Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Volleyball	SIUE Volleyball SIUE Athletics

Cougar Volleyball Aims to Continue Progression

(EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) Admittedly, last season’s 29-7 record and appearance
among the NCAA’s final 16 teams were quite a shock for Southern Illinois
University Edwardsville’s opponents.

"The speed at which we’ve lifted the program to is phenomenal," said new
Coach Joe Fisher, who has been an assistant for the past four seasons.
Fisher takes over full-time this season and plans to tweak the team to
take advantage of returning and incoming talent.

"Being a new coach," said Fisher, "I certainly don’t want to see the
program regress. We have a legitimate chance—without getting into any
prediction—of competing for the conference title and being one of the
better teams in the region."

The national predictions already have weighed in with SIUE taking the No.
25 slot in the nation in the American Volleyball Coaches Association
preseason poll.

That prediction must come true without the services of two-time All-Region
selection Michelle Gilman, who recently signed a professional contract to
play volleyball in Europe. Gilman holds most of SIUE’s career and
single-season records after posting four strong years in a Cougar uniform.

Fisher said he is looking for three returning starters as the team’s
guiding force.

Kim Gilman, a senior from Springfield; Anne Ulrich, a senior from
Washburn; and Lindsay Rust, a junior from Belleville, were key members of
last season’s first-ever NCAA bid.

"I’m looking for them to pick up where they left off last year," said
Fisher.

Gilman was second on the team in digs last season will see time both
hitting and setting this season.

Ulrich led SIUE in service aces with 57 so the expectation remains for her
to be a powerful source of the occasional quick point through serving.
Ulrich also had 26 digs against Ferris State. Her passing ability remains
a key.

Rust was an All-Great Lakes Valley Conference and an All-Region selection
in her first season as a Cougar. Her 567 kills were, at times, impressive
and kept opponents flat-footed with her powerful swing from the left side.
She also led the team in digs with 444 and was second in service aces with
39.

Replacing Michelle Gilman at middle hitter is the obvious tough decision
for Fisher. He plans on using sophomore Jennifer Parks, of Stonington.
"She’s finished last season strong and had a great spring," said Fisher.
"Between her and Melissa Schaeffer (Ballwin, Mo.), she’s our experience up
front."

Schaeffer appeared in 26 matches last season but made the most of her
appearances with four kills in eight total attacks. Schaeffer and
returning starter Heather Vaughan are the most versatile players on the
team, according to Fisher.

"They (Schaeffer and Vaughan) could see playing time at all four of their
positions. I’ve talked to them, and they understand they’ll be moved
around," he said.

Vaughan returns for her junior season after having played in 229 games in
her first two seasons.

SIUE’s other obvious question mark had been at setter where Christy
Scheller left her name all over the record books. The Cougars look to
transfer Kathy Dulle, a junior transfer from Southern Illinois University
Carbondale.

Dulle, of Mt. Pulaski, transferred last spring and picked up the
opportunity to work with the Cougar returnees. "Kathy is a very smart
player being a coach’s daughter. She distributes the ball to the hitters
very well. The timing of her transfer was good for both Kathy and the
program."

Fisher said he wouldn’t have any problems looking down the bench for
replacements. If any part of the team needs a rest or gets into trouble,
he’ll be confident knowing someone is ready.

Two such players are returnees Meghan Daugherty, of Canton, and Becky
Sharpe, of Edwardsville. Both have improved their passing and serving
skills over the past year. They likely will benefit from a new NCAA rule
that increases the number of substitutions a coach is allowed to make per
game from 15 to 18.

Fisher must work five freshmen into the rotation. Some may see more
playing time than others, but Fisher isn’t discounting the fact that he
needs a deep bench to compete on a regional and national level much less
in the GLVC.

Kelly Schaill, of Princeton, is a 5-11 newcomer who figures to split time
between being a middle hitter and an outside hitter. "She’s the most
athletic of the players we brought in this year, She’s the type of person
in which she’ll be good at whatever she does."

Audrey Husk, a 6-0 middle hitter from Salem, provides some additional
height in the middle. "She has one of the hardest hits I’ve seen in a
while. For being 6-0, she hits the ball hard."

Jenny Franklin, of LaSalle, reminds Fisher of a younger Lindsay Rust in
that both swing hard as outside hitters. Fisher won’t blink to insert
Franklin into the lineup. "We won’t be losing anything on the court when
she’s out there."

SIUE also looks to two walk-ons for support. Elizabeth Freesmeier, of
Mattoon, and Lisa Vaughan, of Mt. Pulaski. Freesmeier impressed Fisher in
tryouts as someone who was fundamentally sound. Vaughan, the younger
sister of Heather Vaughan, is a backup followed Kathy Dulle at Mt. Pulaski
High School.

-siue-