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2007 OUTLOOK
The formula may be different but coach Kent Clayberg hopes the results are the same for the Central College volleyball team, which has won or shared 11 consecutive Iowa Conference titles.
As he looks to replace a pair of graduated starters, Clayberg said the Dutch could deviate from traditional positional formations.
“We've got to find a way to get our best combination on the floor,” he said. “We're looking for the combination from a physical, mental and communication standpoint that will give us the best means to compete at the national level.”
Central has two all-conference players among 10 returning letterwinners from last season's 24-10 club which tied for the league top spot with Simpson College . The Dutch, who have captured 16 conference volleyball crowns overall, narrowly missed adding to their total of 10 NCAA Division III playoff berths. But Clayberg is hopeful that Central's more-than-a-decade of dominance will be further extended.
Setters
Clayberg isn't doing any tinkering with the setter position. Terri Berger, a 5-foot, 5-inch senior was a first-team all-conference pick last season and the squad co-captain already has her name in the Central record books heading into what will likely be her third season as a starter. She's racked up 2,581 assists, ranking third on the school's all-time list. Berger has posted 11 career statistical double-doubles and three triple-doubles. She averaged 10.45 assists with 1.7 digs, 0.36 blocks and a .260 hitting percentage.
“Terri is a very intelligent, very aggressive floor leader,” Clayberg said. “She knows what we're trying to do with our offense and defense. She understands our personnel and she understands the process of breaking an opposing team down.”
But Clayberg also has confidence in 5-8 junior Megan Callahan and versatile 5-9 senior co-captain Whitney Taylor.
Callahan averaged 4.94 assists with a .252 attack percentage in 53 games. She set a school record with 10 ace serves in a three-game sweep of Dubuque last fall. Taylor appeared in 106 games in a variety of roles and is also a co-captain.
“They both saw action last year as part-time setters or defensive specialists,” Clayberg said. “The setter position should certainly be a position of strength for us.”
Right-side hitter
Replacing the power and productivity of graduated right-side hitter Tessa Prati is not a simple process. Central's kill leader last season ranks ninth on the school's career kills list with 978. Clayberg is confident in his options, but is looking at some different alignments to find the optimal solution.
He said that Taylor will get the first look.
“Whitney's extremely athletic, quick and competitive,” he said. “She likes the blocking challenge of the right side and can be a very elusive hitter. She would be able to run about anything we want her to run and, as a setter, will certainly have all the ball-handling skills that position needs.”
But Clayberg is also considering seniors Garra Williams (6-0) and Megan Hansen (6-0), who have spent more time as middle hitters, along with sophomore Hannah Jensen (5-11).
“Both Garra and Megan have trained as right-side hitters in the past,” Clayberg said.
Middle hitter
Another all-conference returnee, 6-1 second-team pick Katie Johnson, anchors the middle. The senior co-captain trailed only Prati on the team in kills with 2.75 last year while hitting a team-high .273 and leading in blocks with 1.37, ranking 32nd in the NCAA Division III in the latter category. She was twice tabbed an all-tournament selection.
“Offensively and defensively, Katie will be one of the premier players in the conference and the region,” Clayberg said. “She's a very difficult player to defend and is a very consistent defensive presence. She also has good back-court skills and gives us the flexibility to use her in a lot of ways.”
Williams and Hansen have made numerous appearances in the middle as well. Williams averaged 1.42 kills and 0.83 blocks while Hansen averaged 1.23 kills and 0.76 blocks in part-time duty.
“Both have experience and both are very strong, solid middle hitters,” Clayberg said.
Clayberg is also eyeing sophomores Lindsay Jennings (6-1) and Sara Mouw (5-11).
“Lindsay made huge strides as a freshman,” he said. “She could have an impact in the middle or somewhere else. Sara was still recovering from a high school knee injury last fall but has made steady improvement as well.”
Outside hitter
Clayberg will also be flexible in how he utilizes a diverse group of outside hitters.
“Our outside hitters have experience, power, ball skills, athleticism and size, spread out among about six players,” he said. “Each player brings different skills and abilities.”
Junior co-captain Miranda Kouba (5-9) and senior Allison Ripperger (5-10) have logged the most court time. Kouba was second on the team in digs with 3.42 per game while recording 1.78 kills. Ripperger averaged 1.99 kills.
“Both bring different styles of play in how they move and how they swing,” Clayberg said. “They should be a good contrast to each other.”
Clayberg expects some leadership at the position from 5-9 senior Traci Dyer while also giving a look at sophomores Megan Ewoldt (6-0) and Mackenzie Taylor (5-8).
“Both saw a little varsity action last year and both have great potential,” he said.
Another sophomore, 5-9 Michelle Ripperger, could challenge as well.
Defensive specialist
There's little uncertainty in the back with the return of starting libero Maggie Nowicki, a 5-6 junior. She led the Dutch with 4.54 digs per game and 0.32 service aces.
“This should be a position of strength,” Clayberg said. “Maggie's a rock. She'll be in the center of every reception pattern and our defense will run through her.”
Clayberg also likes 5-6 sophomore Jenna Gillete or could use Kouba or Dyer.
The schedule
Coe College , which made rapid improvement last year, joins Simpson and Wartburg as the top contenders in the Iowa Conference, with Cornell and Loras making strides.
“The quality of coaching in the league continues to get stronger,” Clayberg said. “Nothing's going to be easy. The teams will all be well-trained and well-prepared.”
The Dutch will continue to see an abundance of powerful non-conference competition as well, most notably in the Washington-St. Louis ( Mo. ) tourney Sept. 7-8. The schedule is highlighted by a trek to southern California Oct. 18-20.
Clayberg is convinced his club has the ingredients needed to build on its impressive league and NCAA legacy. Central was ranked in 10 of 12 AVCA Division III national polls last year. The Dutch saw their string of 110 straight appearances in the polls since 1997 come to an end, but they still are tied for sixth on the all-time list of poll appearances with 114 and are ninth in the number of final season poll appearances (9).
“This team has talent,” he said. “This team has a competitive fire. The team simply needs to play with a joyful intensity. When this group lets loose, it can be awfully good.”