2008 Woodie Awards
Freshman class adds to strong roster
Issue date: 8/22/08 Section: Sports
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Contributing writer
After a first-round loss to Tennessee State in last year's OVC Championship Tournament, the Murray State volleyball team is expecting bigger things for 2008.
Finishing fifth overall in the OVC with a 16-15 record, 13-7 in conference, the Racers plan to surpass already high expectations set by their No. 4 ranking in the OVC preseason poll.
Morehead State University is the preseason favorite followed by Tennessee Tech University and Southeast Missouri State University with Tennessee State University and Jacksonville State University rounding out the top six.
Head Coach David Schwepker said he is optimistic about his team's chances this year and is looking for "strong leadership on and off the court" from the team's only two seniors, Heather Norris, libero from Naperville, Ill. and Alison Mugler, right-side hitter from Maumee, Ohio. Norris led the Racers last year in digs (603) and digs per game (5.97) while Mugler averaged 3.31 kills per game and 377 total kills, also team bests.
With seven new players on this year's roster, Schwepker said their leadership will be a key component in what he hopes will be a successful season.
"I want to step up and be a leader, and the freshmen are all doing a great job in practice," Norris said.
Norris was named to the 2008 All-OVC preseason First Team.
Two players the Racers are very excited about this season include Xiaoyu (Jade) Guo and Long Ga (Logan) Su, both of whom ended their high school careers playing at Bao Tou High School in Inner Mongolia, China.
Gou, an accomplished setter, and Su, a powerful outside hitter, will provide strength to an already strong returning class and excellent incoming class.
Kelli Johnson and Kayleah Sauer both of Louisville, KY, Cassy Woolverton of Gideon, Mo., Teresa Krog of Elgin Ill., and Mary Cunningham of St. Charles, Mo., join Guo and Su, as new faces on the team.
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