Marquette University Athletics
Marquette Opens 2007 Season Against No. 17 BYU
8/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 24, 2007
MILWAUKEE - After a summer of change, the Marquette volleyball team is ready to step onto the court and get the 2007 season underway. Head coach Pati Rolf enters her sixth season at Marquette and her 20th season coaching as she leads the Golden Eagles into Iowa City, Iowa this weekend as they begin the Iowa Tournament. MU will open play on Friday against No. 17 BYU at 7 p.m. followed by host team Iowa at 2 p.m. Sunday.
"With BYU ranked in the top 20, we're facing a very powerful team, they've got a great young player coming back and many starters," Rolf said. "We're looking for some strong offense."
Opening the season against a ranked opponent will be a tough challenge for the Golden Eagles. After finishing in a tie for third in the BIG EAST conference, MU lost four players from last year's squad, including three starters. "It's been an interesting three months prior to the season," head coach Pati Rolf explained. "We've had some things happen to us, but that's part of being in a family, a university or an athletic team. I think the biggest challenge is overcoming adversity and that is what we are doing."
This year's team consists of 12 student-athletes. The four seniors, Katie Weidner, Kimberley Todd, Jenn Brown, and Tiffany Helmbrecht will be looked to for leadership, a responsibility that they are ready for.
"They have always wanted to lead," Rolf said about her seniors. "That has probably been their biggest fault because they thought they were leaders when they weren't. But now they are leaders and they've had a lot of practice. They've always wanted to lead this group, and are all born to be in charge of something, whether it be a business, a team or a family. "
Despite the desire to be in charge, the four seniors will face challenges with so many newcomers to the squad.
"I think the four of them are going to be challenged by the season and trying to keep the young ones positive and focused, especially the ones who don't have any experience," Rolf said. "They will also help to keep everyone serious because we can be silly sometimes."
Though the loss of All-BIG EAST First Team member Jamie Mueller and other starters from 2006 will leave a void, MU will still have a player with conference recognition in All-BIG EAST First Team member Kimberley Todd. Todd was named to the pre-season All-BIG EAST team and returns after spending her summer playing for the senior Canadian National Team. Todd led Marquette and the BIG EAST with 4.81 kills per game, also ranking 19th in the nation. Senior setter Katie Weidner returns after a 2006 injury forced an early end to her season and newcomers Ashlee Fisher and Rabbecka Gonyo will make an immediate impact on this year's team.
BYU enters the Iowa tournament ranked No. 17 in the nation. They return six starters from a team that finished with a 25-6 overall record in 2006 and a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance. They placed second in the Mountain West Conference and ended the year ranked No. 20 in the AVCA poll. Senior Chelsea Goodman was named MWC preseason Player of the Year. Goodman led the conference in kills with 4.49 per game.
This will be the first meeting between Marquette and BYU.
After finishing the 2006 season with a 14-19 record and a 2-18 Big Ten mark, Iowa returns three starters from last year's squad. Junior Catherine Smale played in 32 matches last season, hitting for 3.24 kills per game. In the only previous meeting, the Golden Eagles defeated Iowa in 2005.
"Iowa is still a growing program, we're still seeing how they are developing, but I think between the two teams in the tournament it's going to be a good opportunity for us to see where we are at," Rolf said.
