Pages 1-15 - Creighton University Bluejays

2010 OutlookWith 11 letterwinners, includingfour starters and libero NaykaBenitez back, look for the 2010edition of the Creighton volleyballprogram to lean heavily onits experience and once again putitself in contention for an NCAATournament bid.Though graduated seniorsSarah Schulze and Jessica Houtsdeparted after starting more than200 matches between them, therest of last year’s team that finishedfourth in the Missouri ValleyConference returns.Coming off a season that sawthe Bluejays finish third nationallyin blocks per set and establish aschool record for home wins, thefans at D.J. Sokol Arena will see astrong home schedule thatincludes 2009 NCAA Tournamentparticipants Nebraska, NorthernIowa, Lipscomb and WichitaState.Megan BoberSettersSetter Megan Bober is back afterstarting every match of her freshmanseason as the Bluejay setter.Bober earned a spot on theMVC’s All-Freshman Team after arookie campaign that saw heraverage 9.63 assists. Additionally,the 6-foot-tall southpaw averaged0.93 blocks per set, the topmark nationally among setters.Competing with Bober for thesetting spot will be sophomoreBrittany Moon and freshmanBrianne Fliss.Moon had two assists and twodigs in a reserve role last year,while Wisconsin native Flisshelped her high school team to afifth-place finish at state.Laurel SanfordMiddle BlockersCreighton knew it would losetwo-time all-Valley selection JessicaHouts to graduation, butwere dealt an unexpected blowin late July when fifth-year seniorLauren Bloemke suffered a tornanterior cruciate ligament in herright knee that will cause her tomiss the 2010 season.Bloemke, who missed themajority of the 2009 season withan torn ACL in her left knee, hadmade 66 career starts and rankedin Creighton’s career top-10 inblocks and hitting percentage.Junior Laurel Sanford had abreakthrough season last year,ranking 25th nationally (thirdamong sophomores) with 1.30blocks per set. She also averaged1.68 kills per set last fall while hitting.240 to rank among the club’smost efficient attackers.Sophomore Heather Thorsonsaw the majority of her time lastseason on the right-side, but sawincreased opportunities in themiddle as the year wound down.The team’s tallest player (6-foot-3), Thorson’s versatility will givecoach Kirsten Bernthal Boothsome options.True freshman SavannahSmith could also contend fortime in the middle. The Oakland,Iowa, native is the first person inher high school’s history toreceive a Division I scholarship.She was named the OmahaWorld-Herald’s Class 2A WesternIowa Player of the Year last fall.Last year Creighton rankedthird nationally in blocks per set.Alicia RungeOutside & Right Side HittersThe return of seniors Allie Oelkeand Alicia Runge gives Creightontwo powerful weapons on thepins, both with the ability to takeover a match.Oelke is a three-year starterwho ranked second on the teamin both kills and digs per matchlast year. She topped the club indouble-doubles and is on pace tofinish her career in the top-five inCreighton history in kills and digs.Runge was third on the team inkills and emerged as a go-to playerdown the stretch last fall. Sheaveraged 3.24 kills while hitting.396 in Creighton’s last six matcheslast year.Junior Karisa Almgren provideda spark off the bench for theJays at times last year, and will tryto break through into a moreprominent role. She averaged0.54 kills and 0.33 blocks per setlast year.In addition to Thorson, twotrue freshmen, Lexi Malm andNatalie Hackbarth, will look tofind a spot in the rotation as well.Hackbarth had nearly 1,500kills as a prep and was a two-timefirst-team all-state pick at Algona(Iowa) High School. She wasnamed her team’s top offensiveplayer each of her final three seasonsas a prep.Malm hails from Central City(Neb.) and is a terrific athlete. Shewon 12 letters in high school(four each in volleyball, basketballand track) and owns her school’srecord for career kills.Nayka BenitezLiberos &Defensive SpecialistsThe battles for the back row spotsfigure to be among the mostcompetitive on the team.After playing every set asCreighton’s libero last year,Nayka Benitez returns for hersenior campaign. Benitez rankedseventh in the MVC with 516 digsand tied for second in The Valleywith 43 aces. Her overpoweringjump serve helped her record atleast one ace in 24 of 31 matcheslast fall.Lisa Greisch and BrookeBoggs split time as defensivespecialists last year.Greisch averaged 1.18 digs perset and could also be in the mix asan outside hitter.Boggs averaged 1.26 digs perset and was fifth on the team withnine aces.True freshman Julianne Mandolfocomes to campus with atremendous defensive reputationand will push for a spot as eitherlibero or defensive specialist afterhelping Omaha Marian HighSchool to a state title last fall.Allie Oelke and Lisa Greisch10