The NMU volleyball team started its 2008 campaign with two wins and two losses at the Nebraska Omaha Invite this past weekend.
Head coach Dominic Yoder said there was quality competition at the meet, and that the team’s record was a positive way to start the season.
“I think we could have been a little bit more successful than what we were, but for the most part, our team was very successful,” Yoder said.
For the first matches of competition, the ‘Cats lost to MSU-Moorhead (Minnesota State-Moorhead) 2-3 and defeated the host school University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) 3-2.
In day two action, the Wildcats battled the hornets of Emporia State in a four set loss. NMU would rebound with a three-set win over Minnesota-Crookston.
Despite the spilt record, NMU left with some statistical numbers that will lead them into the season, Yoder said. In both loses the ‘Cats out-killed their opponents by at least 10.
Yoder added a reason for these victories is in part due to the young players working hard and proving themselves early as student athletes.
“We’re starting two freshmen and it’s been a little bit of a struggle, to try and get them up and going. But beside that, I think the older players are just more accustomed to the system, and I think our success rate has gone up for our first weekend,” he said.
The two starting freshman last weekend were middle hitter Emma Wolfe and setter Madeline Ogden. Yoder said the reason for playing them was injury and ineligibility reasons.
The skill and youth not only showed on the court but also in the scorebooks, as Ogden averaged close to 11 sets per game and the top setter in the nation is at about 12.5 per game, Yoder said.
The ‘Cats have five new incoming freshman who are looking to make their mark in the green and gold, but the freshmen are still adjusting to collegiate play.
“It’s definitely faster pace than high school was, and you get dropped into stuff right away,” Wolfe said.
The team is primarily made of sophomores and juniors with just two seniors to help lead this season.
“There is a big transition between college and high school but a few girls have just been really good at making it,” said senior middle hitter Caryn VanBeckum. “We have some new girls and we’re really not treating them like freshman because it doesn’t really matter what class you are.”
The two seniors are right/outside hitter Breanne Zaremba who was ranked second in team’s defensive players according to GLIAC.org and VanBeckum.
VanBeckum was the team leader in kills and eighth in the GLIAC with an average of 3.49 a game, which helped land her a spot on the all conference team. She said she is looking to improve on many other categories as she enters her final year.
“I expect the best this year, being my last. And all my years have been looking up to this and waiting for it,” she said.
Not returning to the ‘Cats is Brittany McGowan, a former American Volleyball Coaches Association team member and 1st team all GLIAC along with Megan Elliott.
“Last year we did pretty well. But this year there is a core group of people, and some newer players, and we’re in the position we would like to be,” VanBeckum said.
Yoder said the main reason for the rusty start last season was due to the players adjusting to his coaching ideals.
“I don’t think we’re necessarily trying to do anything different, I just think, with this being my second year here, the players are more accustomed to my system,” he said.
This coming weekend, the ‘Cats hit the road and travel to the Flyer Festival hosted by Lewis University. At this invite NMU will clash with five teams, four of which are regional foes.
