2003 New Mexico VOLLEYBALL

Transcription

1 2003 New Mexico VOLLEYBALL University of New Mexico Athletics Media Relations Department South Athletics Complex Albuquerque, N.M (ph.) (fax) 2003 NEW MEXICO VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE (00, 00 MWC Home 00, Away 00, Neutral 00) Day Date Opponent Time/Results at Fresno State Tournament, Fresno, Calif. Fri. 8/29 Fresno State 7:30 p.m. Sat. 8/30 Cal Poly Noon Sat. 8/30 Idaho State 5 p.m. COMCAST LOBO INVITATIONAL Fri. 9/5 Youngstown State 7:30 p.m. Sat. 9/6 Alcorn State 12:30 p.m. Sat. 9/6 Delaware 7:30 p.m. at Washington State Cougar Mania Invitational, Pullman, Wash. Fri. 9/12 Loyola Marymount 4 p.m. Sat. 9/13 Washington State Noon Sat. 9/13 Saint Louis 5 p.m. ALBUQUERQUE MARRIOT LOBO VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC Fri. 9/19 Kentucky 7:30 p.m. Sat. 9/20 Ohio 12:30 p.m. Sat. 9/20 Sacramento State 7:30 p.m. Mon. 9/22 New Mexico State 7 p.m. Fri. 9/26 at Air Force ^ 7 p.m. Thur. 10/2 BYU ^ 7 p.m. Fri. 10/3 Utah ^ 7 p.m. Fri. 10/10 at San Diego State ^ 7 p.m. Sat. 10/11 at UNLV ^ 7 p.m. Fri. 10/17 Colorado State ^ 7 p.m. Sat. 10/18 Wyoming ^ 7 p.m. Tues. 10/21 at New Mexico State 7 p.m. Fri. 10/24 Air Force ^ 7 p.m. Sat. 10/25 Alumni Match 7 p.m. Fri. 10/31 at BYU ^ 7 p.m. Sat. 11/1 at Utah ^ 7 p.m. Thurs. 11/6 UNLV ^ 7 p.m. Sat. 11/8 San Diego State ^ 7 p.m. Fri. 11/14 at Wyoming ^ 7 p.m. Sat. 11/15 at Colorado State ^ 7 p.m. Nov at MWC Conference Tournament, San Diego, Calif. ^indicates Mountain West Conference match; bold indicates home match all dates and times subject to change; times local to site THIS WEEK IN LOBO VOLLEYBALL New Mexico (00) at Fresno State Invitational Fresno, Calif. North Gym All matches Pacific time LOBO SCHEDULE Friday, Aug. 29, 5 p.m. UNM vs. Fresno State (00) Saturday, Aug. 30, 12 p.m. UNM vs. Cal Poly (00) Saturday, Aug. 30, 5 p.m. UNM vs. Idaho State (00) START ME UP The New Mexico volleyball team opens the 2003 campaign this weekend at the Fresno State Invitational. The Lobos will open with host Fresno State, who went 237 in 2002 and reached the NCAA Tournament, Friday Aug. 29. The next day, UNM tangles with Cal Poly at noon and Idaho State at 5 p.m. Cal Poly went 1513 in 2002 and also participated in last year s NCAA Tournament while Idaho State accumulated a 918 record. YOUNG GUNS This year s Lobo squad features 10 freshmen to go along with one senior (Anna Reines), two juniors (Monica Meihack, Adah Burke) and one sophomore (Chelsea Sondrup). Reines, Meihack and Sondrup all started last season for UNM. HEAD COACH KELLEY SLIVA McKEE Kelley Sliva McKee begins her second season at the helm of the Lobo volleyball program. Sliva McKee came to UNM after spending nine years at Northern Arizona University. Her career record stands at after guiding the 2002 Lobos to a 1021 record. While at NAU, Sliva McKee took the Lumberjacks to their first NCAA Tournament appearance (1999) and earned two Big Sky titles (1999 tournament and 2000 regular season) NEW MEXICO VOLLEYBALL ROSTER No. Name Ht. Pos. Yr. Hometown (Last School) Notes... 1 Anna Reines 64 OH Sr2L Big Lake, Minn. (U. of Minnesota) Named AllMountain West in 2002; led team with 421 kills 2 Valerie Finch 55 LIB FrHS Steamboat Springs, Colo./(Steamboat Springs HS) Joins the team as a walkon 3 Kelly Therkelsen 62 RS/B FrHS Eagan, Minn./(Eagan HS) Earned allstate honors her senior year 5 Monica Meihack 58 S Jr1L Fallon, Nev. (Oregon State) Tallied 1,249 assists last season, good for second in a Lobo season 6 Jessica Jensen 62 MB FrHS Mankato, Minn. (Mankato East HS) AllConference Big 9 player at Mankato East HS 7 Adah Burke 55 DS Jr1L Las Cruces, N.M. (Las Cruces HS) Named UNM s Most Inspirational Player last year 8 Chelsea Sondrup 60 MB So1L Lindon, Utah (Pleasant Grove HS) Set new UNM single season block assists record with Lindsay Smith 59 S FrHS Bakersfield, Calif. (Centennial HS) Won the Davis Volleyball Festival over the summer 10 Lisa Dick 58 LIB FrHS Gresham, Ore. (Centennial HS) Joins the team as a walkon 11 Georgia Whitson 61 OH FrHS Taos, N.M. (Taos HS) Named District 2AAAA Player of the Year in Lauren Dunsmoor 511 OH FrHS Pueblo West, Colo. (Pueblo West HS) SouthCentral League Most Valuable Player last fall 13 Megan Morris 62 MB FrHS Los Fresnos, Texas (Homer Hanah HS) Collected a teamhigh six blocks in the C & S scrimmage 14 Brandy Atwater 61 MB FrHS Folsom, N.M. (Des Moines HS) Garned New Mexico Athlete of the Year honors 15 Jennifer Heasty 61 OH FrHS Westminster, Colo. (Iver C. Ranum HS) Named to the Colorado Coaches AllState team in 2002 Head Coach: Kelley Sliva McKee (Arizona, 1985 (Second Year at UNM) Assistant Coaches: Brent Aldridge (Second year), Chelsea Robb (First year)

