2004 Minnesota Volleyball Preview

Last year, a group of women captured the hearts of many Minnesotans as they became one of the lowest seeds to ever advance to the NCAA Final Four. Sound familiar? Well, the Gopher Volleyball team’s performance last season was somewhat overshadowed by the basketball run, but most of the girls are back for an encore performance in 2004. The nation is taking notice, as the preseason ranking named the Gophers as the #5 team in the nation. Additionally, the Big Ten coaches have selected Minnesota as the favorite to win the conference.

Gone is Cassie Busse, an All-American right side hitter who led the team in kills and service aces last season. Every other contributor from last season returns. The key to early season success will be finding a replacement for Busse. Coach Mike Hebert‘s answer so far involves switching the offensive set from the traditional 5-1 into the 6-2. The 6-2 offense utilizes two setters in the rotation, giving the Gophers three offensive options in the front row at all times. This set up will also allow the Gophers to better utilize back up setter sophomore Kelly Bowman, who was a top five recruit coming out of high school. Last season, Southern Cal worked the 6-2 to a victory over Minnesota in the Final Four, and 34 other teams on its way to a national title last season.

On offense, Erin Martin will be the focal point. An explosive senior outside hitter, Martin was named to the preseason All Big Ten team. She dominated throughout spring ball and has exploded for huge games throughout her Gopher career. The key for Martin this season will be controlling her emotions and developing a consistently devastating attack. If Erin rises to the challenge, she will be a candidate for All-American honors. Trisha “Tree” Bratford will be the other main outside hitter for the Gophers. Similar to Martin, Tree is athletically explosive, but has been inconsistent and error prone throughout her career. If she can rein it all in for her senior year, Minnesota will have a formidable attack on the left side.

Coach Hebert has stated repeatedly this preseason that he’s look for more offense out of the middle blockers this season. While Jessica Byrnes runs the slide as well as most middles in the conference, the position hasn’t provided much offense for Minnesota since Stephanie Hagen graduated in 2001. Without Busse, Minnesota must be able to get better hitting out of Byrnes, sophomore Meredith Nelson and freshman Jessy Jones. Nelson is a fantastic athlete that has huge potential to be a dominating hitter. Her development as an offensive option will be imperative to the Gophers chances for a Big Ten Championship.

As mentioned earlier, Minnesota will be using two setters this season. Senior Lindsey Taatjes is back for her third year as the starting setter. During her last 5 years as a starting setter she has led her teams to 3 high school state championships, a Big Ten Title, and an NCAA Final Four. Her freshman season, she backed up Lindsey Berg, who is currently playing for the United States in Athens. While Taatjes sometimes struggles setting the middles, and could be a liability as a hitter in the 6-2, she brings an inordinate amount of intangibles and experience. She is also a formidable digger and blocker. Kelly Bowman is a very smart, crafty player who sets a great ball. She can also be used as an adequate hitter if Hebert decides to rotate her through the front row. Setting should not be a big issue for this year’s squad, with a good mix of experience and talent.

Lastly, but most importantly, it is a pleasure to report on the libero and defensive specialist positions for Minnesota. The libero is a defense-only player who can sub in at any time without counting as a substitute. Since the position was added to NCAA ball in 2002, the only player to be named All-American at the position is Minnesota’s own Paula Gentil. Paula is a woman who gives up her body to the sport, and thus has been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in both her seasons at Minnesota. In a change for the 2004 season, the libero will be allowed to serve which is a great benefit to the team, as Gentil is one of the premier servers in America. Paula is joined by two exceptional defensive specialists, Marci Peniata and Lisa Reinhart. Together, these “œthree amigos” make up the best defensive corps in college volleyball.

This season should provide an exciting encore for fans who fell in love with the team last season during their Final Four run. The schedule is amongst the hardest in the nation, and Minnesota opens the season next weekend at the NACWAA tournament in Colorado Springs, which features defending National Champs USC, along with #12 Georgia Tech, and Minnesota’s first match opponent #11 Colorado State. If the Gophers are successful in creating a strong offense to go along with their top notch defense, a Big Ten Title and another NCAA run should be well within grasp.

2004 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
1. Minnesota
2. Penn State
3. Wisconsin
4. Michigan State
5. Illinois
6. Michigan
6. Ohio State
8. Purdue
9. Northwestern
10. Indiana
11. Iowa

2004 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM

Name School Yr./ Position Hometown
Erin Virtue Illinois Sr./Setter
Christina Archibald (2) Indiana Sr./ Outside Hitter
Jennifer Gandolph Michigan Sr./Outside Hitter
KIM SCHRAM MICHIGAN STATE SR./OUTSIDE HITTER
Paula Gentil (2) Minnesota Jr./Libero
Erin Martin Minnesota Sr./Outside Hitter
STACEY GORDON (3) OHIO STATE SR./OUTSIDE HITTER
Ashley Pederson Penn State Sr./Outside Hitter
Cassy Salyer Penn State So./Middle Hitter
SAM TORTORELLO (2) PENN STATE JR./SETTER
Renata Dargan Purdue Jr./Setter
Jill Odenthal Wisconsin Sr./Opposite Hitter

UNANIMOUS SELECTION IN CAPS
(2) Two-time selection
(3) Three-time selection