'08 Volleyball Preview

Volleyball team finally returns home

Getting to practice and play in own facility should make a difference for young squad this season.

By JEFF LETOFSKY, THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Having a place they can call home is paramount for the women's volleyball team at Colorado State University-Pueblo this season.

Over the past two seasons, the volleyball team has been nomadic, forced to practice and play at other venues around Pueblo while Massari Arena was getting a face-lift.

The arena has been refurbished now and the volleyball team has returned to its home, a locker room included.

That's big for second-year head coach Chris Jonson and his squad, which returns only a handful of players from a team that was 7-20 overall and 5-14 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

"(Massari) is a tremendous facility," Jonson said. "I could already tell the difference in our attitude the first day of practice. The girls have ownership of their gym, their locker room." Caitlyn Jewell, a second-team all-RMAC selection as a junior, agreed that having a true home will make a difference.

"We actually have something we can call our own," she said. "We have our own locker room with a couch, television and microwave. That's where our team time is."

Of the 18 players on the roster, only eight are upperclassmen with three seniors, three juniors and two sophomores. Jonson knows his team will go through some growing pains.

"Consistency is one of the first things we have hit in practice," Jonson said. "We are going to have our ups and downs being such a young team. We have to make sure we stay on a consistent level emotionally and keeping our skills up will be one way to do that."

The ThunderWolves will rely heavily on their three seniors, returners Bryana Burns and Caitlyn Jewell and newcomer Lindsay Black, who is making the transition from the women's basketball team.

"Bryana stepped into a leadership role during the spring," said Jonson of the 6-footer. "The team listens to her and she knows what it takes to be successful. Caitlyn and Lindsay (both 6-2) played basketball in a very successful program and they bring that positive experience."

"We have a lot of depth and we have great expectations," said Burns, a fierce blocker and hitter. "We're going to go really far this season.

"We have to hit the ground running. We just want to work through every win and loss. We have a lot of good leadership and a good core of returning girls. We have a lot of new faces with a lot of talent.

"(Massari) is our home now and we're excited to be playing on our home court," Burns said.

Jewell believes the 2008 version of the ThunderWolves has promise.

"I have great feelings about this team," Jewell said. "We have great chemistry; we're one big family and have a bunch of talented freshmen who will push us."

Jewell said having depth will make a difference.

"We were very limited in numbers last year so our competition in practice wasn't there," she said. "This year we will have a ton of competition that will push us."

Finding a setter will be one of the main goals during the preseason. Jonson said five players are competing for that position.

"We actually have five setters who all bring different styles and different personalities," Jonson said.

The potential setters include returning players 5-10 junior Katie Lauridsen, 5-10 redshirt freshman Linnea Gingerich along with 5-5 junior Jaimi Gutho, 5-6 freshman Ashley Michel and 5-7 freshman Amanda Stark.

Jonson said he has set some high goals with this team.

"The first goal of this team is to gel," he said. "Fortunately, the conference is very young all over the place and we want to take advantage of that opportunity. We want to the win the West Division of the RMAC and get ourselves in position to get to the NCAA Tournament."

Taking advantage of strengths and working hard on weaknesses will go a long way toward the success of the Pack.

"One of our strengths will be defense," Jonson said. "We're looking to be one of the top defensive teams in the conference. And on offense, I like what I see from our people in the middle."

The Pack opens the 2008 season Aug. 29 and 30 by hosting the CSU-Pueblo Fall Classic. Angelo (Texas) State, Dixie (Utah) State, Washburn (Kan.) and St. Edwards (Texas) will take part in the two-day classic.

The T-Wolves then travel to Tampa, Fla., Sept. 4-6 to take part in the University of Tampa Classic. That will end the nonleague slate.

CSU-Pueblo kicks off the 19-game RMAC campaign Sept. 12 in Gunnison against Western State College. The league season features a six-game homestand that runs from Sept. 19 through Oct. 4.