Last year was a disappointing one for the Lady Colonels volleyball team. They compiled an overall record of 5-27 and a 3-17 Southland Conference record. M.J. Engstrom, in her second year as head coach, expects her team to make strides in the 2001 season.
“The expectations of us as a staff have grown immensely. We expect our players to work hard and play volleyball, we expect them to be great students and we want to win,” Engstrom said.
She said she believes that by bringing more experienced players into the program along with her returning starters, and by adding a new face on the coaching staff, she will be able to bring the winning tradition back to the Nicholls volleyball program.
Amy Koziol, a freshman, and Heather Cessna and Katie Leymaster, two mid-year transfers, will also see playing time for the Lady Colonels.
Jen Wismann, Shanda Johnson and Jenn Blair are Engstroms three returning starters from the 2000 season.
Wisman, one of the team’s best blocker, will see time in the front row, where her primary roll will be blocking, as opposed to her position last year at setter.
Johnson and Blair will continue to play the outside hitter position as they did last year.
Maia Pentecheva, Jana James, Kui Fletcher, Melia Cotter, Cheri White and Kadra Clinton are the six junior college transfers Engstrom has brought in to the program.
Pentcheva will bring international experience to the team after playing for the Bulgarian Junior National Team in 1997.
The coaches believe that James will bring a wealth of knowledge to the middle blocking position as an efficient hitter and by using her ball control skills.
Engstrom considers Fletcher to be a lethal weapon, as she will bring her experience and competitive nature to the team.
Cotter, a graduate of Palomar Junior College, will bring some versatility to the squad, as she is capable of playing any hitting position on the floor. She will probably play a primary role in passing.
White’s strengths lie in ball control and defense. It is believed that she will bring a competitive spirit to the team.
Clinton will be a defensive specialist, but will be redshirted for the 2001 season. Although the Colonels will not be able to benefit from her experience in game competition, she will make practices extremely competitive.
Kristi Breaux, Sarah Picou and Joni Dorn were some of the top players in Louisiana last year and they will have a chance to learn from the experience of the older athletes on the team.
“Eventually they will become a tremendous help, but right now they are going through this period where they have to learn,” she said.
The new face on the coaching staff is Jason Kepner, a 1997 graduate of Penn State University. Engstrom said she believes Kepner, a second team All-American, will ultimately make the Lady Colonels a better volleyball team.
“Jason’s in practice doing a lot of things.” He is 6’5 and he was an All-American for the men, and now that increases the level expectations that our players have to get,” she said.
The Lady Colonel will play in the New Mexico State Tournament from Aug.31-Sept. 1, and it will be the first true test of the newly remodeled team. Engstrom expects the team to do much better overall and in conference play this year, although her overall goal is of a much higher caliber.
“I think that this year we will qualify for the Conference championship, although my biggest goal is to qualify for the NCAA Championship,” Engstrom said.
