Photo by: Kelly Gorham
A Week Away
8/1/2013 12:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
One week from Friday, the Bobcat volleyball team will report to fall camp. Here's a look at this year's squad.
2013 Outlook:
If you add up the senior, junior and sophomore classes, you'd still come up short to the 2013 incoming freshmen class at Montana State this fall.
That being said, the heart and soul of the Bobcat squad rests with its upperclassmen.
"The returning starters are an important component to the team," said second-year head coach Kyle Weindel. "They're our core passers and know what's expected. They've had a taste of success and they want more."
It'll take a special blend of veterans and newcomers for Weindel to find the recipe to success this season.
However, Weindel is confident that both the returnees and newcomers have the hunger to compete and the desire to lift the Bobcat volleyball program to new heights in the Big Sky Conference.
"We are getting the players we need at Montana State to build a successful program," Weindel said. "I don't think we'll skip a beat from where we left off last season. The newcomers will integrate well with the veterans. They all come from outstanding high school and club programs that have competed at a high level and been successful."
Early season chemistry will be key for the Bobcats on the floor.
"I'm excited to get going," Weindel said. "Everyone will have an opportunity to come in and play right away."
The Breakdown:
Setters:
Leigh Stonerook, 5-9, Sophomore
Anna Sykora, 5-11, Freshman
The Bobcats will have to rely on a setter that has yet to play a collegiate game. Weindel will hand over the reins to Leigh Stonerook and Anna Skykora, following an outstanding 2012 senior campaign by Jennifer Lundquist, who went on to the Canadian National Team this summer.
Stonerook had a solid spring for the Bobcats as the only setter and had to become a team leader.
"Leigh had to understand what we were doing offensively during the spring," Weindel said. "We worked a ton with her on set location and consistency. We need her to become a competent team leader."
Sykora comes from a strong lineage of setters. She has two older sisters that played at NCAA Division III national power Concordia-St. Paul. Despite being a freshman, she has a high level of experience at the position.
"Anna has a good grasp of what we want to do offensively," Weindel said. "She sets a consistent ball. Anna's not affraid to make a difficult set and put attackers in really good positions."
Middle Blockers:
Megan Spofford, 6-1, Senior
Natalee Godfrey, 6-1, Sophomore
Christie Markowski, 6-4, Freshman
Another spot on the floor that is few in numbers, but not talent, is the middle blocking position. As a freshman, Natalee Godfrey played in 115 of 118 sets and returns as MSU most seasoned player on the court.
Three-year team member Megan Spofford enters her final season with the Bobcats and will compete for playing time.
"Megan is coming off a really nice spring where she contributed at the M2 position," Weindel said.
Godfrey emerged as perhaps MSU's best middle at the end of the 2012 season, especially behind the setter.
"Natalee scored a lot of points for us last season," Weindel said. "We continue to work with her and hope she can add more points with her blocking."
Freshman Christie Markowski enters the Bobcat program as the tallest player in school history. She also brings a wealth of high school and club experience to the squad.
"Christie comes to us as our most experienced of the three middles coming out of high school," Weindel said. "She is naturally a good blocker. She can get up fast and get her hands over the net. Christie will compete for playing time at the M2 spot."
Outside Hitters:
Zoe Gogan, 6-2, Junior
Eli Svisco, 6-0, Sophomore
Kennadie Clute, 6-1, Freshman
Loni Kreun, 6-0, Freshman
Cassie Krueger, 6-0, Freshman
Alexandra Rader, 6-0, Freshman
Danae Theiler, 6-1, Freshman
Gogan enters her third season with the Bobcats, after transferring to MSU from Washington State following her freshman season with the Cougars.
"Zoe did a terrific job buying into the techniques we were teaching," Weindel said. "We saw the most improvement in Zoe during the spring and would expect her to contribute in some manner this fall."
Sophomore Eli Svisco is the likely candidate to move to the right side this season- her natural position.
"Eli is a great blocker and hits harder from the right then from the left," Weindel said. "It will make us a stronger team to have her playing opposite."
Five freshmen will also be competing for playing time this fall. All bring impressive credentials to the program.
