Jennies Volleyball Opens Season with Four Matches This Weekend

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Aug. 30, 2017) - Central Missouri Volleyball, ranked 21 by the AVCA, gets their season underway this weekend played four matches at the South Central Classic.

When: Friday-Saturday, Sept. 1-2

Where: Durant, Okla. hosted by Southeastern Oklahoma State

Opponents: Minnesota-Crookston - Sept. 1, 12 p.m.
             Southeastern Oklahoma - Sept. 1, 7 p.m.
             Southern Arkansas - Sept. 2, 12 p.m.
             Southern Nazarene - Sept. 2, 2 p.m.

Season Preview
If it's hard to recognize Central Missouri Volleyball so far in 2017, don't feel bad. It's partially because of the 20 student-athletes (the largest the team has been in quite some time), 10 of them have never stepped foot on the court during a game for the Jennies. They also won't play a home game until September 22, so there's no turning to the schedule to help. But, make no mistake, the 2017 Jennies are building their own identity and won't be satisfied to just blend in with the crowd.  

The Jennies lost 10 games last season for the first time since 2008, but that isn't a reason to be down on this season. The young players that were around last year did more maturing during a stressful season than was probably expected, and they should be all the better for it in 2017. Coach Piontek was put in a tough spot needing to plug holes for injuries, but was happy with the way the team stepped-up. 

Central Missouri finished fourth in the always competitive MIAA, advancing to the semi-finals of the MIAA Tournament Championship. Once again, they remained ranked in every AVCA poll, continuing a streak that dates back to 1986. 

But that was then. 2017 is about new beginnings and making another run to the top of the MIAA. With a loaded roster, Coach Piontek will have plenty of options to choose from setting his lineup this year.

His deepest and most experienced position is along the back row where four defensive specialists/liberos return from 2016. Katie Carlson and Fuatino Manu are both seniors this season, with Carlson being elected a team captain. Carly Offerdahl and Abby Skrastins are also back after they both played in every match last year. 

Offerdahl ended the season as the starting libero and was named All-MIAA Honorable Mention. She ended the year with 3.66 digs per set and 474 service receptions. As a junior, Carlson averaged 3.27 digs per set and led the team with 27 aces. Skrastins saw plenty of action as a true freshman and did a bit of everything totaling 203 digs, 281 service receptions, 24 assists, 16 service aces and 14 kills. Manu will provide depth and senior leadership and Anna Sykes joins the team this year after being a two-time state champion for the Olathe East Hawks. 

An area of strength for the Jennies offense should come from the outside and opposite hitters. The most decorated position sees All-MIAA performers Kylie Hohlen and Molly Lawrence back. The upperclassmen were also voted team captains and will be counted on as leaders on the court. Hohlen, a junior, is a two-time All-MIAA selection and led UCM last year with 298 kills and 439 digs. Lawrence had a breakout year as a junior, earning All-MIAA accolades for the first time. She made her presence felt around the net with 247 kills and 59 total blocks. 

A pair of freshman Gabby Johnson and Rylee Neigenfind saw action last year. Johnson played in 19 sets and came away with six kills and two digs. Neigenfind had her season cut short due to injury, but was playing well with 24 kills in 29 sets and appearances in 14 of 19 matches.  Also returning from a year ago is Hannah VanBuskirk who redshirted as a freshman. That name may be familiar to UCM track and field fans; she finished sixth at the MIAA Outdoor Championships in the high jump in the spring. 

The Jens have three new faces to sure up their front-row attack. Brette Moore transfers to Warrensburg from Fort Scott Community College where she was a two-time First Team All-Conference selection. Aubree Bell and Salma SaRnoun are also in the mix at outside and opposite hitter. 

Up the middle, senior Kasey Hohlen will be counted on as the only middle hitter who saw time in 2016. She's a two-time All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection and last year hit .327 with 2.53 kills per set and 0.58 blocks per set. 

Around Hohlen is a trio of freshmen. Cassidy Loberg took a redshirt season in 2016 and Audrey Fisher and Mandy Kilgore are in their first year out of high school. Fisher is a former state champion with Olathe Northwest and All-American Honorable Mention. 

