This is the fourth installment of White & Blue Review’s 2009 Creighton volleyball season preview. Join us every day this week as we take a look at each part of Kirsten Bernthal Booth’s club, leading up to the start of their season and the Blue-White Scrimmage on Saturday, August 22.
Outside Hitters
Our last position preview deals with some of the most exciting players on the court — the outside hitters. Two of the more prolific attackers on last season’s team are gone (Amanda Cvejdlik and Carolyn Decker), but two starters return to send furious spikes across the net. Allie Oelke is back to lead the bunch while Sara Schulze gets a final crack at the position.
Oelke, a two-year starter, earned the MVC Freshman of the Year award in 2007. Last season her numbers were down due to some injuries, but she still managed to start and play in all 31 matches. Oelke’s blocking ability will also come into play as Creighton has won its last 12 matches when she recorded 2 blocks or more. Apparently, Oelke has lost some sleep while trying to get back to her freshman form; according to the media guide, her teammates said she sleeps the least of anyone on the team. The Jays will be counting heavily on her efforts this season, so she better get some rest.
Schulze switches from defensive specialist back to outside hitter for her senior season. She is being expected to step in and play the position again like she did as a freshman, and this Dean’s list and MVC Honor Roll member should make the transition easily. Schulze brings defense and offense to the court: with the majority of her matches spent on the defensive end, she leads the team in returning digs (734). Jays fans will notice Schulze’s loudness and her locks. She’s vocal on the court, and she’s superstitious with her hair: she’ll keep it styled the same way if the Jays keep winning. Hopefully for Schulze and her teammates this senior will be sporting the same funky hairdo all season long, or at least in long stretches of play.
After Oelke and Schulze, you basically have four new players to fill the other two positions of the court. The Blue-White match may decide the roles of these players:
Karisa Almgren is the only one of the four with on-court Division I experience. She played in five matches in 2008 as a freshman, and her playing time couldn’t have started much better: she notched an ace in her first collegiate serve. She missed the first three weeks of last season because of an injury, however. She will probably get the first opportunity on the court to show she is ready for the big time.
Alicia Runge redshirted last year and is familiar in the program; as she lead the team in kills in the Blue-White match last season. She’s a winner; in her two seasons at Iowa Western Community College the Reivers won a national title (2006) and placed seventh in the country (2007).
Lisa Griesch is sure to be a crowd favorite; a lot of people watching her at Sokol Arena saw her play in high school (Omaha Marian). Plus, they’ll no doubt be familiar with the name: her sister Emily was a successful contributor for the Bluejays from 2003-2006.
Caitlin Templeton is part of the three member fall signing class that includes Brooke Boggs and Heather Thorson. She’s the first player in modern Creighton volleyball history to hail from South Dakota, where she was a two-time all-state selection. Her MVC ties run deep as her brother, Adam, plays basketball for Drake.
Which of these four will step up and challenge for more minutes at outside hitter? Coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth and an arena full of Creighton volleyball fans will get their first look at the competition Saturday night, during the Blue-White Scrimmage at Sokol Arena (6:30 p.m.).