Women's Volleyball Opens Camp

Aug. 12, 2003

Moraga, CA- The Saint Mary's women's volleyball team opened camp this week under second year head coach Jon Stevenson. The two week camp will conclude on August 27th and will include practice games, positioning drills, weightlifting, and a team retreat. After a successful finish last year, in which the Gaels finished in a tie with Loyola Marymount for fourth place in the WCC at 6-8, the Gaels look to continue their improvements.

A potent mixture of veterans and skilled newcomers garnered recognition from the WCC during the preseason as Saint Mary's was picked to finish fifth among an extremely competitive conference. Stevenson expressed his thoughts about the camp by emphasizing the goal of the preseason, "[I want the team work on] integrating some experience with youth in the hopes of defining roles on the team." Stevenson's tough camp this week will include not only playing drills, but intensive "two-a-day" workout sessions.

Junior standouts Lindsey Bogason and Stacey O'Connor look to lead the Gaels to new heights this season after both received 2002 All-WCC Honorable Mention honors last year. Bogason lead the team in kills with an average of 3.69 per game last season and O'Connor was ranked sixth in the nation in blocks per game with 1.62. Jill Parmele will also be adding some experience after flourishing at the end of last year and will be the lone returning senior for the Gaels. Sophomore Kaui Salzman had a productive first year as a Gael by playing in all 100 games as a freshman.

With the addition of six newcomers, Stevenson will use camp to assess their progress, but commented on their skills when he said that, "He was not surprised." Amanda Bible and Cassandra Kolkka are two of the newcomers looking to contribute to the team. Rounding out the new class of players is Christina Kirk, Lauren Holland, Chelsea Hayes, and Mariko Coverdale.

Saint Mary's will open the season on the road against Texas at 5:00 PM on August 29 at Long Beach State. The Gaels will then participate in the Fremont Investment & Loan Invitational in Northridge, CA on August 30 against Northeastern and CS Northridge before playing host to Oregon State at 7:05 PM on September 3.

Schedule

GAELS IN THE PROS

CHAMPIONS

HALL OF FAME

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