(Volleyball, Aug. 17) The Pioneers were poised for success coming in to the 2006 season until they had their two biggest losses of the season two weeks before the season started-- losing their setter and one of their top outside hitters to injury. Lara Smith is back and healthy for her senior season. The hard-hitting Lara Smith (senior, Vashon Island, Wash.) looks to pick up where she left off in 2005, a lethal front line weapon with good defensive reflexes. Smith will be joined in the front row by one of the school’s all-time leading blockers. Sara Kettler (senior, Dana Point, Calif.), a Second Team All-Northwest Conference selection in 2006, is already fourth on the L&C All-Time list in solo blocks (85) and assisted blocks (119). Kettler is also seventh on the All-Time kills list, right behind fellow senior Nicki Smith (no relation to Lara). Nicki Smith (senior, Brea, Calif.) has 565 career kills, logging a team-high 218 last season. Freshman Katherine Fiedler (freshman, San Diego, Calif.) and transfer Cayley Rasmussen (sophomore, Escondido, Calif.), transferring to Lewis & Clark after redshirting at UCSD in 2006, will also be important offense weapons for the Pioneers this year.
On defense, senior Leah Collins (senior, Philo, Calif.) will be joined at libero by freshmen Michaela “Lou” Ohki (freshmna, Atwater, Calif.) and Molly Donahue (freshman, Lake Forest Park, Wash.). Returner Danielle Johnson (junior, Anchorage, Alaska) will also be a primary defensive replacement.
One of the Pioneers greatest improvements in 2006 was their serving. Kelsey Neussl (junior, Kodiak, Alaska) and Andrea Chase (junior, Santa Rosa, Calif.) will again be major offensive weapons on serve. Neussl and Chase were tied for second in the NWC last season in aces, averaging 0.47 per game.
“Our program suffered through a lot of adversity last season,” said Head Coach Lori Jepsen. “But the lessons learned will be the impetus for us to dedicate ourselves to having the best season ever for this current edition of Pioneer volleyball. We will be more focused on playing better defense and our flexibility on offense will really help.”
The Pioneers again open the season at the Boxer Invitational in Forest Grove, Sept. 1, taking on Wisconsin- Stevens Point in their opening match.