Early signee Kennadie Clute brings a solid all-around game to the Bobcats.
"Kennadie is a very dynamic player and we expect her to put up a bunch of points for us this fall," Weidnel said.
Loni Kreun is the type of player that does everything well. She will bring a six rotation mentality to the Bobcat squad this fall.
"Loni plays both front and back row," Weindel said. "She knows when to take risks and when to keep the ball in play. She comes from a strong high school and club program and brings a wealth of experience."
Cassie Krueger is Montana State's lone Treasure State athlete, and Weindel is confident in her ability.
"Cassie provides a lot of depth at the outside position," Weindel said. "She comes from a hard-working family and brings that work ethic to the floor. She is a dynamic player, much like Kennadie Clute."
Joining Svisco on the right side will be Alexandra Rader, a product of Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs, Calif.
"Alex is probably our strongest player strength-wise," Weindel said. "She comes from a good volleyball background. Alex can do a lot of different things. She has a very powerful game, and will be one of our hardest attackers."
Danae Theiler possesses an outstanding club background from southern California, where she was relied on to be a top point scorer.
"Danae is another kid with a high volleyball IQ," Weindel said. "She is very powerful and hits a lot of smart shots. Danae will give us good size on the outside."
Libero/Defensive Specialists:
Nicole Baker, 5-7, Senior
Kasey Schlatter, 5-9, Junior
Dana Vestman, 5-5, Freshman
Senior Nicole Baker has established herself as one of the top liberos in the Big Sky Conference. She finished fifth in the league in digs per set.
"We focused on the smaller, finite details of her game this spring," Weindel said. "We want her to pass as many balls as she can and take up more of the court this season."
Kasey Schlatter is another solid back row player for the Bobcats and saw some time as libero last fall, as well.
"Kasey might have been our best DS - passing and overall defensive play," Weindel said. "She'll compete with Nicole and I'm comfortable having either one of them on the court."
Vestman is most likely a redshirt candidate, but brings a strong resume to the Bobcat defense.
"Dana comes to us with a lot of high level experience as a libero," Weindel said. "She's spent two summers at our camp and is very familar with how we train. She's already very competent."
If you add up the senior, junior and sophomore classes, you'd still come up short to the 2013 incoming freshmen class at Montana State this fall.
That being said, the heart and soul of the Bobcat squad rests with its upperclassmen.
"The returning starters are an important component to the team," said second-year head coach Kyle Weindel. "They're our core passers and know what's expected. They've had a taste of success and they want more."
It'll take a special blend of veterans and newcomers for Weindel to find the recipe to success this season.
However, Weindel is confident that both the returnees and newcomers have the hunger to compete and the desire to lift the Bobcat volleyball program to new heights in the Big Sky Conference.
"We are getting the players we need at Montana State to build a successful program," Weindel said. "I don't think we'll skip a beat from where we left off last season. The newcomers will integrate well with the veterans. They all come from outstanding high school and club programs that have competed at a high level and been successful."
Early season chemistry will be key for the Bobcats on the floor.
"I'm excited to get going," Weindel said. "Everyone will have an opportunity to come in and play right away."
The Breakdown:
Setters:
Leigh Stonerook, 5-9, Sophomore
Anna Sykora, 5-11, Freshman
The Bobcats will have to rely on a setter that has yet to play a collegiate game. Weindel will hand over the reins to Leigh Stonerook and Anna Skykora, following an outstanding 2012 senior campaign by Jennifer Lundquist, who went on to the Canadian National Team this summer.
Stonerook had a solid spring for the Bobcats as the only setter and had to become a team leader.
"Leigh had to understand what we were doing offensively during the spring," Weindel said. "We worked a ton with her on set location and consistency. We need her to become a competent team leader."
Sykora comes from a strong lineage of setters. She has two older sisters that played at NCAA Division III national power Concordia-St. Paul. Despite being a freshman, she has a high level of experience at the position.
"Anna has a good grasp of what we want to do offensively," Weindel said. "She sets a consistent ball. Anna's not affraid to make a difficult set and put attackers in really good positions."
