2010 Walsh University Volleyball Outlook
The Cavaliers return eight letter winners and six starters from the 2009 Walsh team that were AMC Conference Tournament champions and earned a NAIA First-Round National Tournament appearance. Walsh finished the season 8-4 in the AMC and 29-9 overall. Although the Cavaliers have lost two integral players in Natalie Borland and Amy Police, they are still poised to compete for the AMC Conference Championship and NAIA National Tournament bid as well.
Top returners include junior outside hitter, Natalie Phillips (5-10, Wooster, OH/Wooster HS), sophomore middle blocker Brittany Morris (5-11, North Royalton, OH/Padua), sophomore setter Hannah Duran (5-9, Grafton, OH/Midview), sophomore right side hitter/defensive specialist Jenna Golic (5-10, Mentor, OH/Mentor), junior libero/defensive specialist Kristen Rohlfs (5-8, Loveland, OH/Mount Notre Dame), and sophomore outside hitter Julianne O’Donnell (5-10,Willowick, OH/Lake Catholic). O’Donnell returns after an impressive 2009 freshman season, playing in 134 matches, recording 454 kills and 384 digs. She was named AMC Freshman of the Year, as well as an honorable mention NAIA All-American. The Cavs also had two additional players garner AMC honors with Hannah Duran earning second-team All-AMC and AMC All-Freshman team accolades and Brittany Morris earning AMC Honorable Mention All-Freshman Team.
Named one of the team’s three captains for 2010, look for Phillips to be a dominate force on the outside. She finished the 2009 season with 198 kills and 465 digs. Co-Captain Brittany Morris will step up as the primary middle blocker in 2010, replacing powerhouse Natalie Borland. Morris has blossomed into one of the Cavs primary hitters, setting the tone for a much quicker offense than Walsh has seen in the past. She is athletic and a tremendous leader-by-example, and will be looked to as Walsh’s go-to hitter. Duran returns for the Cavaliers as the starting setter in 2010. She finished her freshman season with 1,529 assists and 378 digs. With a year under her belt leading the Cavalier offense, Duran has matured into a much more consistent setter with a fiery presence on the court. Look to her to mix up the Cavalier offense, and with the help of O’Donnell, Phillips, and Morris, create exciting fast-tempo offensive systems. Golic will return for the Cavaliers after stepping into the right-side hitter position in 2009 after Paige Chandler was sidelined due to injury. Stepping up to the job, Golic recorded 169 kills, 352 digs, and 48 total blocks. A player with outstanding defensive abilities, look for Golic to see significant time in the defensive specialist position, as well as swinging on the right-side for the Cavs. Kristen Rohlfs returns as the Cavaliers primary libero, earning 637 digs in 2009. A very mentally tough player, the Cavs will look to Rohlfs to help set the tone for the defense in 2010.
Returning veterans Marie Jubak (Jr., 5-7, Cincinnati, OH/McNicholas) and Dayna Daltorio (Jr., 5-8, New Middletown, OH/Mooney) will also be contributing forces for the Cavaliers. Jubak acted as the Cavs back-up setter last year, and will see more time this year in a defensive role. She has tremendous defensive abilities and will focus on playing both the left and right-back positions. Co-Captain Daltorio has matured greatly as a hitter from the 2009 season, and will compete for a role as a right-side hitter in 2010. An aggressive jump-server, Daltorio is a player with a wide range of shots and is an outstanding vocal leader for the Cavaliers. Paige Chandler (6-0, Cincinnati, OH/McNicholas), a redshirt freshman, will step into the role of primary right-side hitter for the Cavs. Chandler has worked extremely hard in a push for a starting role. She’s an aggressive blocker that will add much height and strength to Walsh’s defensive efforts at the net.
The Cavaliers bring in a fresh crop of players this year, with six newcomers joining the ranks. Incoming freshmen include Megan McCarthy (6-0, Lodi, OH/Cloverleaf), Kristine Sokol (5-9, Akron, OH/Archbishop Hoban), Amber Silver (5-10, Manchester, OH/Manchester), Lauren Rohlfs (5-7, Loveland, OH/Mount Notre Dame), Kristen Caccimelio (Mason, OH/Mount Notre Dame), and Mandy Taylor (5-8, Amherst, OH/Amherst Steele).
McCarthy comes to Walsh from Cloverleaf High School, and will start battling for the opposite middle position. An athletic, yet green player, McCarthy will work this season to develop her abilities as a middle blocker for the Cavs. She is a very aggressive blocker and has a very high reach. Look for McCarthy to surprise opponents with her abilities as she develops. Sokol is an extremely athletic player, who will also begin to battle for an outside hitter position. A mentally tough player, she adds not only power on the outside, but an aggressive block. She will continue to push O’Donnell and Phillips, giving Walsh outstanding depth on the outside. Silver is an aggressive player, with a wide range of shots who will most likely compete for both at middle blocker and right-side hitter. She will work at both positions, as she continues to master the Cavalier offensive system. Look for her to push Daltorio, Chandler and McCarthy as she develops. Lauren Rohlfs joins the team as a defensive specialist and will immediately begin to compete for a defensive role for the Cavs. Sister of current teammate, Kristen Rohlfs, Lauren has outstanding defensive abilities and is a vocal leader on the court. She has great ball control and an aggressive swing out of the back row. Caccimelio is an extremely athletic setter who has the potential to push Duran. She puts up a deceiving block for her size and has natural ‘hands’. She’s a player who is mentally tough and a positive leader on the court. She’s got outstanding setting range and the ability to push the ball to the outside from virtually anywhere on the court. Taylor will see time on the outside as she continues learn the Cavalier offensive systems. She’s a very aggressive hitter with great court sense and the potential to push the starting outside hitters throughout the season.
“This 2010 Walsh Volleyball team is one who may surprise many this year, “ stated first year Head Coach Erin Foster. “What we lack in height, we make up for in our defensive abilities. With six key starters returning, as well as bringing in an outstanding freshman class, Walsh has placed itself in a position to be very successful. We are already striving for an AMC Championship title, and a chance to compete at the NAIA National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa. We are an extremely mentally tough team, and have been focused on getting better, faster, and stronger in the off season. The dedication to excellence, both on and off the court, by these girls is unparalleled by any team I’ve seen. We have lots of depth in many of our positions, which helps us stay competitive against both our opponents as well as create an exciting practice environment. We will work to continually speed up our offense as well as strive to have the best ball control and defensive skills in the AMC. The leadership we have in Phillips, Morris and Daltorio sets the tone for the type of team we are this season: mentally tough, disciplined, aggressive, and focused. This is a team who is determined to win, and I expect nothing but big things from them this season.”
