2004 Volleyball
Outlook
With only one returning player the 2004 Lake Erie College volleyball team will rely on a very young, inexperienced group of 12 freshmen, one sophomore and one junior as it prepares for the first season in Lake Erie's Athletics and Wellness Center.
Third-year head coach Gary VanCauwenberge will be faced with the difficult task of assembling this new look squad, but he does not feel it will be as challenging as it may appear to some.
"I am very excited about this year's squad," VanCauwenberge said. "We have a very talented incoming group that are serious about volleyball and committed towards creating a new era of Lake Erie volleyball."
Renee Lashaway (Osseo, Mich./Waldron Area) is the only returning player from last season's 1-25 team, and the sophomore appeared in only 33 games over 21 matches. She will serve primarily as the defensive specialist and libero this year. Meaning that most, if not all, the starters who step on the court for the Storm's first match will be playing in their first collegiate contest.
"Our youth is both a welcome flow of talent and enthusiasm, and also an obstacle that we will have to overcome," noted VanCauwenberge. "All of the players had significant roles on their high school teams, and I believe their transition to college will be short in duration, allowing us to work through those obstacles."
Kelly Bellino (Independence, Ohio/Independence, Lindsey Hennon (Massillon, Ohio/Washington) and Megan Price (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) will team with Canton Central Catholic High products Tricyn Huntsman (Navarre, Ohio) Rachel Gursky (North Canton, Ohio) at the middle and outside hitter positions, while Megan Hedrick (Geneva, Ohio/Geneva) and Autumn Smith (North Baltimore, Ohio/North Baltimore) will share setter duties.
"Players are put into the lineup in a position where they can be successful and also where the team can be successful," VanCauweberge said. "I look at the lineup like a chess board, and the coaching staff will make any necessary adjustments to put our best foot forward."
The Storm will open this season against Ohio Wesleyan on Wednesday, Sept. 1 before traveling to the Oberlin Invite on Sept. 3-4, where they are scheduled to face Kenyon, Westminster and Bethany. The home schedule will begin on Sunday, Sept. 12, marking the first varsity event in the new facility, while the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference season will begin on the road at Mount Aloysius on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7:00 p.m.
In all, despite their youthfulness, the Storm should be able to improve on last season's 1-25 mark.
