The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 2, Ed. 1, Wednesday, August 28, 1996 Page: 4 of 8
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OPTIMIST Page 4 Wednesday Aug.28) 1996
Volleyball team
gets set for '96
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By Jennifer Fiorro
Sports Vrlter
Practice makes perfect
Emily Worley senior from Aurora Colo. practices bumpingiin Moody Coliseum.
MkhaelWOodt
After finishing 16-17 in 1994 and
20-12 last season the volleyball
team believes it could make his-
tory this season.
Losing only two starters head
coach Kent Wieb recruited five
freshmen to give depth to an
experienced group veterans who
want to win the Lone Star
Conference for the first time in
school history.
"The freshmen picked up the
offense and defense quicker than
any other group" Wieb said. .
The team will continue to run
its 6-2 offensive set during
matches which helps the new-
comers learn faster because older
teammates know the plays he
said.
"We're making less unforced
errors" the head coach said.
"We're not as outright powerful
as we've been in the past. But
they're much more steady."
Wieb will rely on the experi-
ence of starters outside hitters
Emily Hale junior from
McPhcrson Kan.; Heather Huff
junior from Midland; setter
Emily Worley senior from
Aurora Colo.; and middle block-
er Jessica Mayes senior from
Thornton Colo.
Other starters include middle
blocker Shalon Taylor junior
from Breckenridge outside
blocker Heather Hodges' fresh-
man from Hereford and Binder).
The team has made tremen-
dous strides in the last two sea-
sons Wieb said.
"Two years ago we had a very
physical group that reached
highs and lows" the head coach
said. "When they won they won
big. When they lost they lost big.
We've really stabilized a lot."
One of the factors that will
help he said is the teams
tremendous depth.
"Last year we struggled with
11" Wieb said. "We were strug-
gling to put a lineup on the floor.
We're at least three deep in every
position and four in most."
Another player who should
continue to contribute after suc-
cessful knee rehabilitation is
Taylor Wieb said. She led the
LSC In blocks two tyears ago
only to land awkwardly In match
before the start of conference
play last season.
"We've got Shalon Taylor
back which is a huge differ-
ence" he said. "Shes Just such an
We're not as
outright powerful
as weVe been in
the past. But
theyVe much
more steady.
intimidating force in the middle
blocking."
Another player expected to
contribute Is Hale. The outside
hitter was a member of the 30
Club last season which means
she recorded at least 30 kills in a
match.
"Shes stronger than shes ever
been" Wieb said.
Hale's improvement and
Taylors return could not have
come at a better time for the
Wildcats now that the conference
has done away with an LSC post-
season tournament.
The LSC will now conduct
round-robin play to determine a
conference winner. The change is
especially important because of
determining which teams
advance to the Division 11 nation-
al tournament which will be
Riven as Invitations.
West Texas A&M was picked
to win the conference with the
University of Central Oklahoma
Texas Woman's University and
ACU chosen right behind it.
Taylor said she wanted to
reassure fans of her health after
10 months of rehab. "I'm well
I'm well" she said.
She said she is excited about
playing with a talented new
group of players against a tough
conference.
"We're excited" she said.
"We're fired up about It. We don't
fear anyone but we respect alL"
The new altitude has been
applied to other areas the head
coach said. '
"This team has a new deter-
mination to do some things
we've never done before" he
said. "We've never won a confer-
ence before. We've never made a
national tournament before.
Academically we have higher
goals than we've had as a team."
Outside hitter Angle Palmer
senior from West Plains Mo.
said the conference not having a
postseason tournament means
the team cannot have lapses in
concentration.
"Its a little more pressure''
she said. "Its a tittle more
because every game you don't get
a second chance."
Hale said the team will be
really good for a number of dif-
ferent reasons.
"More consistency better atti-
tudes better ball control" she
said. "We have a lot more young"
people a lot of talent a lot of
court experience. We're farther
along now then this time last
year."
Winning and participating la
the playoffs Is the teams goals'
Hale said. v':
"We're just more focused than
we were last year" she said.
"We're on a mission: to win every
game." .
T
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i
MUTTed Mkhael Woods
Shalon Taylor sophomore from Breckenrldoe. practices her block? with rnarh
Nem.wieD Monday atternoon at practice. The volleyball team will be compet- Too close for comfort
irjglh a tournament Aug. 30 and 31 in Grand Junction Colo.
Wildcat
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The Wildcats' first offensive and defensive teams scrimmage in preparation for this Saturday's season opener
Wxxfc
.iared Schroeder
Sports Writer
: While the Wildcat offense saw dra-
matic changes during the off-season the
defense remained basically the same. All
but two defensive positions will be filled
fith ACU lettermen the other two with
veteran Junior college transfers
: Jody Brown Shay Favors and Robert
Lewis combined for 191 tackles last sea-
son as a very young line backer corp.
This season all three will return as well
as five other defensive starters from last
season.
At middle line backer Brown sopho-
more from Stephenville led the team In
tackles with 92 last season. Favors
senior from Vernon had 62 tackles and
was chosen as an All-Lone Star
Conference linebacker last season.
Lewis sophomore from Wichita Falls
had 37 tackles as a freshman.
. "There is good experience there"
said head coach Jack Klser "That group
is going to stand out."
ACU finished fifth defensively In the
LSC last season. However they were
only 37 yards out of first place with an
average of 295.5 yards allowed per game.
"The chemistry on this team Is alto-
gether different" Kiser explained.
The Wildcats will play without AU-
Amcrlcan defensive end Victor
Randolph one of only three starters to
graduate. He Will be replaced by James
Henderson sophomore from Kaufman.
"Anytime you lose a senior All-
Amerlcan it is tough to replace him"
explained Klser.
Defensive lineman Junior Fillkitonga
and defensive back Ra'Shard Tinnon are
both juniors and the only new faces on
the defense this season. Fllikltonga
transferred from Tyler Junior College
and will start on the defensive line.
Tinnon transferred from Ranger JC and
will join three returning ACU lettermen
in the secondary.
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 2, Ed. 1, Wednesday, August 28, 1996, newspaper, August 28, 1996; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth99691/m1/4/?q=%22%22~1&rotate=270: accessed July 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.