WBR is previewing the 2014 Creighton Bluejays volleyball season. You can check out all the preview posts here.
Competitive!
On Tuesday’s media day, Creighton volleyball head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth wasn’t afraid to say that every position was up for grabs on this year’s squad. While it raised some eyebrows, it is a luxurious reality that is the transformation of the Bluejay program to the next level.
Although every starter and the libero is returning this season and 99-100% of the team statistics came over from last season, every position is up for grabs. Now whether that is to create motivation or to create a little excitement for the Blue/White scrimmage on Friday night, that is yet to be seen. Either way, competitive is easily the key buzz word in fall camp.
“Our competition in the gym is very, very competitive,” said libero Kate Elman. “Hard swings, very hard swings. And bruises.”
Outside hitter Jess Bird chimed in. “We have 16 players this year, so even just in a scrimmage, we are out there and competing and working hard. It is awesome having this many people and everyone is getting better because everyone is so competitive. We get to split up and have enough people to do many drills.”
“Our Freshman are really good,” said senior Leah McNary. “We brought back everybody, so I think everyone is fighting for positions. It has been really good.”
If you needed even more confirmation it almost seems that competition moniker come from the top. “I think we have a lot of pieces that are strong, a lot more depth,” said Booth. “It has been a lot tougher challenge this year to determine a lineup. We still are very fluid on deciding a starting lineup. I would say 3 or 4 positions, literally, are still up in the air.”
While a rotation may seem to be set with the six starters, senior Kelli Browning was only one of two players that started all 32 matches last season. That middle-blocker position is probably the only one without a question-mark. Sophomore Jess Bird was the other player to start all 32 matches and second on the team in kills. Senior Leah McNary seems pretty solid on the outside leading the team with 368 kills last season despite not being a six-rotation player. Melanie Jereb, Lauren Smith and Kate Elman still have pretty strong holds on their positions. However, the one position that truly seems to be up for grabs the most is at setter.
Michelle Sicner started 28 of the 31 matches she was in last season and seemed like she would come into her senior season with the keys to the team to keep everything going where it left off after the heartbreaking ending at Kansas in the NCAA Tournament. But this spring, everything changed. Elkhorn native Maggie Baumert decided to return to her home state after two seasons at Georgia to join the Bluejays. After playing all spring while Sicner sat on the sidelines nursing a minor injury, Baumert has inserted herself into the conversation at setter. At the same time, redshirt freshman Kenzie Crawford is also turning some heads of the coaching staff.
“That is one of the positions that is still up for grabs,” said Booth. “I will tell you all three of them have had days that they were the best setter in the gym at practice. That is one of the conversations we have every day at the end of practice. ‘Which setter won today?’ They are all fantastic.”
Sicner has had to battle during her whole career at Creighton to prove herself and this year will not be any different. Despite the challenges on and off the court, her attitude continues to stay positive.
“I am just trying to see what I can do to help myself and help the team and be the most successful this year is what I want to happen. I am giving my all and top effort on every play.”
With 16 players on the roster this year, the competition has been tough in all areas. Three true freshman join the squad this season–Toni Tupper, Marysa Wilkinson, and Brittany Lawrence–and they are all trying to fight for playing time behind veterans Katie Neisler, Ashley Jansen, Lizzy Stivers and Amanda Foje. Sicner pointed this out.
“I don’t know. It is all mixed around right now. Some people that started last year are going on the scout side this year and some that were on the scout side last year are on the starter side. It is all mixed around this season. I’m excited, I’m scared, there is always going to be those nerves.”
One thing that will likely be learned from Friday night’s 6 p.m. scrimmage at Sokol Arena is that there will be a lot of depth on this team. The players also know, however, that if they are starting in one match, they may not be starting in the next. A lot of what they do on Friday night could determine some roles for the upcoming season. It could lead to a lot of good things to make this a special season.
“We have a lot more people on our team this year, so everyone is up for a position,” said Sicner. “Everybody knows that their position is in the air. It is a different team this year, so everyone is working hard and they know they are competing for their spot, just as much as anyone else is.”
With everyone that is back this season, the Bluejays start the season in the top 25. Coach Booth noted how significant it was for the program to be in the top 25.
“Sometimes you want to go under the radar, but I was more excited about it because I thought it was a great showing of respect to the program. Especially for us to be unrated at the end of last year to hop in the top 25 is a testament of people doing their homework , the fact that everyone returns regarding our starting core of kids.”
Competition is good. It will be even better when they don’t have to play against each other anymore. That all begins next Friday at the Kansas Invitational against Lipscomb. Booth thinks this could be a great year.
“A lot of things happen. Chemistry has to be good. With that depth, that means players have to buy into roles. I think we have a group that understands that a team before self attitude is important. Do I think we have the pieces to be great? I do, but we now have to put it all together.”