Marquette University Athletics
Equation for Volleyball Success Includes Talented Variables in 2011
8/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 23, 2011
2011 Volleyball Guide/Record Book 
MILWAUKEE - Does the math add up?
That's the question Bond Shymansky hopes will be a resounding "yes" for the Marquette women's volleyball team as it looks to add a few talented variables to the equation in 2011.
The third-year head coach believes that a cadre of explosive returning hitters and a rapidly developing contingent of back-row specialists provide Marquette the valuable constants for the first conference championship in program history.
That championship will be decided at the Al McGuire Center on Nov. 18-20 when the Golden Eagles host the 2011 BIG EAST Women's Volleyball Championship for the first time since 2007.
Despite the loss of two AVCA All-Americans, MU returns a great deal of depth and experience from a team that went a school-record 23-9 in 2010, including an 11-3 mark in the BIG EAST Conference. That record included victories in 14-straight matches from Oct. 1-Nov. 12 and helped Marquette reach the semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship for the second time.
"A lot of people are focused on what we are losing, but inside of the program we understand how much we have returning from last season," said Shymansky, the current active leader in the BIG EAST Conference with a winning percentage of .715 (213-85), a mark which also places him 20th nationally.
"To have almost all of our hitters and particularly our entire back row returning is such a strong point. Having that anchor, that foundation, of our game and our offensive system is going to be a tremendous benefit. So you add great passers to great hitters and we have a chance to have a great team."
Gone are setter Nikki Klingsporn and middle hitter Rabbecka Gonyo, both of whom were among the top four performers in the NCAA last season in assists per set and hitting percentage, respectively. Those losses will undoubtedly hurt, but the Golden Eagles return two of the most powerful outside hitters in the conference in seniors Ashley Beyer and Ciara Jones.
Beyer was an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention last season and was named to the 2011 BIG EAST All-Preseason Team after finishing second in the conference with 414 kills (3.87 per set) in 2010. Her leadership and ability to play all six rotations at a standout level have helped the Golden Eagles to unparalleled success. She is only the second returning All-American in MU history, joining Kim Todd who returned as a senior in 2007 after earning an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention nod in 2006.
"Ashley Beyer will continue to be a focal point for our opponents and she knows that she is going to have to step up to that challenge," Shymansky explained. "She provides so much tenacity, energy and intensity and as a six-rotation player she is the bloodline of our team's success. I watch how she is interacting in practice with the younger players and there is a presence that she has on the court."
Jones is another player who plays with great intensity and has shown marked improvement in each of her three seasons on campus. She landed 379 kills last season for an average of 3.30 per set, while hitting .260, a number which has continued to rise during her time in Blue & Gold. This season Jones' leadership and powerful attacking style should reap continued rewards as the season progresses.
"Ciara has really raised her skill level and more importantly her maturity and competitive character level," Shymansky said. "She has a devastating hit and can just really blow things up as an outside hitter. Her improvement last year was remarkable in terms of hitting efficiency. We are counting on her to have a hitting efficiency over .300 this season, which is a high expectation that she holds that as well. Beyer and Jones are a great one-two punch; two great senior outside hitters with that kind of experience is really going to help our team this year."
The Orlando, Fla., native is possibly the best all-around athlete at Marquette and was named a team captain along with junior middle hitter Danielle Carlson, who is making the transition from the right-side in 2011. Carlson may have been overshadowed from an efficiency perspective by Gonyo last season, but Carlson in her own right hit .315, the No. 6 single season mark in program history.
"So many times Danie just looks unstoppable" Shymansky said. "A very tenacious competitor, she is a little more internal than some of her teammates, but she is a great counter balance because she is very steady. I see big things from Danie and we expect her in a lot of ways to be able to fill Becka's shoes from last season. As long as she and our starting setter continue to work on that connection, I think it is going to be a pretty electrifying combination."
Carlson has come up clutch when the Golden Eagles needed her most, especially in her career against the long-standing rival Louisville Cardinals. The Marshfield, Wis., native helped MU to a thrilling come-from-behind five-set victory over U of L on Nov. 12, 2010 with a career-high 15 kills and five blocks. In her career, Carlson has notched 36 kills and 11 blocks in three matches against the Cardinals and hit .351 in those meetings.
