2005 Season Preview - University of Kentucky Athletics
2005 Season Preview - University of Kentucky Athletics
2005 Season Preview - University of Kentucky Athletics
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K e n t u c k y V o l l e y b a l l<br />
"Danielle Wallace has great <strong>of</strong>fensive output.<br />
Melissa Popp is healthy again and will be able to<br />
have a big impact on our success. Julie Gagnon<br />
and our freshmen will have the chance to contribute<br />
at the other outside hitting position. All<br />
three have different strengths that will give them<br />
the opportunity to play and start."<br />
Newcomer Ashlee Fisher joins the Cats from<br />
West Bend, Wisc., and could see immediate playing<br />
time in the UK lineup.<br />
Middle Blocker<br />
Kaplan headlines the <strong>Kentucky</strong> middle in<br />
<strong>2005</strong> with an unmatched determination and<br />
work ethic. Her experience should pay dividends<br />
in refining a talented, yet untested group <strong>of</strong><br />
young players at her position. She hit a squadbest<br />
.305 hitting percentage in 2004 and was the<br />
team's second-leading blocker with 97.<br />
Sophomore Kristen Cunningham gained a<br />
wealth <strong>of</strong> experience last season, starting 24 <strong>of</strong><br />
the 29 matches she played in last year. She led the<br />
team in blocking with 0.94 bpg.<br />
Redshirt freshman Queen<br />
Nzenwa will be counted on to log<br />
major time in the middle this season.<br />
The Baltimore native had a<br />
strong showing in the team's spring<br />
matches after being sidelined with<br />
a leg injury just before the start <strong>of</strong><br />
last season.<br />
"In the middle blocking position,<br />
we have great experience with<br />
Amy (Kaplan). She has led the SEC<br />
in hitting percentage. We have great<br />
physicality in Queen, who is<br />
unproven, but athletically is as good<br />
as anybody. Kristen may be the<br />
hardest working and the most fundamentally<br />
sound middle. So we<br />
have a good core <strong>of</strong> people to help<br />
us be successful."<br />
Setter<br />
The Wildcats can rely on a constant<br />
force at the setter position<br />
with the return <strong>of</strong> the battle-tested<br />
Marcum. Marcum is ranked sixth<br />
all-time at UK for career assists<br />
with 2,615. The Noblesville, Ind.,<br />
native was tops on the squad last<br />
season with 12.36 apg and posted<br />
four double-doubles (assists and<br />
digs) on the year. Marcum played<br />
in each <strong>of</strong> the team's 126 games as<br />
a sophomore and saw the majority<br />
<strong>of</strong> the action last season in a twosetter<br />
rotation.<br />
Canadian Tess Edwards is a 6-<br />
foot freshman who is a two-time<br />
member <strong>of</strong> the Ontario Provincial<br />
team. Edwards, who hails from<br />
Ottowa, Ontario, is armed with credentials that<br />
should more than prepare her for a collegiate<br />
role. She should immediately compete with Marcum<br />
for the starting position.<br />
"Leigh has great experience and a very good<br />
natural ability. She has adjusted to our new system<br />
very well and there has been a smooth transition<br />
in the way we play the game <strong>of</strong>fensively.<br />
Tess is a dynamic player and teammate and has<br />
considerable ability in all skills at the setter position<br />
and will compete to start."<br />
Senior Danielle Wallace had her most impressive season so far in 2004.<br />
Her 3.62 kills per game are the most <strong>of</strong> any returning player.<br />
Libero/Defensive Specialist<br />
Junior Jenni Casper has established herself as<br />
one <strong>of</strong> the leading liberos in the competitive<br />
SEC. Casper will be central to the UK defensive<br />
game in <strong>2005</strong>. The Louisville native led the team<br />
defensively last year with 478 digs (4.31 dpg).<br />
She showed her endurance, playing in 111 <strong>of</strong> the<br />
team's 112 games - the most <strong>of</strong> any Wildcat.<br />
Rookie Alisa Pearce, a two-time All-State<br />
first-team selection from Louisville, is a converted<br />
outside hitter who will see quality time as a<br />
defensive specialist at UK. Pierce, 5-foot-7, has<br />
considerable height for a back-row player.<br />
Sophomore Kathleen Bowler brings extensive<br />
athleticism to the position and has proven that<br />
she can compete for playing time with anyone.<br />
"I think we can be exceptional at the<br />
libero/defensive specialist position. Jenni<br />
(Casper) has a wealth <strong>of</strong> experience. She's led the<br />
SEC defensively the last couple <strong>of</strong> years. Kathleen<br />
(Bowler) is a superior athlete who continues<br />
to improve every week. Alisa (Pierce) has played<br />
at the highest level in club and has the ability and<br />
will compete to start at the position right away."<br />
The Staff<br />
Not only will the Wildcats be looking to<br />
play at a championship level in <strong>2005</strong>, the UK<br />
bench will have a championship feel to complement<br />
the successes on the court. Robert Pulliza,<br />
an assistant coach at perennial-power Texas<br />
and Jenae Dowling, a former four-year letterwinner<br />
and defensive specialist at<br />
Nebraska complete the first coaching<br />
staff for Skinner.<br />
"Robert and Jenae are great people<br />
whom I trust very much," Skinner<br />
said. "Robert is one <strong>of</strong> the most<br />
experienced recruiters in the country<br />
with a great mind for the game. We<br />
will not lose a beat in recruiting with<br />
him on our staff. His enthusiasm for<br />
volleyball and life in general is a great<br />
asset to our program. Jenae is a<br />
young, energetic coach who has<br />
played at the highest level and is really<br />
excited to be starting her coaching<br />
career at UK."<br />
Outlook<br />
The Wildcats begin the <strong>2005</strong> season<br />
with a renewed energy and all the<br />
pieces in place for championship success.<br />
With all the components in<br />
position, <strong>Kentucky</strong> looks to not only<br />
be a national contender but an exciting<br />
team to follow.<br />
"What's important to me is that<br />
when the fans come once, they'll<br />
want to come again," Skinner said. "I<br />
think we're going to put an exciting<br />
team on the floor. They're going to<br />
play with a lot <strong>of</strong> joy and passion. I<br />
think when kids come to watch our<br />
team play they're going to walk away<br />
wanting to be part <strong>of</strong> it."<br />
"We expect to compete in every<br />
match and have a chance to win with<br />
the way we play. My players will have<br />
a winning mentality. Our results will<br />
stem from our work ethic and our<br />
commitment to our philosophy."<br />
Fall <strong>2005</strong> <strong>Kentucky</strong> Volleyball 33