2 New Mexico Volleyball Notes, Pg. 2 GENERAL INFORMATION School... University of New Mexico Location... Albuquerque, New Mexico Founded by Territorial Legislature Enrollment... 24,250 Nickname... Lobos Colors... Cherry & Silver Conference... Mountain West Arena... Johnson Arena Capacity... 5,000 President... Louis Caldera Director of Athletics...Rudy Davalos Sr. Women's Admin.... Janice Ruggiero 2002 Record MWC Record/Finish /7th Letterwinners Returning/Lost... 4/5 Starters Returning/Lost... 3/3 COACHING STAFF Head Coach... Kelley Sliva McKee Alma Mater... Arizona, 1985 Record at UNM/Yrs /Second year Career Record / 10 yrs. Assistant Coach... Brent Aldridge Assistant Coach... Chelsea Roob Team Manager... Tomas Romero Sliva McKee Office Sliva McKee ... sliva@unm.edu Aldridge Office Aldridge ... aldridge@unm.edu Robb Office Volleyball Fax MEDIA RELATIONS VB Contact/Asst. Director... Ben Phlegar Media Relations Office VB Contact Office VB Home VB Contact ... phlegarb@unm.edu Media Relations Fax TICKETS Tickets for Lobo Volleyball can be purchased through the UNM Athletics Ticket Office at LOBO (5626) or through Tickets.com, at Season ticket packages as well as individual game tickets are available. All seats are General Admission. Prices Single Game Season Adult $4 $45 Senior (55+) $3 $35 Youth (18 and under) $2 $15 UNM Faculty/Staff Free with valid ID UNM Students Free with valid ID Family Plan Includes two adult and two youth season ticket packs which contain 40 undated tickets. The price for the Family Plan is $110 Group Tickets Adult $2/ticket $1/ticket 2003 SEASON OUTLOOK After entering a new era last season, head coach Kelley Sliva McKee has laid the foundation for success in the New Mexico volleyball program as she enters her second season as the Lobo head coach. Sliva McKee, who amassed a mark in her nine years as a head coach at Northern Arizona and earned a berth in the 1999 NCAA Tournament, is now laying the groundwork for a winning program at UNM. This year s team is a mix of four returning players, including three starters, and 10 newcomers, all recruited by head coach Sliva McKee and her staff within her first full year at the helm of the program. While many freshmen will have to rise to the challenge of playing Division I volleyball in order for the Lobos to be successful, Sliva McKee expects that the four returning players senior Anna Reines, juniors Adah Burke and Monica Meihack and sophomore Chelsea Sondrup will provide leadership and help the team reach its goals. Our expectations are very high, said Sliva McKee, who enters her 11th season as a head coach with a (.550) career record. Our primary goal is to get better every day. We feel that if we continue to improve and make positive changes in our game that we re going to be a very good volleyball team. With a year under her belt at UNM, Sliva McKee begins her second season with a newfound attitude and purpose. The biggest thing I learned last year was that as a coach, you always think you know what s going to happen but that s just a total illusion, Sliva McKee said. It was very liberating last year. I learned how to be more openminded and now I m much more flexible. I think every coach should take on new experiences because it really helps in the long run. For me, my primary goal is to be a great leader, Sliva McKee continued. Last year, I was challenged in every single aspect, and that made me a better coach. Being a better coach made me a better leader. Now, as I enter my 11th year, I am clear on the areas in which I can add the most value to the team. Sliva McKee has also surrounded herself with an excellent coaching staff secondyear assistant Brent Aldridge and firstyear