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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Volleyball Prepares For 2007 With Plenty Of Optimism, Returning Starters
September 06, 2007 | Women's Volleyball
The Princeton women's volleyball team went into the final weekend of the 2006 Ivy League season before finally falling one match short of the league title. Not only do all six starters from that team return this season, but the 2005 CVU.com Libero of the Year also rejoins the team after missing last season. Head coach Glenn Nelson's squad is experienced, skilled and hungry for another shot at league supremacy.
Princeton opens its season Friday at the Syracuse Tournament in Syracuse, N.Y. After taking on the host Orangewomen Friday, Princeton will take on Big 12 representative Texas Tech and Fordham. The Tigers will also compete in the Villanova Tournament, while taking on the likes of Rider, Lafayette and LaSalle, before beginning their Ivy League schedule.
Nelson, one of three all-time Princeton coaches to earn more than 500 career wins, has an experienced starter at every position. In some cases, he even has a highly experienced backup in several positions, while he will rely on youth in other spots.
The outside hitters will be led by 2005 Ivy League Rookie of the Year Parker Henritze. The junior finished second on the team last season with 4.49 kills per game and earned All-Ivy honors as a sophomore. Her defense was just as important; she led all non-liberos with 3.69 digs per game and chipped in .39 blocks per game. She is Princeton's most reliable and experienced hitter from the outside, and when she gets a good swing, the ball is rarely returned.
Sophomore Sheena Donohue will likely start opposite Henritze as the second outside hitter. Her 3.67 kills per game ranked third on the team last season, and a year of experience under her belt should make her more reliable. She can jump out of the building and could be a breakout hitter this season if she can gain more consistency.
Junior Sasha Sadrai and sophomore Rachel Cocalis will add depth to the position. Sadrai, a capable rightside hitter, is a talented hitter who Nelson feels confident turning to in any situation. Cocalis is a versatile option who should be stronger after a year in the system.
Junior Lindsey Ensign, an All-Ivy selection after a brilliant sophomore season, leads the middle hitters. She led Princeton in kills (4.57), hitting percentage (.433) and blocks (1.13) last season, and her familiarity with setter Bailey Robinson was noticeable early and often. Classmate Jessica Hoffmann is the second middle and showed improvement as the season progressed. She ended with more than half a block per game last season, and she will look to be a more consistent hitter in 2007. Freshman Elizabeth McStravick and sophomore Kait Woznicki are both young and tall and could work their way into the lineup with some experience. McStravick impressed the coaches in the fall, and Woznicki is finally making her way back on the court after missing all of 2006 with injury.
Junior Kelli Grobe and sophomore Taylor Carroll rotated as rightside players last season, and they may do the same in 2007. Both averaged more than one kill per game, and Carroll got to nearly two per game at the end of the season. With similar talents, Nelson may ride the hotter hand on a nightly basis.
The offense will be led by Robinson, the second-year setter who averaged 13.67 assists per game. A smooth and confident leader, Robinson's height also allows her to be a force at the net. Her.49 blocks and 2.19 digs per game helped keep the points alive, and her timely sets often made sure they ended in Princeton's favor.
Senior Jenny McReynolds led the nation in digs two seasons ago, and after missing all of 2006, she is ready to end her career with a bang. A member of the 2004 Ivy League champions, she is the premier libero in the league and keeps more points alive than almost any player in the East. Senior Emily Turner did an admirable job in her place last season, and she will give Nelson a number of options all season. Turner can play almost any position and might be the toughest server on the team.