs, Colo., who will be in the full-time setting position for the first time ever. Last year she tallied 96 kills and was 311-389 on the attack, recorded 142 assists, 19 blocks, 85 digs and earned DAC Scholar Athlete status.
"Jessie has beautiful hands and has been working on placement of the ball." Mastic-McCampbell said. "She sees the floor well and as a lefty she's a natural setter."
LaDue is a 5-10 outside / rightside hitter from Meadow, S.D. who provided depth to the Hardrocker roster last season. With a year of experience in the SDM system, Mastin-McCampbell feels she's ready to again push her teammates.
"Brittney has improved a lot and has worked hard to improve her quickness," Mastin-McCampbell said.
The Hardrockers will have eight new names on the roster all of which are talented players and a good fit for SD Mines, both on and off the court.
The newest Hardrockers are: sophomore Daygan Fowler and freshmen Justine Blade, Janelle Strampe, Anna Haneline, Megan Frager, Carly Sandin, Shea Thorson and Jenny King.
Fowler, a junior college transfer, has been with the team since coming to SD Mines last semester. She has an advantage of going through spring ball with the team and absorbing as much as she can before the first matches are set to begin at the end of August. She is a 6-0 middle / rightside hitter from Lanigan, SK, Canada.
"She is kind of the wild card this year. She can play outside, middle, rightside and might even see some time as a defensive specialist," Mastin-McCampbell said. "She is super athletic and will only get better with time."
Blade is a 6-1 middle hitter from Rapid City, S.D., that was one of the most sought-after recruits in the area. She will have an impact in her first year as a college player with her versatility, huge arm swing and blocking abilities.
"She will immediately make her presence known in the middle," the head coach added.
Strampe is a 5-11 outside / rightside hitter from Belle Fourche, S.D. who can also play anywhere on the court. She is a great blocker, quick, athletic and fits well into the 'Rockers' system.
"She can deliver a quick-tempo hit from anywhere on the floor," Mastin-McCampbell added.
Haneline is a 5-8 rightside hitter from Plattsmouth, Neb., with an impressive 29.5 vertical leap. She will fill a huge hole on the right side where the Hardrockers struggled last season.
"Anna is super explosive at jumping and she can get her hands up and over (the net). She's a great blocker," Mastin-McCampbell said.
Sandin is a 5-11 middle /rightside hitter from Greeley, Colo., who is another versatile athlete that can hit anywhere, but her best skill is blocking.
"She's a lot like Justine and Janelle. They all fit that mold where they are super athletic and can play anywhere for us," Mastin McCampbell said.
Frager is a 5-8 outside/ rightside hitter from Peoria, Ill., who will be a utility player for the Hardrockers showing talent at all positions.
King is a 5-6 defensive specialist / libero from Monument, Colo., while Thorson is a defensive specialist / libero from Belle Fourche.
"Both will be pushing Reanna for playing time and they will also add depth to the position which is something we really need," Mastin-McCampbell said.
With such a talented and deep roster, the Hardrockers look to be strong at the net both offensively and defensively.
"Blocking and offensively will be our strongest areas. We were a pretty good blocking team last year and offensively we were okay," Mastin-McCampbell said. "Returning that huge nucleus should work wonders for us. Even the freshman class coming in has some talented hitters and they fit in well."
Looking at the conference, Mastin-McCampbell feels Jamestown College, Black Hills State and Dickinson will all field competitive teams. They just so happen to be the top finishers, respectively, in the conference a year ago with SD Mines as the No. 4 team.
"I think the Top 4 from last year are going to continue to be good. Those other four teams are going to continue to grow and develop," Mastin-McCampbell said.
Jamestown did lose a couple key players, BHSU finally graduated standout middle hitter Kristen Engle, while Dickinson State returns most of their squad for 2010.
"The main thing we want to focus on is using that year of experience. We are one of just a few teams in the conference that returns a huge nucleus of their team from 2009," McCampbell said. "Being dedicated to getting better every day and learning from last year about how to finish games and being disciplined during the matches are things we can learn from and utilize this season."
The Lady Hardrockers again have a very challenging schedule. Before a difficult conference schedule starts SD Mines has 16 straight matches on the road. Their first home match isn't until Oct. 1.
"We have to win some of those matches on the non-conference schedule. Last year going 0-8 hurt us mentally. If we can keep ourselves at .500 heading into the DAC season, we will be in a pretty good place," Mastin-McCampbell said. "We have a great non-conference schedule. They will be great matches for us. Once we get into the conference schedule, all we have to do is get through those first two weekends then we are home for pretty much the rest of the season."
If the Lady Hardrockers can handle the month-long road trip and the newcomers can adapt quickly, the Hardrockers have an excellent chance to surpass what they accomplished last season.
"This team has the potential to be great. Whether all the pieces fall into place is to be determined," Mastin-McCampbell said.