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1998 Volleyball Season Outlook
6/21/1999 12:00 AM | Volleyball
August 19, 1998
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Beth Launiere isn't making any lofty predictions to generate excitement about her 1998 team...and the Ute head coach doesn't need to. With five starters and seven letterwinners back from a team that went 22-9, the second-most wins in school history, and posted Utah's best record in Western Athletic Conference play at 9-5 a year ago, the mere facts say enough.
Winning 20 matches and finishing in the upper division of the WAC has almost become routine for a program that has achieved an unprecedented level of consistency. Over the last five years, Utah has won at least 20 matches three times, including two years running,has finished with a break-even record or better in the WAC each season and has placed in the conference's upper division four times.
As happy as Launiere is with the stability that her program has achieved, the ninth-year head coach feels a sense of urgency to take Utah to the next level. On the threshold of making the NCAA Tournament a year ago, could 1998 be the year? Launiere feels the pieces are in place.
"I'm not going to say that this is the year we're going to get into the (NCAA) tournament, or that we're going to have our best finish in the WAC or anything like that," explains Launiere. "But, we have a lot of key people coming back, and I really felt like we were a win away from getting into the NCAA Tournament for the first time last year. We've also been very consistent the past couple of years in terms of beating the teams we're supposed to beat. Our downfall is that we didn't get the big wins we needed against ranked teams along the way.
"We still might be a little young, but we have three players who started as freshmen last year," Launiere continues. "I like the kids that we have in our program right now. We've recruited kids who are competitive and are winners. The key for us to take the next step this year is to get some wins against ranked teams and then continue to beat the teams we're supposed to beat."
Headlining the five returning starters are three players who earned all-WAC recognition in 1997. Both 6-0 senior outside hitter Sara Shakula and 6-1 junior middle blocker Stacie Greenwalt were named second-team all-conference. Kalani Tonga, a 6-0 sophomore, was named the WAC Mountain Division Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the national Volleyball Magazine/Asics All-Freshman Team.
Among the changes in this year's line-up are moving Tonga from middle blocker to outside hitter, which will allow her to open up her game. Tonga's new position was held down for the past four years by Brenda Barton-Whicker, Utah's all-time leader in kills, attempts, digs and service aces. Launiere hopes the loss of Barton-Whicker, along with four-year veteran Jamie Young, won't have a profound effect on the Utes.
"With the loss of our two seniors from last year, my concern is that we may not be as steady as we have been with our ball control," stresses Launiere. "It's been a learning process for the young players to not have someone there to pick things up. Kalani may be filling Brenda's position, but Sara is going to be impacted the most by the changes. As a veteran senior, Sara needs to take the lead and be the backbone of this team, and I think she has the ability to do that."
Launiere hopes to use the non-conference season as an adjustment period that will afford her the opportunity to blend in some talented newcomers. Even without the new additions, Utah showed it is capable of overcoming its losses and becoming a very competitive team in 98. During the spring season, the Utes posted victories over pre-season Top 25 teams Washington State and UCLA. Utah will meet Wazzu again in the second match of the season.
"Our outsides are set, but we still have some personnel questions at middle blocker," cautions Launiere. "It's too early to tell just how talented we are, and it's going to take some time to figure out what this team's all about. But based upon our personnel-,both returnees and newcomers,and our success in the spring, the upside of our potential is very encouraging."
Outside Hitters
Utah's group is as solid as they come.
Shakula, a two-time second-team all-WAC performer, anchors the right side and becomes option No. 1 in the Ute attack with the departure of Barton-Whicker.
"She is a side-out machine," raves Launiere. "She is as solid as they come and we will build our attack around her."
"Shak" ranked 19th in the conference in kills last season with an average of 3.26 per game. She also ranked 20th in the nation and led the WAC with 0.54 aces a game. With what figures to be her biggest season still ahead of her, the Draper, Utah, native already ranks sixth in career kills (1,005) and seventh in service aces (98) at the U.
Tonga, who splashed onto the scene last season, ranked seventh in the WAC in blocks (1.22) and sixth in hitting percentage (.327) as a middle blocker in 1997. A physical player by nature, the Allen, Texas, native will have to become more of a banger as she moves to the outside.
"Kalani has never passed as many balls as she will now," says Launiere about Tonga's position change. "She has a lot to learn, but it's a better position for her because she'll get more swings. Kalani was good at using finesse to put away balls as a middle blocker, but this year she'll be facing two blocks instead of just one. We'll limit her early, but eventually we'll get her some different sets along the net."
Launiere is extremely excited about the emergence of 6-0 sophomore Jen Snow. A positive side-effect of the injuries to two starters last year was that the Salt Lake City native got a lot of quality playing time as a freshman. Snow came on strong at the end of the season and averaged 1.97 kills and 2.38 digs in 106 games. She also had 25 service aces, the fourth-most on the team.
Improving even more during the off-season, Snow is showing signs of becoming one of the next great players in the Ute program. "She's as physical and aggressive as any outside hitter in the conference," raves Launiere.