assistant Chelsea Robb which leads to the positive energy within the program. The staff feels the necessary ingredients are now in place to continue the ascent of the program. The main reason I feel like I m in a groove is because of what Brent and Chelsea bring to the table, Sliva McKee said. As a staff we have a lot of fun. Brent is very technically oriented, which allows me to work on team chemistry, leadership and communication, and Chelsea does whatever is needed for the team. We know each other s strengths, we know the game, and we work well together. RETURNING PLAYERS Leading the way for the Lobos this fall are the four returning players from last season s team (Reines, Burke, Meihack, Sondrup). While their success will be key to winning matches in 2003, Sliva McKee is already impressed by what the four have accomplished in the offseason. We worked with Anna (Reines), Adah (Burke), Monica (Meihack) and Chelsea (Sondrup) in the spring and had a lot of oneo time and gave them a lot of close attention, which is paying off huge right now. They understand the coaching staff and they understand the systems we run. All four of them completed their summer goals, and I believe they set a really high standard for the freshmen coming in this year. At some point during the preseason, all four have really stepped up in different situations. I m really proud of them entering the season. The Lobos top offensive threat is 64 senior outside hitter Anna Reines, who earned All Mountain West Conference honors in 2002, making her the first Lobo to make the allconference team since Reines led the team in hitting percentage (.257) and kills (421, 3.86 pg) last year, while acheiving career highs in aces (seven), digs (81) and blocks (60 10 BS/50 BA). Reines, a twotime Academic AllMountain West Academic selection, was named the Comcast Invitational MVP after leading the Lobos to the tournament championship and also garnered Albuturkey AllTournament team honors. I think Anna is key to our offense because of what she can do as far as terminating the ball, Sliva McKee said. But she has also developed her blocking game and her jump serve. Most importantly, she leads through her communication. Emotionally, she s ready to lead this team. Reines gained new experiences playing volleyball internationally as she was a member of the USA Select Team that participated in the Spring Cup in Brno, Czech Republic. Anytime you get outside your normal environment and see what volleyball is like throughout the world, you re going to grow as a player, said Sliva McKee. Plus, we didn t get to play in the offseason because we only had four players, so the competition alone helped her out as well. Looking to pace the offense is junior setter Monica Meihack. Meihack had a stellar first season as a Lobo in 2002, leading the team with 1,249 assists (10.86 pg), good for second alltime in a Lobo season. Meihack gained valuable experience last year as she was one of only four Lobos to start in every match. Sliva McKee expects even bigger things from Meihack this season. Monica is entering a much healthier environment this year, coach said. The tough thing about last year was that we didn t have any balance in our offense. I believe Monica will be even more successful this season because we ll have more options in our offense and we ll

3 New Mexico Volleyball Notes, Pg SEASON OUTLOOK have have more hitters that will be able to put the ball down. She is coming off a great sophomore year and will continue to grow in her game. UNM s main force at the net will be sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Sondrup. Sondrup displayed tremendous skill at the net during her freshman season, racking up 131 block assists, which set a new singleseason mark in the New Mexico record books. Sondrup also set a new standard for block assists at UNM in one match, compiling 13 against UNLV. All in all, Sondrup amassed 137 total blocks, good for second alltime in a Lobo season. Chelsea is extremely fit and jumping about 10 feet right now, Sliva McKee said. Last year was a tremendous growth year for her. I m real impressed with how she is entering the season. I think that Chelsea is going to be a