The Creighton Volleyball program continues to grow. In 2010, the Bluejays recorded the most wins in school history, made the program’s first MVC Tournament final, earned its first ever NCAA Tournament, and defeated Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. One more accolade can be added with head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth being named the College Volleyball Update National Coach of the Year.
Coach Booth was excited about her award, but to her, all of this could not have been done without the players that have been part of this upward growth in her eight years at Creighton.
“It’s definitely not an award for me. I think anytime a coach gets recognized, it is because of what the team does. I look at this as a team award and a program award. It’s just as much about past teams as it is this team. A lot of young women have put their heart and soul into the program and any success we have I want them to feel a part of it.”
Creighton restarted the volleyball program in 1994, and during the past 16 seasons the Bluejays have tried to establish themselves in a state that also includes national power Nebraska. Bernthal Booth took over the program in 2003, and with gradual improvement in the wins column has come increased attendance. CU average about 1,200 fans a game and ranks in the top 40 in NCAA volleyball attendance the past four years.
Bernthal Booth says these improvements garner more interest from others from a recruiting standpoint. “Anytime you finally cross that NCAA Tournament bridge it helps,” she said. “And our facility [D.J. Sokol Arena] is one of the best facilities in the country now. Creighton has always excelled in academics, and I think we have a lot of other things now from a program and facility standpoint.”
Eight years into her Creighton coaching career, Bernthal Booth owns a 141-101; she’s the only coach in Creighton’s modern volleyball history to have 100 wins. And she hopes to add quite a few more wins next season, as the team should return a solid core of players including setter Megan Bober, libero Julianne Mandolfo, middle blocker Laurel Sanford, and hitter Karisa Almgren. Coach Booth is excited about the momentum.
“Anytime you get across a hurdle, then the expectation is to continue crossing those hurdles. The players feel that way. They are working really hard in strength and conditioning. We are doing individual workouts right now and the attitude and effort are really good. Next fall has started now. January 15 is when we started next season. We don’t want this to be the pinnacle of the program, obviously we want this to be another step forward.”
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Staying for the long haul
When coaches start earning NCAA Tournament bids and winning national awards, they also start seeing their names associated with job openings. In the past year Dana Altman, Bob Warming, and Jamie Clark left Creighton for other opportunities. After talking to Bernthal Booth, you know this is exactly where she wants to be.
“I love Creighton. There are so many reasons why this is a great place for my family and I to be. I’m from Nebraska. My parents are in Lincoln. I’m having another baby. But most of all I just love the people here from our President, to our Athletic Director, to my staff. I consider Tom (Mendoza) and Angie (Oxley Behrens) to be great friends of mine in addition to co-workers. I have no intention of leaving and feel fortunate that I am here.”
A team, not just volleyball players
One of the things Coach Booth has loved about her teams at Creighton is that they are more than just volleyball players.
“That’s one thing about these women at Creighton,” Booth said. “I don’t think that I have ever had a team where I have felt like I have lazy kids. They are not just focused on volleyball. They are well rounded young women that understand this is another step in life. They know that volleyball is a part of it and a catalyst to go on to bigger and better things.”
Incoming recruits
We also had a chance to talk about the three incoming recruits who signed with the program this past fall. Coach Booth is excited about this outstanding class.
- Kelli Browning, middle blocker from Waukesha, WI: Kelli helped lead her high school to back-to-back state championships and she earned first team all-state honors as a senior. She was originally going to go to Wisconsin, but then some plans changed which brought her to the Bluejays. Bernthal Booth is excited about the size Browning will bring to the Bluejays. “She is a legitimate 6’4″ athlete and she can walk and chew gum!”
- Michelle Sicner, setter from Omaha (Millard North): A great athlete from Millard North, Sicner kept improving through her high school career. “She is a big time setter, I think one of the top setters in the country,” Booth commented. “She is 6’2″ and has great hands and great feet for a girl that height. She should be able to run an offense really well in her time here.”
- Leah McNary, outside hitter from Palm Harbor, FL: McNary comes from an athletic family with sisters that ran track for Division I schools. “She may be one of the best athletes we have ever had at Creighton. She can fly and is a bit raw, but I think she would be ready to go on the right side. We would like to see her move to the outside where we will be training her, but she could play middle too.”
Coach Booth sees all three of these ladies being key contributors to the program. She talked to them about helping take the program to the top 25 rankings, one of Booth’s next goals.
Spring Season
The volleyball team has time in the offseason to conduct individual training. The players participate in conditioning four days a week and get to complete some on-court training in small groups two hours a week.
After spring break in March they will officially be in spring season, during which they get to practice every day. The team also gets to play four scrimmages against other schools. Booth said that they are still finalizing their schedule. “It is much more laid back and focused on the individual and some team concepts where winning and losing is not a priority like it is in the fall.”
Fall Scheduling
Bernthal Booth mentioned that the schedule for next season is basically completed, but that they are just solidifying times so they don’t conflict with the soccer teams so people can attend the other fall sports when they are scheduled on the same day.
Some of the highlights include going down to Texas A&M for a tournament and Nebraska for a tournament, travelling to Kansas State for a midweek game, and hosting two tournaments of their own.
