2016 Season Preview: Women's Volleyball
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas volleyball team embarks on a new era as former TCU, 13-year head coach Prentice Lewis returns to the collegiate level after teaching at Midlothian High School. Coach Lewis boasts the winningest record in TCU Volleyball history with a 245-174 record, 10 winning seasons (six 20-win slates), and a trip to the second round in the NCAA Tournament in 2009.
Coach Lewis is ready for a new campaign. She states, "Being my first season at UD I am really just looking forward to competing and making sure it is a fun, competitive season."
The Crusaders return a player with national recognition as well, in senior Jessie Koster (Sherwood, Ore.). The libero soared to the top of NCAA Division III rankings last season by tying the most digs-per-game with a 6.69 mark. That number led the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) and represented a school individual season record. Koster also produced 790 digs to surpass the previous single season UD record, led the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), and ranked second in the SCAC. Koster also earned an All-American Honor with the USCAA and Second Team All-SCAC.
"I am just looking to move forward and build off of what I have done in the past and keep getting better." Koster stated when asked on her goals this season. "To improve in all aspects. With my accolades from last year, I want to improve those as well. I want to do well enough to be recognized in the SCAC and keep my record high in the national ranking. Really want to just do better than last year in all aspects."
Koster also is the career leader at UD for digs-per-set with 5.56-clip over the three-year letterwinners span competing in navy and white.
Dallas enters 2016 with a roster of 16 athletes and nine are returners from the previous squad. Out of those nine, a quartet of Crusaders are suiting up for their senior season. Koster headlines the group and will be joined by last year's leader in kills (327), Mairin Guilfoyle (Roanoke, Va.). She displayed a 2.77 average on kills a game and accumulated 34 service aces – both team bests.
Rounding out the unit of four-year members in the program are Allison Seager (Dallas, Texas) and Anna Fazio (Beaumont, Texas). Junior Diana Hassink (Tulsa, Okla.) and sophomores Elizabeth Smith (Broken Arrow, Okla.), Mary Scholz (Fallon, Nev.), Anna McCall, and Sarah Hughes (Fair Oaks, Calif.) complete the group of returners. Hassink put up solid numbers by ranking second on the team in digs with 441 and averaged 3.97 a set. Smith led the squad with 663 assists in her rookie season.
Youth will also be a part of this team, as seven players vie for minutes on the court. Kennedy Bradley (Groesbeck, Texas), Stephanie Janysek (Sinton, Texas), Merit Paramo (Wasilla, Alaska), Mary Goodykoontz (Chandler, Ariz.), Kyndal Miller (Crockett, Texas), Caroline Sajben (Chico, Calif.), and Krystyn Pua (Escondido, Calif.) all are eager to contribute and makeup the group of newcomers. Six of them are freshmen.
"A lot of our freshmen are going to have a lot of playing time, so it is going to change a lot of the program from the past," Coach Lewis explained. "Overall we will be young on the floor, but will have maturity with Jessie on the floor and a couple of our other athletes - Mairin for one. I am excited to see what we can get out of this season."
The Crusaders open the fall on September 1 at Arlington Baptist College for a 7 p.m. tilt. That date will be one head coach Lewis and Koster look forward to.
"I am very competitive and it bleeds into my players," Coach Lewis exclaimed. "Looking forward to seeing what happens, because all of my athletes have the ability to be extremely competitive and I cannot wait to see them come out on the floor."
Koster reflected on what she enjoys about being a member of the University of Dallas Volleyball Team. "My favorite part is probably just being with the girls on the team. We have, through the worst and the best experiences, always had a good time and made it fun. It is really where friendships are built through for the rest of our lives."
(2016 UD Volleyball photo from scrimmage)