Middle Blockers:
Megan Spofford, 6-1, Senior
Natalee Godfrey, 6-1, Sophomore
Christie Markowski, 6-4, Freshman
Another spot on the floor that is few in numbers, but not talent, is the middle blocking position. As a freshman, Natalee Godfrey played in 115 of 118 sets and returns as MSU most seasoned player on the court.
Three-year team member Megan Spofford enters her final season with the Bobcats and will compete for playing time.
"Megan is coming off a really nice spring where she contributed at the M2 position," Weindel said.
Godfrey emerged as perhaps MSU's best middle at the end of the 2012 season, especially behind the setter.
"Natalee scored a lot of points for us last season," Weindel said. "We continue to work with her and hope she can add more points with her blocking."
Freshman Christie Markowski enters the Bobcat program as the tallest player in school history. She also brings a wealth of high school and club experience to the squad.
"Christie comes to us as our most experienced of the three middles coming out of high school," Weindel said. "She is naturally a good blocker. She can get up fast and get her hands over the net. Christie will compete for playing time at the M2 spot."
Outside Hitters:
Zoe Gogan, 6-2, Junior
Eli Svisco, 6-0, Sophomore
Kennadie Clute, 6-1, Freshman
Loni Kreun, 6-0, Freshman
Cassie Krueger, 6-0, Freshman
Alexandra Rader, 6-0, Freshman
Danae Theiler, 6-1, Freshman
Gogan enters her third season with the Bobcats, after transferring to MSU from Washington State following her freshman season with the Cougars.
"Zoe did a terrific job buying into the techniques we were teaching," Weindel said. "We saw the most improvement in Zoe during the spring and would expect her to contribute in some manner this fall."
Sophomore Eli Svisco is the likely candidate to move to the right side this season- her natural position.
"Eli is a great blocker and hits harder from the right then from the left," Weindel said. "It will make us a stronger team to have her playing opposite."
Five freshmen will also be competing for playing time this fall. All bring impressive credentials to the program.
Early signee Kennadie Clute brings a solid all-around game to the Bobcats.
"Kennadie is a very dynamic player and we expect her to put up a bunch of points for us this fall," Weidnel said.
Loni Kreun is the type of player that does everything well. She will bring a six rotation mentality to the Bobcat squad this fall.
"Loni plays both front and back row," Weindel said. "She knows when to take risks and when to keep the ball in play. She comes from a strong high school and club program and brings a wealth of experience."
Cassie Krueger is Montana State's lone Treasure State athlete, and Weindel is confident in her ability.
"Cassie provides a lot of depth at the outside position," Weindel said. "She comes from a hard-working family and brings that work ethic to the floor. She is a dynamic player, much like Kennadie Clute."
Joining Svisco on the right side will be Alexandra Rader, a product of Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs, Calif.
"Alex is probably our strongest player strength-wise," Weindel said. "She comes from a good volleyball background. Alex can do a lot of different things. She has a very powerful game, and will be one of our hardest attackers."
Danae Theiler possesses an outstanding club background from southern California, where she was relied on to be a top point scorer.
"Danae is another kid with a high volleyball IQ," Weindel said. "She is very powerful and hits a lot of smart shots. Danae will give us good size on the outside."
Libero/Defensive Specialists:
Nicole Baker, 5-7, Senior
Kasey Schlatter, 5-9, Junior
Dana Vestman, 5-5, Freshman
Senior Nicole Baker has established herself as one of the top liberos in the Big Sky Conference. She finished fifth in the league in digs per set.
"We focused on the smaller, finite details of her game this spring," Weindel said. "We want her to pass as many balls as she can and take up more of the court this season."
Kasey Schlatter is another solid back row player for the Bobcats and saw some time as libero last fall, as well.
"Kasey might have been our best DS - passing and overall defensive play," Weindel said. "She'll compete with Nicole and I'm comfortable having either one of them on the court."
Vestman is most likely a redshirt candidate, but brings a strong resume to the Bobcat defense.
"Dana comes to us with a lot of high level experience as a libero," Weindel said. "She's spent two summers at our camp and is very familar with how we train. She's already very competent."
Wednesday, January 18
Monday, November 15
Saturday, September 04
Friday, September 03