dominant middle blocker and hitter. At the same time, we re still working to develop her backcourt game to keep her in the rotation. Rounding out the returning players is junior defensive specialist Adah Burke. Burke joined the team as a walkon during midseason last fall, and her energetic play was rewarded at the end of the season as she was named the team s Most Inspirational Player. Burke played in 10 matches and 25 games in 2002 and recorded 25 digs, including a career high 11 against Rice. All four returning players made sacrifices this summer, but Adah took the most physical risk in taking her game to the next level, stated Sliva McKee. She played a ton of volleyball in the offseason and committed herself to becoming a better player. Adah is special to have around she s very high energy and brings a lot of enthusiasm to our team. After her summer workouts, she is much more consistent and focused. NEWCOMERS The remaining 10 players on the roster, all freshmen, will vie for playing time throughout the season. All the players, which were recruited by Sliva McKee s staff, have one thing in common commitment to excellence on and off the court. What we re looking for are players with good character values who excel on the court and in the classroom, Sliva McKee said. In building a winning program, you have to have a solid foundation with good people. Two freshmen are New Mexico natives middle blocker Brandy Atwater and outside hitter Georgia Whitson. Atwater joins the team as a walkon from Des Moines H.S. in Folsom, N.M. She earned allstate honors all four years in volleyball and basketball and was on six state championship teams (volleyball three; basketball three). Whitson hails from Taos, N.M., and was named the District 2AAAA Player of the Year in Whitson is a physical, dynamic athlete with a big block and a fast arm. Three players from the state of Colorado will join the Lobos this season. Lauren Dunsmoor is a 511 outside hitter who comes from a very successful program at Pueblo West H.S. and earned allstate honors her senior season. Valerie Finch, a native of Steamboat Springs, Colo., joins the team as a walkon and may see time at the libero position. Outside hitter Jennifer Heasty (Westminster, Colo.) plays at a high level above the net and will bring size and athleticism to the Lobos. Jessica Jensen and Kelly Therkelsen, both over sixfeet tall, come to UNM from Minnesota. Jensen (Mankato, Minn.), who is 63, is a versatile hitter who has excellent size and can hit behind the setter. Jensen was named a Big 9 AllConference player and also lettered in basketball. Therkeslen, an Eagan, Minn., native, is a big blocker with good ball control skills. She earned AllLake Conference and allstate honors her senior season while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. Megan Morris (Los Fresnos, Texas), a 62 middle blocker, has the ability to play big over the net in both blocking and hitting. Morris lettered in volleyball, basketball and track. Lindsay Smith (Bakersfield, Calif.) will add depth at setter and can set up a very uptempo offense. She won the Davis Volleyball Festival over the summer and earned allleague honors her senior year. Lisa Dick, from Gresham, Ore., joins the team as a walkon and will look to compete for time at libero. Dick received the PVC Athletic Award and the PVC Director s Recognition Award her senior year. OVERVIEW Although the 2003 Lobos feature many fresh faces, Coach Sliva McKee is expecting several players to rise to the challenge to have a solid year for the program. We re just trying to build this team one day a time, said Sliva McKee. Our focus right now is creating solid systems. Whether we re looking at our offensive package or our defensive package, we have to get across what our goals and standards are within the system. I told them that the season is going to be a journey together. If we can come in every day and get a little better while staying comfortable with each other, we re going to be just fine. We ve had so much fun with this group so far. In a short amount of time, they like each other, the communication is excellent, and they understand what we re trying to achieve. The energy in our gym right