This is part three in our 2012 preview of the Creighton Volleyball Team. Today we look at CU’s defensive specialists.
Part 1: Non-Conference Schedule breakdown
Part 2: Conference Opponents
Brooke Boggs provides leadership on the defensive end (Spomer/WBR)
After the 2011 season, the defensive side of things for the Creighton volleyball team looked really solid heading into 2012. MVC Libero of the Year, Julianne Mandolfo, was set to return to CU for her junior season. One of the best liberos in the country, Mandolfo broke a couple of Creighton records in her first two years as a Bluejay and was well on her way to breaking several others. The Jays would also lean heavily on solid defensive specialist Brooke Boggs. She had three years under her belt and the experience of being a part of an NCAA tournament team.
Things changed a bit back in December when Mandolfo decided to leave the team; ultimately ending up at Ohio State. In addition, Brittany Moon, who might have been in the mix on the defensive side of things, tore her knee earlier this spring and will be a student bench coach this fall. This left Boggs, along with possibly sophomore Katie Neisler, as the lone defensive specialists on the team.
This past spring, the Bluejays caught a bit of a break when they signed Kate Elman from Omaha Marian. Elman excelled as a libero for the Crusaders, setting a state record for digs per match her senior season. She will step in right away at the position for the Bluejays. Only a few weeks into team practices, she has already gained the respect of her teammates, especially Boggs.
“At the moment [the libero position] is definitely going to be Kate Elman,” Boggs said. “She is an awesome player. We have so many good defensive specialists coming in. We were blessed with the freshmen that are coming in this season.”
After Friday’s Blue-White Scrimmage it was obvious that Elman will be the libero, as she played that position for the Blue team in three of the four sets. Having Elman on the roster also continues the Creighton tradition of having an Omaha Marian graduate on the roster for the tenth straight season.
And don’t forget about Boggs. She will have a huge impact on the team, especially as a senior. She has played in 91 of 95 matches during her career and has 41 career aces from the service line. While the Sokol Arena public address announcer loves saying “BOGGS,” Brooke continues to be a rock solid leader knowing her role on the team.
Senior Brooke Boggs
“Every year we go in saying we want to do something that this team has ever done before,” Boggs said. “We’ve gone to the NCAA tournament and we want to go back. This year we want to focus on doing the best we can in pre-conference play, be regular season champions and tournament champions.”
Boggs also had to deal with an ankle injury that sidelined her for most of the spring season. That has made her even more eager to get back on the court to play the 2012 season.
“Anyone that has been injured knows how tough it is to sit on the sidelines,” she said. “I think the great thing about it, since a few of us were injured, is that it got a lot of people playing time that might not have necessarily always have it. That just helped bring everyone together and playing together.”
Additionally, Elman’s prep teammate Ashley Jansen signed with Creighton this spring and although she played her high school career as setter, Jansen played as a defensive specialist for her club team and can provide some additional talent in that area. Redshirt freshman Lizzy Stivers may also see some time in the back row for the Jays.
“I think that this team is very focused,” Boggs said. “We have great girls that have great personalities and we are all clicking this year. We are all determined to do the best we can.”
Join us on Tuesday as we continue our Creighton volleyball preview as we take a look at the blockers.