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WARM UPS...
The Griffons open up the season on the road as they head to Pittsburg, Kan. to play in the PSU Tournament. The Griffons take on Rockhurst in the opening match of the season before playin Quincy to finish the first day of the tournament. On Saturday, September 7 the Griffons will travel play Ouchita Baptist in game three of the tournament, then MWSU plays the host, Pittsburg State, in the final match. This weekend will be one of many road trips early for the Griffons, so it is important that the Griffons gain experience on the road. Only Pittsburg State is in their conference and region, so MWSU will be looking forward to that matchup.
GRIFF NOTES...
• #1 --
Kelly Scannell --Appeared in 24 matches with five starts last season...had 94 digs and 111 assists.
• #2 --
Sarah Faubel -- Split time between both outside hitter and libero...appeared in 31 matches the past two seasons with 19 starts totals...led the team with 407 digs.
• #3 --
Kelsey Olion -- Freshman left hander that will add depth to the roster...great athlete that moves well in space and has tremendous speed in the back row.
• #4 --
Meredith McCormick -- Appeared in all 32 matches and had 31 starts last season...registered 209 kills and was second on the team with 86 blocks...very consistent and can play both the middle blocker and middle hitter postition.
• #5 --
Erin Backhuus -- Played in 20 matches last year...Transferred from Southeastern Oklahoma State and settled in well, finishing with 99 kills and 26 blocks.
• #6 --
Stephanie Hattey -- Only player to start all 32 matches last season...a three-year starter who was named honorable mention All-MIAA last year...led the team with 656 assists...played well on offense and defense...split time between setter and outside hitter.
• #7 --
Melissa Cairns -- Played in 20 matches with 14 starts as a freshman last season...had 114 kills which placed her third on the team in kills per set...injured her hip halfway through the season last year which forced her to miss several matches.
• #8 --
Lindsey Partridge -- Saw limited action her freshman year after redshirting in 2011...played in seven matches and had a start with 10 sets last year.
• #9 --
Jordan Chohon -- Appeared in 29 matches with 11 starts...finished second on the team with 445 assists...had a career-high 34 set assists against Pittsburg State on November 9.
• #11 --
Brooke Cousino -- Played in 17 matches and had 175 digs...had 20 digs in three different matches which were her season highs.
• #12 --
Sara Vitito -- Will immediatelly compete for a starting position in the middle...led her team to state her senior season in high school.
• #14 --
Amanda Boender -- Started all 31 matches she appeared in...totaled 102 bloacks and had 225 kills.
• #16 --
Jessie Thorup -- Appeared in all 32 matches last year...stepped in her freshman year and did excellent, totaling 274 kills to lead the team...added 46 digs and 53 blocks throughout the year...was named honorable mention All-MIAA.
• #18 --
Erica Rottinghaus -- A transfer from Highland Community College...will be a junior after playing two seasons at Highland where she was named First Team All-Region VI last year.
• #19 --
Veronika Goranova -- Played high school volleyball at 51st Elisaveta Bagryana in her hometown of Vratsa, Bulgaria...has a lot of experience and is a smart player.
• #22 --
Holly Pollock -- Had a good freshman year, totaling 227 digs in 84 sets...can play outside well and also splits time at libero.
Season Openers:
The Griffons are 23-9-2 in season openers. More importantly, the Griffons are 10-2 in the past 12 seasons, inlcuding winning the past three years in the season opener.
Early Records:
The Griffons have had a winning record in 25 of their past 34 years in volleyball after through September 30. The Griffons were 9-7 after September in 2012, including a quick 5-0 start to the year.
Under Coach Carbin in September:
Since Carbin's arrival as the assistant coach in 2009, the Griffons are 27-29 in the month of September. Last year, the Griffons began the season on August 31, and won both matches.
Non-Conference Record:
The Griffons are 9-7 in the opening weekend in the past four years. The Griffons won all four of their matches last year in the seaso-opening weekend. Of their nine wins, four were 3-0 sweeps. Of their seven losses, four were 3-0 sweeps.
Return of two key offensive weapons:
The Griffons return their best offensive weapon for the better part of three seasons.
Stephanie Hattey returns to lead the team for her fourth straight season. Hattey has been an All-MIAAer every year since her arrival on campus in 2010, and she was named Freshman of the Year in 2010. Now a senior, Hattey will also have the help of starters
Meredith McCormick and
Sarah Faubel. Also helping out will be
Jessie Thorup, a sophomore who was named MIAA honorable mention.
Tough Stretch:
When the season starts the Griffons will play 12 of their first 13 matches on the road. Their first home match will be on Thursday, Sept. 24 when they take on Fort Hays State. After that, the Griffons go back on the road for nine of their next 12 matches. But they will finish with seven consecutive home matches to end the year.
Same Faces:
The Griffons return all seven of their starters and only have three new faces on their team this year. Back for another season is former MIAA Freshman of the Year
Stephanie Hattey. Along with Hattey,
Jessie Thorup returns. Thorup was named to the 2012 All-MIAA Honorable Mention team. Third-year starters
Sarah Faubel,
Meredith McCormick and
Amanda Boender also return.
UP NEXT...
The Griffons continue a massive road stretch, going to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to play in the NSIC Challenge. There, the Griffons will match up against St. Cloud State and Minot State on Friday, September 13, followed by Saturday's matches against Sioux Falls and Augustana College.
