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2009 Outlook
The coaching duo of Wendy Smith and Curt Conser has always been quite a tandem. In 2008, the co-head coaches became the winningest coaching staff in school history and they do so in very impressive fashion. Geneva’s volleyball program had not registered 20 wins in a season since a three-year stint from 2001-03, but that all changed in 2008. With the highest winning percentage of any program on Geneva’s campus last year, the Golden Tornadoes finished the season with an overall mark of 22-11. Geneva also went 13-5 against PAC competition for the second consecutive season.
So the question arises why the sudden turnaround and 20-win season for the first time in five years? The easy, one-word answer is talent. Geneva’s coaching staff surrounded itself with an abundance of talent with the core of that group returning for another go-round in 2009.
A 22-11 overall record is more easily explained when you take a look at the final PAC statistics from 2008. The Golden Tornadoes are more than well represented in several of the key statistical categories including kills, assists and service aces. Adriane Blake, who will be entering her junior season, put together one of the finest seasons in school history. Blake led the PAC in kills with 3.95/gm and service aces with 0.61/gm while finishing fifth in the conference with 4.75 digs/gm. For her efforts, Blake was named a second team NCCAA All-American and received All-Conference coaching honors from the PAC. “Adriane had a great year for us,” said Smith. “She is an special talent and was able to put it all together last year, which is why we are expecting her to be even better this year.”
Blake got support at the net from an even younger player last year. In her freshman campaign, Rachel Kuegler finished second on the team with 2.94 kills/gm, which was good enough for sixth best in the conference. Kuegler was also handed All-Conference honors. While Blake and Kuegler got to finish at the net, it was the play of the floor general that made it all come together. Entering her senior season is setter Brandi Snavely who led the PAC in 2008 with 10.51 assists/gm. “When Brandi is playing her best, there is nobody in the conference that comes close,” said Conser. “She has a way of taking control of a match and helping our hitters get on a role. She is what makes our offense go.” Like her outside hitting teammates, Snavely was awarded with All-Conference honors and will look to build upon that success in her final collegiate season.
It was the offense that helped Geneva to its first 20-win season in five years. The defense at the net is one area of concern for the Geneva coaching staff. “We need to be more effective at the net on the defensive end of the floor,” said Smith. “Our blocking numbers were not very good and we will certainly make that a priority going into the season.” In fact, Geneva’s blocking numbers were at the bottom of the conference. The Golden Tornadoes averaged only 1.10 blocks/gm as a team. The good news is despite not blocking many balls, the back row did its job with a conference best 22.15 digs/gm. “We will need to replace Faith (Guerra) as one of our top defensive players,” said Conser. “We have some very solid prospects to step in and contribute, but we will have to see which players step up to the challenge.”
The Geneva volleyball team had one of its most memorable seasons in quite a while in 2008 and the upcoming campaign promises to be more of the same. The Golden Tornadoes will put an explosive team on the floor in hopes of an even better result in 2009.