The Jennies relied on the multi-talented Kourtney Thompson the last three years to run the offense as the setter. With her having graduated, UCM will need a new face to be the court general. Tyler Downs was effective filling in for Thompson last year after an injury averaging 10.14 assists per set. Ally Offerdahl and Paige Menke are freshmen setters in their first years at UCM. Offerdahl is another freshman with All-State accolades from Kansas and Menke was an All-Conference player in Nebraska. 

Central Missouri will play their first 12 matches away from home this season. The Jens will take part in three early season tournaments, the South Central Classic in Durant Okla. Sept. 1-2, the Colorado Premier Challenge in Denver, Colo. Sept. 8-9 and the Arkansas Tech Crossover in Russellville, Ark. Sept. 14-16. 

The first time UCM steps onto the court in the Multi will be Sept. 22 against MIAA foe Northwest Missouri. Following a brief weekend homestand, the Jens will hit the road again for six of their next seven games through mid-October. They make up for all the time away at the end of the year though, finishing at home for seven of their last 10 matches. 

The Jennies will of course play all of their MIAA rivals and this year will host in-state rival William Jewell in a nonconference match. Following the regular season, the MIAA Tournament will be hosted by the regular-season champion. The Tournament Champion will receive an automatic bid to the National Championship, which runs November 30-December 9. 

For the first time in a long time, Jennies Volleyball is flying under the radar in the MIAA. They were picked to finish fourth in the conference in the preseason coaches' poll. It may take some time for the team to conjure up its own identity, but come November, they don't plan on being another face in the crowd.  

Scouting the Opposition
Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
• Minnesota Crookston went 10-18 overall last year and 6-14 in the Northern Sun Conference, failing to qualify for the NSIC Volleyball Championship Tournament.
• The Golden Eagles were picked 12th out of 16 teams in the Northern Sun preseason coaches poll.
• At neutral sites in 2016, Minnesota-Crookston was 4-3.
• All three of the Golden Eagles top offensive weapons are back for 2017 as seniors. Maggie Perrel led the team with 3.25 kills per set and also dug out 112 attempts. Twin sisters Kelci and Kassy Green also return. Kelci Green hit .318 with 108 kills. Kassy Green knocked down 100 kills.
• 2016 digs leader Ali Schueler is also back after leading the Golden Eagles with 176 digs and 3.59 digs per set. 

Southeastern Oklahoma Savage Storm
• Southeastern Oklahoma finished 2016 with a 15-17 record. They went 6-10 during the regular season in the Great American Conference, but advanced to the conference tournament championship match, where they fell 3-0 to Southern Nazarene. 
• The Savage Storm kills leader, Abby Jameson is back for her junior season. She was Second Team All-GAC a year ago landing 3.37 kills per set and also picked up 25 service aces. 
• The middle of the Southeastern Oklahoma offense remains the same as well with setting Alissa Benson centering the offense. Benson dished out 10.30 assists per set and dug up 2.67 attacks per set on the defensive end.
• SWOSO also brings back dig leader Caitlin Cosby who was an All-GAC Honorable Mention in 2016, with 5.76 digs per set. 

Southern Arkasas Lady Mule Riders
• Southern Arkansas finished 9-21 last year and 3-13 in the GAC.
• The Lady Mule Riders came to Warrensburg last season and played in the Peggy Martin Classic, falling 3-0 to the Jennies.
• Senior Alli O'Banion is the top returner in terms of kills, she was second in 2016 with 279 total kills and 2.56 kills per set. She also led the team in hitting percentage with a .205 attack percentage. She was named to the All-GAC team, Honorable Mention
• Another Lady Mule Rider who landed over 200 total kills a season ago was Alexia Southern with 212. Seven Powers was third with 2.33 kills per set with 126 in 54 sets. 

Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm
• Southern Nazarene won the GAC automatic bid to the NCAA Regional Championship, losing in the first round to eventual champion Concordia-St. Paul 3-0.  
• The Crimson Storm went 20-11 and 11-5 in the GAC in 2016, winning eight straight to end the year.
• Middle Blocker McKayla Benner landed on the All-GAC Second Team after knocking 279 kills and 2.91 kills per set. She also hit a team-best .257 with just 103 errors on 686 attempts. Benner was also the team's top blocker with 89 total blocks and 0.93 blocks per set. 
• Also returning is senior setter Abbey Berlin. She was an All-GAC Honorable Mention finishing the year with 1139 assists and 10.55 assists along with 17 service aces and 2.68 digs per set.