UVU WVB: 2010 UVU Women's Volleyball Season Preview Add Comment    Sep 19, 2010

OREM, Utah - After finishing second in the Great West Conference a year ago, the Utah Valley University women's volleyball team has its sights set on winning its first conference title in 2010 and earning its first NCAA bid.

Head coach Sam Atoa is back for his 12th season at the helm of UVU and hopes that his experienced roster can get the job done in 2010.

"Last year was a huge disappointment that we didn't attain our goal to win the conference championship," Atoa said. "This year, the girls are motivated to put in the time and effort to try to be better throughout the season and conference tournament. Hopefully we can do the right things to get us there and give us another opportunity to play for that.

"We all are also shooting towards making the NCAA tournament as well. It will be very, very difficult to do that but there is always a chance. If we are fortunate enough to do well in the month of September, it will be key to help determine if that is going to be a possibility or not. We are going to work towards it and if it happens great but if not we will keep working hard to help make that a reality in the years to come."

Atoa welcomes back four starters and nine letterwinniners from a year ago. One of those includes the newly married reigning Great West Conference Player of the Year Kayli Broadbent Doxey.

UVU also returns four seniors and four juniors in 2010. Leading the way for the seniors is the aforementioned OH Broadbent Doxey, DS Lanni O'Reilly, MB Dani Robison and DS Kathleen Stevens. The four returning juniors are S Rachel Anderson, MB/RS Sarah Clement, recently married OH Chelsey Garfield Heaps and OH Jaicee Kuresa.

The lone sophomore and final returning letterwinner from a year ago is MB/RS Erica Nish. The Wolverines also welcome back two redshirt-freshmen, in OH Lindsay Barker and DS Patti Flagg.

Two newcomers will also join the Wolverine volleyball squad this season and will look to help solidify the roster. Brookelyn Campbell a S from Gilbert, Ariz., and Tawny Hughes a DS from Keller, Texas, round out the roster.

The Wolverines officially begin the year Friday, Aug. 27, in Columbia, Mo., at the Tiger Invitational when they take on Nevada at 3 p.m. MT. On Saturday, the early-season schedule gets even more challenging when UVU will play two matches; one against Maryland of the ACC and the other against host Mizzou of the Big 12.

OUTSIDE HITTERS:

Even though Camie Manwill is gone, the Wolverines still have their best depth in this position with Broadbent Doxey, Garfield Heaps, Kuresa and Barker. Broadbent Doxey (6-0) led the entire GWC in kills last year as she finished with 494, and an average of 4.30 kills per set. Garfield Heaps (5-11) is the next top returner in that category as she averaged 1.82 kills per set as well, while Kuresa (6-0) had 110 kills a year ago. Redshirt-freshman Barker (6-1) will also vie for playing time as well.

MIDDLES:

With Orem-native Robison entering her senior year as a Wolverine and her running mates Clement and Nish in the middle as well, UVU should be very solid in this position. Clement (6-2) led the squad in blocks a year ago with 104, while Robison (6-1) was right behind her with 81. Nish (6-2) will also see key playing time in the middle as she had 46 blocks last season.

RIGHT SIDE:

Atoa will turn to a number of his middle blockers to play right side as well. He will most likely he will turn to Clement and Nish to play there.

SETTERS:

With Chelsey Fa'alogo a talented setter that is no longer on the team in 2010, Atoa will look to Anderson and the incoming freshman Campbell in this department. Anderson (5-8) was third on the team in assists in 2009 with 75 and had a solid assist per set ratio with 4.17. Campbell (6-0) who was a very good setter at Mesquite High School in Gilbert, Ariz., will challenge Anderson for the starting spot.

DEFENSE:

With no more Allyce Jones at libero in a UVU uniform, the Wolverines will turn to a couple of seniors to fill the void, Stevens and O'Reilly. Stevens (5-8) was fourth in digs a year ago with 238 and also led the team in service aces with 51. O'Reilly (5-9) will challenge for the starting spot as she was seventh with 26 digs. Flagg, a 5-6 freshman from Las Vegas, will bring depth to the position.

Atoa is planning on redshirting the freshman Hughes in 2010.

"I'm encouraged for the upcoming season," Atoa added. "We've had some challenges already with some individuals that decided not to come back but the girls have been able to step up and accept new roles and responsibilities that will definitely help us."

-Utah College Sports News staff and wire reports

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Utah College Sports Wire