The volleyball team finished their spring season with an overall record of 6-3; this combined with the overall fall record of 15-14 gives the team a record of 21-17.
Head coach Dominic Yoder said he thought the spring season went very well. The Wildcats held their own against University of Toledo and Central Michigan University, both division I schools.
“We had high expectations for our younger players to compete,” Yoder said. “We played a tough schedule and were successful.”
Freshman setter Kaitlyn Hoffman said she was also impressed with the team’s success in the spring season.
“We did a great job at all of our tournaments as well as our 4-on-4 tournament at the end of the season,” Hoffman said.
With the 2011-12 season at a close, the volleyball team will be adding a few more players to their Wildcat squad.
Yoder said the team will have seven new players added to the 2012-13 roster.
“Two junior college transfers and five freshmen,” Yoder said. “I think that all seven will have an opportunity to compete for time on the floor and potentially win a starting role.”
In December, Yoder originally planned to only sign three incoming freshmen, Libero Alexandra Berger, setter Miranda Hilgers and outside hitter Lisa Studnicka, for the 2012-13 year.
As of May 14, the list of new Wildcats also includes setter Kellisha Harley, outside hitter Cayla Vimr, middle hitters Bria Mays and Alexis Nelson.
Both Harley and Vimir will be transferring to NMU from Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, Iowa. Mays and Nelson are both incoming freshmen. Mays is from Cincinnati, Ohio and Nelson is from Chandler, Ariz.
Yoder said the new members of the team will have an important impact on the team’s success in the upcoming seasons.
Hoffman said she is very enthusiastic about next year and she is eager to meet her teammates.
“I expect fall to be lots of fun,” Hoffman said. “We have a lot of potential and I am excited to see what we will do with it.”
Yoder said his goals for the upcoming season include several major titles including winning the conference.
“We have goals of putting ourselves in a position to be selected to the NCAA tournament, and competing for a regional and national title.”
Along with the seven new members joining NMU, the ’Cats are also returning multiple starters from last year.
Junior libero Kalin Zimmerman, who led the team with 390 digs last season looks to help the Wildcats on defense after a strong spring season.
Sophomore left setter Lina Lopes will look to pace the offense after finishing third on the team in kills last season with 240.
The Wildcat volleyball program will be hosting several summer volleyball camps for the 2012 summer season.
The program will be running a positional training camp, advanced skills camp, team camp and day camp. More information on these camps can be found at www.nmu.edu/sportsathletics.
The ’Cats will kick of their fall season on Aug. 28 with their Green and Gold match. The match will be held at 7 p.m. in Vandament Arena
