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University of Houston Athletics
Houston Volleyball Season Preview
8/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 17, 2010
HOUSTON - When the 2010 Houston volleyball season begins, a new face will be roaming the sidelines directing the players in scarlet and white. Head coach Molly Alvey begins her first season at the helm of the program and, in just a few short months, has quickly focused in on the goals of the team this season.
Those goals will be to learn to compete and raise the expectations of how well the team can compete.
"My expectation for this team is that by the time preseason is over, we have learned more about each other on a personal level in order to perform and function better as a unit on the court," Alvey said.
"Strengthening our interpersonal relationships factor into how well we will learn to compete. The better you know your teammates both on and off the court, the better you learn how to complete with them at your side in the heat of competition."
Looking to lead the way in that effort are team leaders Amanda Carson and Lucy Charuk.
"Amanda and Lucy bring stability to the program in the fact that both are the longest tenured members of this team. This new team will rely heavily on their consistency in play," Alvey said.
OUTSIDE HITTERS
Experienced is the word that best describes the outside hitters and returning to lead the way this season are junior Ingrida Zauere and senior Marluci Toazzi.
"We have a lot of experience in our two international students, Ingrida and Marluci" Alvey said. "They have played a lot of volleyball in their young careers and are extremely skilled in all aspects of the game."
Zauere started 19 matches in her second year in a Cougar uniform, and she finished with 147 kills, the leader among all returners. She also had 31 blocks and six aces.
After transferring to UH prior to the 2009 season, Toazzi will play her senior season in 2010. She finished with 144 kills, second among returners this season. Toazzi also paced the team with 26 aces and had 31 blocks.
Also returning to the squad is sophomore Ashley Applequist. The Wisconsin native has one season under her belt and will dual train this season at both the outside and right side hitter position.
"Ashley has a very good right side arm swing" Alvey said. "She is young, but she is a player that consistently works hard at training at her position."
Applequist, despite starting just seven matches, finished the 2009 season with 65 kills and 15 aces and has recorded 28 blocks.
Among the newcomers, junior transfer Kati Dillard and freshman Christine Pinder will add depth at the outside hitter position.
Dillard comes to Houston from North Texas where she ranked fifth in blocks in the Sun Belt Conference and fifth in program history.
"Kati will be dual training in the middle and the right side," Alvey said. "We will use her on the right side for blocking, and she has a pretty natural arm swing on the right side."
Pinder, a native of Gainesville, Fla., was the F.W. Buchholz High School 2010 Player of the Year and a two-time First Team All-Area selection.
"Though only a freshman, Christine will add some depth to this position," Alvey said. "She comes off a season with a strong club team in which she played at a high junior national level. She will potentially be a six rotation player for us this season depending on the continuing of her skill development."
MIDDLE BLOCKERS
After sitting out the entire season due to a shoulder injury, 2010 All-Conference USA Preseason team selection, Lucy Charuk returns to the team.
Following her sophomore season, the Tswwassen, British Columbia native, was named a 2008 AVCA All-Midwest Region selection and was an All-America Honorable Mention. Charuk also averaged 2.56 kills and 1.3 blocks per set, and she finished the year ranked third in C-USA in blocks and fourth with a .348 hitting percentage.
"The program will gain a tremendous amount of experience from Lucy this season," Alvey said. "Not only do we get a lot of size from her in middle, but she is someone that has established herself on the team as a leader. I expect her to be a major contributing factor in the success of the program this year."
A pair of sophomores, Chandace Tryon and Stephanie Nwachukwu, will add additional athleticism to the middle blocker position. Alvey is looking forward to their sheer athletic abilities and what they bring to the squad at the net.
"Both Chandace and Stephanie are extremely athletic players that have tremendously increased their volleyball skill level in just the past spring season," Alvey said. "I am looking forward to the dynamic that they bring to the court from an athletic standpoint."
Tryon was one of six Cougars to finish with more than 100 kills, tallying108, and she paced the team with 75 blocks. Nawchukwu saw limited action but was a positive asset to the team as a freshman.
SETTER
The one position in 2010 that will feature a new face is the setter. Battling for the starting position will be junior transfer Amber Brooks and freshman Kacy Griffin.