now is excellent. Sliva McKee s exuberant energy toward the game is getting through to her players early in the season. With a determined staff and a healthy team chemistry, look for Sliva McKee to bring consistent success to the Lobo volleyball program. MEDIA SERVICES LOBOS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB Fans from around the world can access a multitude of information on the University of New Mexico s official internet site. The address for the UNM Athletics Department is JOHNSON ARENA Johnson Arena is located at the corner of Central and Stanford on the UNM main campus. If traveling north or south on I25, exit on Lomas. Take a right on University to Central. Make a left on Central to Stanford turning onto the UNM main campus. PARKING Parking is available in the paid lots in front of Johnson Center. Lots A and B located closest to Central are free after 5 p.m. weekdays and all day on weekends. Parking is scarce particularly with scheduled events at Popejoy Hall. CREDENTIALS All credentials must be requested from the media relations office no later than noon on Thursday prior to the match. COMMUNICATION /VISITING RADIO Those wishing telephone installation should contact Ben Phlegar in the UNM Athletics Media Relations office to make arrangements. STATISTICS Boxscores will be provided to each coach following each game. A final box score, after verification, will also be provided. Packets with pregame information will be available at the stats crew table located on the upper level of Johnson Arena. See any UNM Media Relations personnel for any special requests. POSTMATCH POLICY All player interviews must be arranged through the UNM Athletics Media Relations Department during the week. Contact Ben Phlegar at Postmatch interviews will be conducted after a 10 minute coolingoff period. Contact any UNM Media Relations staff member for your designated coach and/or athlete. PRACTICE All members of the media are welcome to attend practice. All coaches and players are available for interviews before or after practice provided proper notice is given. TV crews and newspaper photographers are permitted to shoot practice after receiving clearance from the media relations office.

4 New Mexico Volleyball Notes, Pg. 4 1 ANNA REINES OH 64 Sr2L Big Lake, Minn. (U. of Minnesota) Reines will lead the offense this season after leading the team in kills (421) and hitting percentage (.257) in member of the USA Select Team that participated in the Spring Cup in Brno, Czech Republic. REINES CAREER STATISTICS Totals Lobo Player Notes 7 ADAH BURKE DS 55 Jr./1L Las Cruces, N.M. (Las Cruces HS) Burke, who joined the team in midseason last year, is looking to be one of the main defensive specialists in BURKE STATISTICS CHELSEA SONDRUP MB 60 Fr./HS Lindon, Utah (Pleasant Grove HS) 5 MONICA MEIHACK S 58 Jr./1L Fallon, Nev. (Oregon State) Meihack looks to be the starting setter this fall after registering 1,249 assists (10.86 avg.) in her first season at UNM in 2002, which was good for second alltime in a Lobo season...transfered to UNM from Oregon State during her sophomore year. Sondrup enjoyed a sensational freshman campaign in the middle, establishing a new UNM single season block assist record with she also set a school record with 13 block assists against SMU...looks to be a force at the net for the Lobos this fall. SONDRUP CAREER STATISTICS MEIHACK STATISTICS

5 New Mexico Volleyball Notes, Pg. 5 #1 REINES #2 FINCH #3 THERKELSON #5 MEIHACK 27 vs. UNLV (11/16/02) 59 vs. UNLV (11/16/02).419 (16k3e31ta) vs. UTPA (9/14/02) 2 vs. SMU (9/20/02) 3 vs. SFA (8/30/02) 9 vs. SFA (8/30/02) 2 vs. Wyoming (11/9/02) 5 (Twice).. 6 (Twice) 18 vs. Utah (11/2/02).667 (5k1e6ta) vs. NMSU (9/13/02) 61 vs. UNLV (11/16/02) 3 (Four Times) 17 vs. NMSU (9/13/02) 1 vs. UTEP (9/14/02) 4 vs. Wichita St. (8/31/02) #6 JENSEN #7 BURKE #8 SONDRUP #9 SMITH. 1 vs. Rice (11/29/02) 1 vs. AFA (10/25/02) 11 vs. Rice (11/29/02) 11 vs. Auburn (9/21/02) 27 vs. Rice (11/29/02) (Twicelast time).529 (11k2e17ta) vs. Auburn (9/21/02) 2 vs. Pepperdine (9/7/02) 2 vs. UTEP (9/14/02) 6 (Twice) 2 vs. Utah (11/02/02) 13 vs. SMU (9/20/02)* *new school record. #10 DICK #11 WHITSON #12 DUNSMOOR #15 HEASTY....