by Emily Buss
Issue date: 12/7/06
Section: Womens Sports
With the 2006 women's volleyball season now over, there is nothing to look forward to but next season. With two very important hitters leaving the team as graduates, Mandy Reuter and Cassie Wolpern, the team will be left in the hands of the soon to be three lone seniors, Stef Sandstrom, Megan Stroud and Dana Ostertag.
These three women will have the front defensive line covered, as Sandstrom will be setting in her final year, Stroud will be hitting middle and Ostertag will take the power outside. Each player has high expectations and goals for the team and as individuals.
"Being my senior year, I don't have that one more year to make up for a poor performances," Sandstrom said. "My team goal would be pretty much the same. We have the talent, now we just need that confidence and intensity to use it to our full potential."
Replacing the leaving seniors, Wolpern and Reuter, will be no easy task, but players are eager and ready to take on that challenge. MSU's 17-13 overall record was a large improvement from the season before, but the goals in the upcoming season are larger, and include getting farther in the regional playoffs.
"This past season had its ups and downs, but I think we found out how great we really can be. We only lost two players, even though they were big playmakers for us, having only two roles to fill, I know can be done by our younger girls," Sandstrom said. "This past season really showed us what it takes to compete at a higher level and has given us some things to really focus on for next fall."
With the roster currently at sixteen players, the Mavs will continue to condition throughout the year participating in camps, conditioning routines and other physical tasks to keep them ready and in shape for the upcoming year.
Team goals are prevalent and always on every player's mind, but so are individual goals. Stroud is very adamant about hers.
"I would like to personally accomplish career highs in both hitting and blocking and I would like to have a hitting percentage above .300." Stroud said.
Emily Buss is a Reporter staff writer
