First off, the PreSeason All WAC was announced. "New Mexico State placed two players on the preseason team, senior Kim Oguh and junior Amber Simpson. Both were first team all-WAC selections last season." To say the least, I'm very disappointed that Krystal Torres was not selected.
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Head coach feels good about 2007 volleyball senior class
New Mexico State volleyball coach Mike Jordan says this year's senior class could be the most talented group in his 10 years.
He compared Briana Akrie, Jordan Bostic, Anna Callis and Kim Oguh to his group in 2003 that won a Sun Belt Title and appeared in the NCAA Tournament. The four current seniors won a Sun Belt title as freshman in 2004, and now hope to leave Las Cruces with a Western Athletic Conference title.
"We want to live up to the expectations on the court and justify being a great class," said Bostic, who should start at the defensive specialist position.
The Aggies were picked to finish second to Hawaii in the WAC this year after a second-place finish last year.
"Personally, I expect to win the WAC," Akrie said. "That is a huge goal of mine."
Akrie will battle with junior Krystal Torres for time at the libero position, but earning her position is nothing new for her.
"Every year it's a battle," she said. "I think that's the best way to have a team. The only way to get better is going 100 percent all the time to get that spot."
Such competition should come as no surprise for a team hoping to return to the NCAA's for the third time in the last four years.
"One of the things that I want from the upperclassmen is that they help the younger players," Jordan said. "It really speeds up the learning curve."
Lindsey Yon and Alyssa Gintant are two transfers that should play right away and freshman outside hitter Whitney Phillips should also contribute.
After two years at Iowa State, Gintant should handle the majority of the setting duties. She said Jordan recruited her out of high school, but she joins the Aggies just in time, as a replacement fore Jackie Choi.
Gintant should have no problem racking up assists with Oguh and junior middle hitter Amber Simpson, who both received honorable mention All-America honors last year.
"I'm very excited, especially to work with two All-American hitters in the middle," Gintant said. "It's going to be fun to work with them."
In the first week of practice, Bostic said the transfers and freshmen have learned quickly.
"We try to convey to them the expectations that we have for the season and for each other," Bostic said. "It's just exciting to see them come in and fit in right away. They figure everything out so quickly and are so talented."
Fans can come see the team in action in the Crimson-White scrimmage on Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m., before the Aggies hit the road for the Northern Arizona Invitational Aug. 24. Their first home match is Aug. 26 against Texas Southern. The Aggies schedule also includes road matches at Texas, Houston Louisville, and potentially Nebraska or Duke.
"The last three years have gone fast," Oguh said. "We've just tried to improve with each passing year and we certainly want to finish strong. Each year we've accomplished something different and this year we want to add to that. As seniors we want to be leaders and work hard."
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Oguh and Simpson were selected to preseason All-WAC team on Friday.
Both players were also AVCA All-Americans in 2006, as well as first team all-WAC selections.Ê
Oguh, a two time all-American selection, was a constant threat to opposing teams in 2006 as she ranked second on the team in hitting percentage (.377) and third in kills (374). She was also dominant on defense as she led the team in total blocks (175) and blocks per game (1.39). Oguh ranked third in conference in blocks.Ê
Simpson, who was named WAC freshman of the year in 2005 and was a first team all-WAC selection in 2006, will be back in the middle for the Aggies in 2007 and should give opponents some trouble. She led the team and the WAC in hitting percentage (.387) last season, while ranking second on the team in kills (397), kills per game (3.15), total blocks (156) and blocks per game (1.24).Ê
Simpson was only the fourth player in Aggie volleyball history to be named an All-American.Ê
High hopes surround Aggie volleyball
New Mexico State volleyball coach Mike Jordan calls this year's version of the New Mexico State volleyball team his most athletic and deepest ever as he enters his 10th year.
"I like what I see with this group," said Jordan after Thursday's practice, the team's second day of practice in preparation for the 2007 season. "We have a good mixture of veteran players and some young players that could help us right away."
The Aggies won 33 games last year and qualified for their third NCAA Tournament in the past four years. Gone are the likes of outside hitters Tanya Allen and Alice Borden and setter Jackie Choi.
But back are middle blockers Kim Oguh and Amber Simpson, outside hitter Anna Callis and defensive specialists Briana Akrie, Krystal Torres and Jordan Bostic.
"We know what to expect and we have a lot of confidence in what we can do," said the junior Simpson. "The program continues to get better and we continue to attract good athletes and better players."
Part of the depth that Jordan loves comes in the form of setters Alyssa Gintant and Brynja Rodgers and outside hitters Lindsey Yon, Whitney Phillips and Kelli Goodan.
Gintant and Rodgers will see time at setter and could be on the court at the same time. Gintant is a transfer from Iowa State and Rodgers is a freshman from Iowa City, Iowa. Yon is a junior transfer from Texas A&M, Phillips is a freshman from Scottsdale, Ariz. and Goodan is a sophomore Des Moines, N.M.
"Whitney has done some good things for us, Lindsey is a good player and Kelli can help us out on the right or left side," Jordan said. "It'll take some time for the younger players to develop, but the potential is there."
Gintant spent the spring practicing with the team and said that time helped her tremendously.
"I'm able to communicate better and I know what to expect," she said. "The fact that we have a lot of returnees and good, young players helps. Everyone picks up on things fast."
The Aggies were picked to finish second in the Western Athletic Conference behind perennial power Hawaii. The Aggies will host the WAC Tournament for the first time Nov. 15-17.
New Mexico State plays its toughest non-conference schedule in Jordan's 10 years. The Aggies play Texas, Hawaii, Nebraska, Utah and Louisville among others.
Jordan said Texas and Utah will return games to NMSU in the future. The veteran head coach also said that if NMSU has an NCAA Tournament-type season, the school will likely make a bid to host matches in this year's NCAA Tournament.
"I like our schedule," Gintant said. "We like to play tough teams and we feel like we can compete."
Added Jordan: "We have the athleticism to compete against a lot of teams, we just have to execute and play smart."
The Aggies open the season on Aug. 24 against Albany in the Northern Arizona Tournament.
posted by Melanie Brooks @ 8:24 AM
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