2014 Shorter Volleyball Schedule

By Jim O'Hara
 
ROME, Ga. – Even though they have six starters returning from the team that emerged as the second-best team in the conference, the Shorter Lady Hawks volleyball team clearly understands that they still have a lot of work ahead of them as they begin a new season this weekend.

Knowing what's at the end of the rainbow, it's a sure bet that they are ready to go after the postseason pot of gold at the end of what will be Shorter's first season as a full NCAA Division II and Gulf South Conference member.

"We're really not in sync yet," head coach Jon Moseley, who enters his ninth season directing the Lady Hawks, said as the team headed into the season opener on Friday when they compete in the two-day Francis Marion University Invitational in Florence, S.C.

"We need a little bit of time for the lineup to form," the coach said, "and get the cohesiveness we want, but we're not that far off."

Clearly, the Lady Hawks have all the ingredients to make an immediate impact in the GSC, where Shorter was given the No. 2position in the coaches' preseason poll, and be in a position to make regional and national postseason runs, an avenue that has been closed to the team for the past two years as the university made the transition toward its NCAA status.

"It'll be nice for our players to be eligible for awards during the season and be recognized for their good play," said Moseley, "and to be eligible to be in the rankings and play in the postseason. We've been really looking forward to that."

The optimism the team has comes thanks to a veteran core who return after helping the Lady Hawks post a 26-11 record last year, finish second in the GSC with a 13-5 mark and, while note able to compete in conference and NCAA tournaments, reach the Final Four of the National Christian College Athletic Association National Championships.

Senior outside hitter senior Jasmine Crook, who led the team in kills (436) a year ago, heads up the vets who give the Lady Hawks the firm foundation on which to build on. Selected as the first-ever Lady Hawk to earn All-GSC preseason honors, Crook begins her final campaign after having earned All-Tournament accolades at the 2013 NCCAA national tournament when during Shorter's five matches she totaled 58 kills and 84 digs over 19 sets.

Joining Crook to make Shorter strong at the net are her two senior teammates, middle blockers Erica Baker and Anna Graham, who not only live up to the name of the position they play but also are offensive threats.

Last year, Baker recorded 95.5 blocks and added 342 kills, and Graham rounded out the dual threat with 324 kills and led the team with 99.5 blocks.
Sophomore outside hitter Elizabeth Dowd is back to add more firepower having recorded 315 kills a year ago along with 527 digs, and rounding out the experienced lineup are a pair of setters – junior Dena Pierce and sophomore Cheyenne Frady.

In 2013, Pierce led the Lady Hawks with 851 assists while Frady dished out 649 helps, and at the service line registered 44 and 45 aces, respectively.

Vying to fill three vacancies in the starting lineup, including one left by the graduation of libero standout Tanequa Whitman, is a deep group of Lady Hawks who Moseley feels will all be involved in the team's run this season.

Forming a threesome that will fill the libero role includes juniors Taylor Wilkerson and Sarah Armstrong, and freshman Cheyenne McLemore, and while freshman Kelsi Jones appears to have locked up the spot as a hitter Shorter has seen sophomore Lauren Meyer and freshman Madeline Munroe show signs of being called upon as do sophomore Victoria Pregibon and freshmen Morgan Cleveland, both promising outside hitters.

Rounding out what is one of Moseley's deepest rosters will be freshmen Tiffani Estep, who along with McLemore received GSC Top Newcomer preseason recognition, Sarah Wilks and Alicia McClellan.

First up for the Lady Hawks this weekend are three non-conference Division II foes who will serve as a barometer as Shorter takes the court for the first time.

On Friday, the Lady Hawks take on Erskine and host Francis Marion, then return to action on Saturday acing Mt. Olive and Lander. The set of showdowns, however, sets the stage for what Moseley knows will be a rugged GSC slate.

On Sept. 9, Shorter begins its conference run with a trip to West Georgia and two days later heads to Florence, Ala., to take on GSC contender North Alabama. The Lady Hawks finally return home on Sept. 13 with a conference clash against Valdosta State.

"It's not an easy conference," Moseley said, noting that preseason No. 1 West Florida is the tip of the GSC iceberg. "There isn't a lot of margin for errors. Everybody, from top to bottom, has a good team. There are no easy matches."