Women’s Volleyball: Buckeyes Open Preseason Practice – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
COLUMBUS, Ohio Head coach Geoff Carlston welcomed 14 players to the first day of preseason practice Saturday as the Buckeyes began preparation for the season opener, Aug. 29 against Toledo in the opening match of the Sports Imports Classic.
“We are all extremely excited for the future of Ohio State volleyball,” Carlston said. “One of our goals is to create an event at our volleyball matches that fans will connect to and fall in love with. We know that once a person comes to an Ohio State volleyball match, they will be hooked.”
The Buckeyes have four starters returning from last season. Middle blocker Kristen Dozier and outside hitters Anna Szerszen, Katie Dull and Kaila Calhoun anchor a young squad. Dozier had a 1.03 blocks and 1.38 kills per game average last season. Szerszen missed part of the season but averaged 2.57 kills per game. Dull, who started every match last season, averaging 3.04 kills and 1.26 digs per game. Calhoun played several positions and posted a 2.70 digs per game average.
Additional letterwinners returning include setters Ashley Hughes and Betsy Hone, outside hitter Allie Schwarzwalder and libero/defensive specialists Laura Kastein and Susan Halverson. Hughes started five matches last season and averaged 8.38 assists and 1.12 digs per game. Hone averaged 7.80 assists and 1.78 digs per game and had 11 starts last season. Schwarzwalder saw limited action last season while Kastein played in 25 matches averaging 1.38 digs per game and Halverson averaged 1.23 digs per game in 14 matches.
Tennessee transfer Chelsea Noble, a libero/defensive specialist, is eligible to play this season after sitting out last year. She was the starting setter for the Volunteers in 2006, averaging 11.77 assists and 2.95 digs per game. She joins newcomers Kelli Barhorst, a middle blocker, and libero/defensive specialists Sarah Mignin, Lisa Prang and Maria Ralston on the roster. Barhorst was a two-time first-team All-Ohio selection, winning the state championship in 2006. Mignin was an all-conference selection as a senior. Prang was named her high school’s 2008 Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year while Ralston was named the conference player of the year.
“This team has grown a great deal and they are ready to battle this season,” Carlston said. “We have solid leadership and a strong team dynamic. They have worked hard, set some amazing goals and met the challenges we have put in front of them with passion. That is a solid foundation to do great things.”
Ohio State will also host Xavier on the first day of the Classic and face Youngstown State Aug. 30. The Buckeyes then face three weeks on the road with tournaments at Wichita State and Kent State and road matches at Loyola Marymount and Southern California. Ohio State opens the Big Ten Conference season by hosting Michigan at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 24 in St. John Arena. The match will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
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