"Both of them will have a major role because we have gone six to seven months without a setter," Alvey said." They both are going to carry a heavy load in running this team."
Brooks transferred to UH from UTSA where she was a 2008 All-Conference selection and was a two-time member of the Commissioner's Honor Roll.
"Amber has been a tremendous asset to the program by immediately bringing in her enthusiasm and a tremendous amount of leadership skill," Alvey said.
Griffin also comes to Houston from Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, Texas. She earned the Coach's Award three times and was an All-District selection as a senior.
"Kacy also brings dedication and true desire to win. She made the commitment to her team to come in early and train this summer," Alvey said.
LIBERO
The lone constant on the squad the last three seasons has been senior libero Amanda Carson. After leading the program in digs the last two seasons, Carson has established herself as a leader on the team.
"Amanda brings a phenomenal ability of reading the game and ball control," Alvey said.
Adding depth to the position is junior Krysta DeAngelis, transfer Alex Edwards and freshman Meredith Ware.
While DeAngelis has seen limited action in her first two seasons at UH, Alvey is confident in the contributions she can add to the position.
"Krysta is a very athletic volleyball player, and she is going to push for time on the court," Alvey said.
Edwards transferred to UH from Oklahoma where she played one season, and Ware comes in as a freshman to Houston from southern California.
"Alex will add to the libero position from a ball control standpoint as she has a natural touch on the ball," Alvey said.
"As for Meredith, she has an exceptionally energetic personality which brings a freshness to the team, and she is also an incredibly hard worker."
SCHEDULE
Eight opponents that reached the NCAA postseason in 2009 highlight the 2010 schedule. Four of those opponents also ranked in the Top 25, and six C-USA teams ranked in the Top 80 in the 2009 final poll.
"This is the most competitive schedule that I have ever coached in the preseason," Alvey said.
The Cougars open the season at the Texas Invitational, Aug. 27-28, in Austin, Texas. The season begins against TCU and McNeese State on the first day of the tournament, and a match against Texas closes out the weekend. Both Texas and TCU advanced to the 2009 NCAA Championship with the Longhorns falling in the national championship match.
Houston then kicks off its home slate when it hosts the Houston Invitational, Sept. 3-4, at the Athletics/Alumni Center. The three opponents competing in the tournament all advanced to the postseason last year, and they include Oklahoma, Tennessee and Florida State.
"We are excited to play in front of our fans for the first time and host the Houston Invitational," Alvey said. "We plan to fill the stands with fans and put on a good show for them. They will see great competition."
Following the Houston Invitational, Houston heads west for the BYU Molten Classic, Sept. 10-11. The weekend opens against Wichita State and BYU and concludes with Loyola Marymount.
The final non-conference weekend of the season sees the Cougars head to Thibodaux, La., for the Nicholls State Tournament on Sept. 17-18. UH will meet Louisiana Tech and Nicholls State before concluding with Southeastern Louisiana, which is the only non-conference opponent that appeared on both the 2009 and 2010 schedules.
"In preparation for this fall, we will discuss the four parts of the season: the preseason, the first half of conference play, the second half of conference play and the postseason," Alvey said. "Our plan is to use the high level of competition we will face in the preseason to develop and grow as a team and prepare for conference play. A great way for a new team to create an identity is to play against the best."
With the 2010 season, C-USA action will see a new format with no postseason tournament. Instead each team will play 20 C-USA matches. With the new format, UH opens league play on Sept. 21 against Rice at the Athletics/Alumni Center. Houston will then play back-to-back matches at Tulane (Sept. 25-26) before returning to Houston for an Oct. 1 match against UCF.
Houston heads to El Paso, Texas, for a match against UTEP on Oct. 3. It will then return to the Athletics/Alumni Center for weekend meetings with Southern Miss, Oct. 9-10. The Cougars play road matches at Memphis (Oct. 15) and UAB (Oct. 17) before hosting Tulsa and SMU on Oct. 22-23.
The Cougars close out their home slate Nov. 12 and Nov. 14 when they host East Carolina and Marshall, respectively. The final three matches of the season have UH traveling to SMU (Nov. 19), Tulane (Nov. 21) and Rice (Nov. 27).
