2010 Volleyball Season Preview
8/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 23, 2010
The 2010 season will be one of several endings but will also be one of a handful of new beginnings for the Alabama volleyball team. One of the more notable changes that will occur mid-season is the move from the Coleman Auxiliary Volleyball Extension, better known as the CAVE, to the newly-renovated Foster Auditorium. The Crimson Tide has called the CAVE home since the 2000 season enjoying great success in its friendly confines. Although Foster Auditorium will be new to the current squad, volleyball is no stranger to the historic structure as it housed matches from the program's inaugural season in 1974 to 1995.
"I think the thing that excites me the most about Foster Auditorium is there are so many previous Alabama volleyball players that played there," head coach Judy Green said. "My goal is to bring all of those people back to Foster, so they can have a sense of ownership in something good."
Green also added on the importance of giving former players a sense of pride when they walk back in the building.
"It's their home; It's where they played," said Green. "I want to make it feel like a home to them."
On November 24, not only will four seniors take the court for the final time in Tuscaloosa, but it will also mark the end of Green's 15-year tenure as she announced she would retire following the 2010 season. When Green arrived over a decade ago she was committed to building a national program at the Capstone, and it didn't take her long to make her mark. Among her various accomplishments is Alabama's first SEC Western Division title, which came in 2000, and the Tide's first trip to the NCAA Tournament at the conclusion of the 2005 season. Alabama would go on to win another SEC Western Division crown in 2004 and make three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2005-2007.
"I want to leave Alabama on a very successful note," Green said. "When I took this job I wanted to take this program from where it was and put it at a respectable level nationally. I don't want the focus to be on this being my last season, but more so about our team and the success we can achieve."
As previously mentioned, Alabama will send off four seniors this season including Mary Catherine Aune, Calli Johnson, Alyssa Meuth and Kayla Schmidt. Entering 2010, the quartet has won 39 matches and advanced to the NCAA Tournament once.
Joining the four seniors is one junior, three sophomores and five freshmen. With the team nearly split between returning players and newcomers, Green explains how important integration will be.
"The biggest key is going to be how we integrate five new players into our eight returning players, and how we can become a team as quickly as possible," Green said. "These five newcomers could have their own identity, just like our returning players could have their own identity. Everybody is going to have to be committed to working toward being the best team we can be. I hear a lot of words being said over and over again, but it's going to be about the actions that we take to make that happen."
HITTERS
The Tide returns two of its top hitters from last season in senior Alyssa Meuth and sophomore Kayla Fitterer and welcomes a trio of talented freshmen in Shelbi Goode, Morgan Hendrix and Brianne Vande Griend. Meuth, a Second Team All-SEC honoree from a year ago led Alabama in kills in 2009 with an average of 3.22 per set. She was the Tide's best offensive option in the Bama Bash tallying double-figure kills in each match en route to earning All-Tournament honors.
"We are very fortunate to be returning Alyssa," Green said. "She was one of the league's top performers last year enjoying quite a successful season. She really had a great junior year."
Fitterer jumped into Alabama's rotation quickly as a freshman gaining valuable playing time that will come in handy this season. She established herself early on offensively notching a career-best and team-high 17 kills against Fresno State on Sept. 11. Her top defensive performance of the season came a few weeks later as Fitterer collected 19 digs and three solo blocks for the Tide.
"Kayla had a great freshman season and made really good strides during the spring season," Green explained. "Her confidence level improved a great deal as did her all-around play."
Entering the offensive mix is a trio of highly-touted freshman that are eager to kick off their careers at Alabama. Shelbi Goode, the Tide's most recent addition, was a PrepVolleyball.com All-American and a two-time member of the All Cen-Tex First Team. She helped guide Georgetown (Texas) High School to the 5A Texas State Semifinals in 2009 and currently holds the school record in kills (462), blocks (122) and aces (61). She was named Offensive MVP of her team in 2008 and 2009 and was the team's overall MVP her senior season.
"Shelbi has great height, long arms and is very competitive by nature," Green said. "She also has the ability to be a great passer, which will help us out even more."
Hendrix, who is also a native of Texas, comes in with an impressive list of accolades including a place on the PrepVolleyball.com Senior Aces 2010 "The 150" list. Throughout her four years at Lake Travis High School Hendrix guided the team to a 45-3 record and a spot in the 2009 state semifinals. She was an All-State and Academic All-State selection in 2009 as well as an All Cen-Tex First Team member.