Also joining Carlson along Marquette's frontline are fellow juniors Carol Henney and Kelsey Mattai. Though Mattai dealt with a hand injury at the beginning of the 2010 season, both gained valuable experience and should be ready to take on increased roles and provide Shymansky a variety of options in the middle.
"Henney and Mattai are definitely a thunder and lightning combination for us. Mattai brings a lot of strength and power. She is a super strong blocker; hits pretty well off of two feet and can really drill the ball. Henney is a little more like lighting. She is very quick and provides a real high efficiency attack. There may be times where one is needed more than the other based on our opponent so it is nice to have that kind of depth on our team."
With Carlson's move to the middle, playing time has opened up for a trio of right-side hitters who also provide different looks for Shymansky's fast-paced offense.
Freshman Lindsey Gosh may provide the most unique and intriguing skill set for the Golden Eagles on the right side. The Oconomowoc, Wis., native is a left-handed hitter who has impressed the coaching staff this fall with her passing ability and profiles as a future six-rotation player.
"Gosh is explosive, has a really quick whip in her arm and can hit all directions. The thing that is the most surprising is that she has a tremendous amount of ball-control skill. With her defense, passing and setting, she is going to be an elite-level player for us. She has the potential to be the 'X-factor' this season."
Joining Gosh on the right side are rising sophomore Courtney Mrotek and redshirt junior Holly Mertens. Both saw little playing time last season but have the opportunity to earn a greater role with the move of Carlson to the middle.
"Mrotek is smarter, stronger and is working harder than she did last year," Shymansky said. "She is incredibly physical and is a dominant blocker who can just thump the ball. Holly has a lot of flash. She can absolutely bounce the ball and provide devastating roof blocks. I am really excited about what they are doing so far and what that means for the potential of our team."
What began last season as a giant question mark for Marquette, the back row ended as a strength with three freshmen developing in key roles. Julie Jeziorowski began the season as the starting libero, and though she relinquished that spot for a few matches towards the end of non-conference play, recaptured her form to close the final 18 matches at libero. She led the squad with 408 digs for an average of 3.58 per set, the eighth-best single season mark in program history.
"Julie had some ups and downs her first year but by the end of the season it was clear that she was our back-row leader," Shymansky recalled. "Being a great libero isn't just about the skill, you have to have the skill level and the attitude. She has owned that role and persona and as a result she passes better, serves better and has a higher confidence level. She can see that her teammates believe in her and that allows her to do the things she can to be great."
Joining Jeziorowski for 114 sets last season was Rachel Stier who proved a potent combination with Marquette's libero.
"Rachel and Julie are quite a dynamic duo for us. They see the value of being great in the back row together and it is exciting to have that much depth and skill. Stier has been incredible this preseason and she has gotten faster and more tenacious. A strong group of passers is the foundation for running a quick offense and winning volleyball matches so we appreciate the abilities of those back-row players."
That duo will be joined by fellow sophomore Catherine Mayer, who is working her way back from offseason surgery, and freshman Jalyn Smith.
However great Marquette's passers and hitters may appear heading into the season, the task of orchestrating the Golden Eagles' offense will be up to a freshman in California-native Chelsea Heier.
Heier comes to Milwaukee following a standout career at San Clemente High School where she set the school record with 1,058 assists, while leading the Tritons to a 28-5 record in 2010.
"Watching Chelsea already we can see that she has great rapport with the team. She is a very quick study and as we are communicating things with her she is doing them right away. We are really fortunate to have her because she is going to allow our team to be great this year. Sometime a freshman setter is going to keep your team from being great but she is going to allow it to happen."
Helping in that transition this year is Klingsporn who has joined the coaching staff as a student assistant coach.
"It's been great having Nikki around as our student assistant coach. Right now we have her working a lot one-on-one with Chelsea, providing a nice steady and calm personality. Chelsea reminds me of Nikki a lot in that regard. Her hands are also extremely talented and it is uncanny how quickly she has adapted to the hitters we have."
Shymansky believes that the value of having a group of experienced hitters and passers will help ease Heier into the flow of the season.
"We have this consistent equation with all the hitters and passers we have returning, so we just need Chelsea to come in and do the math. That equation is going to be the same for her every time and she has done a great job of adapting and learning our offensive system," Shymansky said.
If Heier can quickly grasp the formula for Marquette's offense, the Golden Eagles may be able to solve the equation for their first BIG EAST Championship in program history.
