Volleyball season gets underway at Puget Sound Invitational

The favorite to win the IIAC in 2009, the No. 25 Simpson Storm begins play today at the Puget Sound Invitational. Simpson faces host No. 19 Puget Sound and No. 10 St. Benedict today and will face No. 13 Pacific Lutheran tomorrow. Simpson's final match is yet to be determined.

Follow www.simpson.edu/storm to view the results from this weekend's action. Below, take a look at Simpson's 2009 season preview:

Returning three all-conference players and an All-American from a team that made the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship a year ago, expectations are high for the Simpson volleyball team in 2009. After a second place finish in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference a year ago, 11th year head coach Lana Smith and the Storm will play the part of the favorite to claim the 2009 crown.

"We are really looking forward to a competitive season," Smith said. "We have a lot of experience returning this fall and the returners have high expectations."

Simpson earned the No. 1 spot in the Preseason IIAC Coaches' poll, receiving seven of a possible eight first place votes. The Storm also grabbed a spot on the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll, as Simpson begins the season tied at No. 25 with Williams.

"Being the favorite to win the IIAC is a great compliment to our players and the program," Smith said. "Our primary focus throughout the season won't be on where we're ranked, but on our performance each week."

Running the show for Simpson offensively is senior setter Tara Christensen, a three-time All-Iowa Conference performer and 2008 AVCA Honorable Mention All-America selection. After averaging 1,387 assists per year since her freshman campaign in 2006, Christensen sits at 4,161 for her career – only 213 away from becoming Simpson's career leader.

"Tara has proven herself as one of the best setters in the league," Smith said. "Her wealth of court experience coming into the season will set the tempo for our overall success."

Simpson has a few options at middle hitter, led by 2008 second team all-conference pick, senior Whitney Oviatt. Oviatt accumulated the second-most kills on the team last year with 349, while leading the way with a .265 hitting percentage and 76 blocks.

Sophomore Megan Dunlavy returns after a productive rookie campaign that saw her appear in every set the Storm played while totaling 218 kills. Dunlavy helped make the Storm the toughest serving team in the conference, utilizing an effective jump serve for 41 aces on the year. Against Loras last season, Dunlavy set a school record with nine service aces in the match.

"Whitney's experience and potential to dominate both offensively and defensively will be a source of strength for us as a team and bring a lot of momentum to the court," Smith said. "Megan gained valuable experience last season. Her talents offensively will have the ability to elevate our play and team success."

Amy Schuster, a Second-Team All-IIAC pick in 2008 and senior Lara Gillespie lead a deep group of Storm outside hitters. As a sophomore, Schuster led the team with 366 kills while Gillespie was third at 344, only five behind Oviatt. The duo was a big reason Simpson's 382 kills in conference play led all IIAC squads.

"Amy and Lara are a talented duo for us," Smith said. "Their consistency will be key to our success. They both are playmakers and can turn the momentum of a game."

After missing the entire 2008 season, senior outside hitter Maggie Schuttler is a welcome return to Simpson's roster. Schuttler compiled 216 kills as a sophomore in 2007.

Like Christensen, senior libero Brittany Friesth is well on her way to becoming the program's career leader in her craft. With 1,696 career digs, Friesth is only 28 away from passing Amy Trowbridge (1995-98). Tabbed second team all-conference last year, Friesth's 532 digs ranked fifth in the conference.

"Britt will provide a lot of stability in our play," Smith said. "Her defensive talents will be the pulse of our performance. Her intensity and competitive play bring leadership to the court."

Much like last year, Smith and the Storm will play one of the most challenging schedules in the region – if not the nation. The slate for the Storm includes nine matches against teams joining it in the AVCA Preseason Top 25, only three less than the 12 games against ranked opponents it faced a year ago. The eight-match IIAC schedule begins on Sept. 9 with a home match against Cornell.

"Our tough non-conference schedule will test our experience and make us better, while the conference schedule is always competitive and will provide an exciting race to follow," Smith said. "We hope to improve our performance and overall play throughout the season. We will need to be ready to compete each time we take the court."