"Morgan is one of the most energetic and team-oriented players," Green said. "She has an X-factor about her. Throughout her young volleyball career she's made sacrifices to put herself in a position where she could become a better volleyball player. As she gets stronger and develops, Morgan will certainly be someone who can dominate the net in the SEC."
Rounding out the hitters is Vande Griend, who earned All-American honors in 2009 from Under Armour, the AVCA and PrepVolleyball.com. She helped guide Colorado Springs Christian to four-straight AAAA State Championships and earned All-State honors in three of those seasons. In 2009, Vande Griend was named to the Colorado AAA State All-Star Team.
"Brianne is a great all-around athlete," Green said. "She has good hops and a great competitive energy about her on the floor."
BLOCKERS
Alabama's blocking core will be fronted by one of its most experienced players in senior Calli Johnson. Johnson has been the Tide's top defender at the net for the past two seasons. On Sept. 12, 2009, she became the first Alabama player since 2007 to tally eight or more blocks in a single match, which also set a new career high for Johnson.
"Calli is certainly our most seasoned, experienced player," Green said. "She's been through every situation possible in her career here. It was really fun this spring to see Calli improve. She will be a great role model for all of our players because of her work ethic. She has the ability to be a very effective offensive middle for us."
The Tide's other returning option at the middle blocker spot is redshirt sophomore Leigh Moyer. Moyer's first two seasons have been injury-plagued; however, the time she spent on the court was very effective. In Alabama's opening SEC match, Moyer hit a career-best .500 with eight kills off 14 attempts and just one error. The previous weekend she led the Tide on offense with a career-high 10 kills versus Sacramento State.
"Leigh has been battling injuries her first two years, but by the end of this spring season was playing the best volleyball I have ever seen her play," Green said. "If we can keep her healthy she has a chance to be a very effective offensive middle for us. She can score because she has great speed at the net. It would be nice to see her play an entire season."
From the group of newcomers, Green has a trio of contenders to assist in the defense at the net. Freshman Molly Ahrens, the third Tide rookie from Texas, was named District Co-MVP in 2009 and earned a place on the All-State First Team and All Cen-Tex First Team her senior season. Ahrens set her school record in blocks and was awarded Team MVP honors in 2009.
"Molly is a very competitive individual," Green said. "I believe she is going to do very well at this level and has a great collegiate career ahead of her."
Also available to enter the rotation at the blocker position are Shelbi Goode and Morgan Hendrix.
SETTERS
The Tide returns both its setters from last season providing great depth at the position. Senior Kayla Schmidt led Alabama in assists 26 times in 2009 and collected a team-high 11 double-doubles. Her best all-around performance came late in the season against South Carolina where she tallied a career-high 48 assists, 11 digs, four kills and three total blocks. Junior Stephanie Riley is the Tide's other option at setter. Riley recorded a season-best 26 assists in 2009 against McNeese State and matched her career-high three service aces with a trio against Mississippi State.
"Wherever Kayla and Stephanie go is where our team will go," Green said. "Kayla is certainly the best athlete we have on our team. She's won a national championship at the junior college level. She knows how to win, is a tremendous defensive player and she's competitive. Stephanie has tremendous leadership abilities. I'm excited to see her embark on this seasons where she wants to take hold of this team and lead it."
DEFENSE
In the back row, Alabama returns its starting libero in sophomore Kelsey Anderson. Anderson earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors once last season and also found a spot on the Hornet Invitational All-Tournament Team. She led the team in digs in 2009 with an average of 3.32 scoops per set and was one of the Tide's top servers with 13 aces on the season.
"Kelsey has improved her ball skills and serving a great deal in the offseason," Green said. "She is definitely going to be a leader on the floor for our team this season."
Joining Anderson is senior Mary Catherine Aune, who along with her defensive skills has been one of the best at serving the ball in Alabama history. She enters her final season in the crimson and white at No. 8 on the Tide's all-time service ace ledger with 128.
"Mary Catherine made great strides in the spring as far as being a more consistent passer and a more consistent volleyball player," Green explained. "Her defensive effort certainly improved and there's a certain winning spirit inside MC we need to have come out on a daily basis. She also has the potential to have an impact as a leader on our team. She can provide confidence, and she can provide stability."
Alabama welcomes one newcomer to the defensive mix with the addition of freshman Kelsey Melito. Melito earned All-Tournament and All-Area Team honors in each of her four seasons playing for The Lovett School. In 2008 and 2009 she was also an All-State Team selection.
"Kelsey is a workhorse," Green said. "She's a very strong kid, she's competitive and she is very committed to being a great volleyball player. She has a positive energy about her. I love her mentality."