Brooke Barton will give her sophomore season a second go-around. A projected starter last year, Barton tore the ACL in her left knee during pre-season workouts. Her recovery has gone well, and she is expected to be at about 90 percent by the start of fall practice. As a freshman in 1996, the 5-10 Barton was named second-team all-WAC Mountain Division defensive specialist, playing in all 32 matches and 115 games.
"Brooke's our best passer," says Launiere. "We need her to be on the court."
Where freshman Lorraine Morrison will fit in is still to be determined. A tremendous athlete standing 6-1, Morrison can play at either outside hitter or setter. "Her versatility will no doubt be an asset to us. We just have to figure out where to play her," says Launiere.
Megan Lovell, a 5-11 junior from Bountiful, Utah, joined the team as a walk-on after finishing her career at Ricks Junior College. Lovell provides solid floor defense and blocking, and gives the Utes another option on the outside.Middle Blockers
Utah was one of the 30 best blocking teams in the nation in 1997, ranking 27th with an average of 2.92 per game. However, the movement of Tonga to the outside and an off-season injury to Greenwalt has caused some feelings of uncertainty for Launiere heading into this season.
Greenwalt is coming back from surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in her left knee in January, but is expected to be at full strength by the start of the season. Launiere is hopeful the two-year starter will be able to pick-up where she left off after ranking 11th in the WAC in blocks (1.22) and sixth in hitting percentage (.327) last year.
"I think she's one of the best blocks in the WAC," says Launiere. "If her body is back to where it needs to be physically, she could have her best season yet."
The other middle blocker position is entirely up for grabs between two players. Erin Petersen, a 6-1 senior who saw limited action last year as a transfer, and McKelle Stilson, a 6-1 redshirt freshman, improved the most of anyone on the team during winter and spring workouts. Both Petersen and Stilson hit the slide extremely well, which provides Launiere with an offensive option that she hasn't had in recent years.
"McKelle is exciting to watch," gushes Launiere. "She touches the ball and swings off of one leg very well, and has already learned a lot about the game. Now she just needs to get her body in shape to withstand the grind of playing at that position for an entire season at the Division I level. Erin played consistently this spring and was the stabilizer in the middle for us.
"Those two will be a key to our success," concludes Launiere. "I think it's just a matter of using that combination, or having one of them step up for us."
Freshman Megan Anderson, a 6-1 middle blocker from Boise, Idaho, is questionable to play this fall after separating a shoulder in February. "Megan is very physical and a big-time competitor," says Launiere. "She brings a lot of intangibles to our team that will help us be successful."
Setters
Featuring a seasoned starter and a proven back-up, the Utes couldn't have a better situation at setter.
Junior Graciela Torres, who was benched in favor of Lucie Turkova down the stretch last season, won back her starting job during the off season.
"They went into the winter and spring even, and the battle between those two during that time was the most competitive situation I've ever been around in 14 years of coaching," reveals Launiere. "Both of them worked extremely hard and both responded to the challenge."
Torres is back for her third season as the starting setter. The Santa Rosa, Calif., native ranked ninth in the WAC in assists overall (11.86) and increased her production during the conference season to post the fourth-highest assists average (12.64).
"Graciela responded to the challenge and figured things out for herself," says Launiere. "She set very well this spring and gained back the respect of her teammates. She's starting to work with her hitters better, communicate more and show some confidence in them. When she does that, our offense runs better."
Turkova, a native of the Czech Republic, has proven to be up to the task when given the opportunity. As a starter in the last three matches, the 5-9 sophomore averaged 11.92 assists per game. Turkova can also be utilized as a defensive specialist. "Lucie brings great decision making and a great feel for the game," says Launiere. "She can step in at setter and make us better because of the that."
Two other players who could see time at setter are Morrison and junior college transfer Shannon Downey. Morrison intrigues Launiere because of her size. "We might put her in for a few points for a different look from time to time. She is a big block," says Launiere.
Downey, a 5-8 junior, who comes to the U. from Grossmont College, will rotate in primarily as a defensive specialist. Downey is a very experienced player who comes from a volleyball family. Her sister, Karrie Downey-Larsen, is current member of the USA National team.
The Schedule
Before Utah gets into the always challenging WAC schedule, it must first maneuver through three tournaments on successive weekends in September. After opening up with Idaho State at Crimson Court on Sept. 1, Utah plays in Washington State's Cougar Challenge, Sept. 4-5. Following the Weber State Tournament, Sept. 11-12, Utah faces two pre-season Top 25 teams in Michigan State and Notre Dame at the MSU Invitational, Sept. 18-19.
The Utes will be placed in the WAC's Pacific Division this season. Their familiar quadrant of Brigham Young, New Mexico and UTEP will be grouped with Fresno State, Hawai'i, San Diego State and San Jose State to form what many think will be the most competitive division in the WAC.
BYU and Hawai'i, two of the premiere collegiate volleyball programs in the nation, appear to be the teams to beat. Launiere places Utah, Fresno State and San Diego State on the next tier.
"If we can improve our passing and ball control before we reach the conference season, we'll be competitive in that division," says Launiere.
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