There have been fewer posts this season than in the
past. That's not for lack of ideas, but
rather a byproduct of attention being split while still covering the SLC and
SFA in other ways. This year, the
attention at SFA has clearly been on ESPN broadcasts, of which I was incredibly
honored and proud to deliver. In terms
of SLC coverage, I have focused on more videos of players. Behind
the scenes, professionally, I have begun a new consulting company this year
which has been incredibly rewarding regarding my work as a statistician.
This post, however, is something that I intend to do
every year going forward. I have never
formally turned this list into post until now, but with all of the SLC schools
having completed their "Senior Days", this article began to gel and
be written in my head. It's a little
more of a personal, rather than scientific nature - the latter of which is my
typical writing style.
Below are 10 seniors that have made an impact on me as a
volleyball fan over the past four years.
I track this conference hard.
There are many people with more smarts and talents around this
conference, but few that know and study the rosters and statistics to the depth
that I do. Because of this, as a fan -
there are certain players that you come to appreciate even if you only get to
see them play two or three times a year.
People tell stories about them: stories about trying to defend them or
strategize against them, stories about their character or interests. Most of these stories come from coaches,
other players and administrators. My
personal observations blend with these stories to create a true interest in
their careers.
Below, in alphabetical order are the 10 senior stories
with a personal touch and a link to a time - if applicable, where I got a
chance to speak with them. Thanks to
each and every one of these players for their time and generosity. A complete list of 2015 Southland Seniors
rounds out the post.
Jacque Allen (SFA)
Could there be any happier player around a volleyball
court than Jacque? Every team needs
someone to provide lighter moments whether after a crucial loss or in
celebration on the bus home. Jacque is
that person. Early in her career, I
wondered if she would fully round into form at SFA and be a dominant
player. Boy, did she ever. One of the most respected middle blockers in
the conference, she has 438 career blocks (6th all time at SFA) including 86
solos (2nd all time). If she gets five
blocks in the tournament this week, she can move into fifth all time at
SFA. I'd say that's rounding into
form. She was always one of the first
players to greet me in the gym - whether at home or when she spotted me on the
road preparing for covering a match. She
was always friendly and always accommodating for interviews and conversations.
Ivy Baresh (TAMUCC)
One of the greatest six-rotation players this conference
has seen in recent years. I remember a
former assistant coach at SFA telling me about her the on the day she signed
her letter of intent. He raved - I mean
RAVED - at how good he thought she was going to be. He was right.
Baresh is immensely talented. A
rock solid passer, the Islanders can trust her on the back row without
hesitation. To ease her back from
injury, when she couldn't fully jump, the team trusted her defense so much that
they used her at libero a bit in 2014.
Now, here in her final season, we have seen a full resurgence to Baresh Form. She'll finish the year with over 300 kills
and 300 digs which is pretty much insane.
But, given she is the only Islander in history with 1000+ kills and digs
would you expect any less? If drafting a
Southland Conference Volleyball fantasy team, she's an automatic first rounder
in any format.
Glynna Johnson (NSU)
Such an imposing figure when you watch her play, but such
a gentle and humble spirit off the court.
Despite an incredible career that sees her among the Top 10 in the NCAA
in active career blocks, you wouldn't know it talking to her. But, man, do her teammates respect her. The limelight shone on players like Stacey
DiFrancesco, Mackenzie Neely and Keelie Arneson - and all for good reason, but
each one of them repeatedly would credit Glynna with being an anchor. I'll always remember these recent Demon
squads. The stories of my dismissing
this group early in their careers are well chronicled. Amazingly, the Northwestern State fans,
parents, and players have been able to (at least half-heartedly) forgive me for
all that. After all, I was the one that was wrong and wound up embarrassed and
even retracting comments after NSU built such an impressive set of teams around
players like Johnson. I'm better for all
of that. I have many friends at NSU
because of it. I'm glad Glynna Johnson
was a part of something great. Players
with her skill and humble demeanor deserve it.
Jennifer Loerch (ACU)
Underrated. Look
up the phrase "Just Get it Done" in your sports reference guide
thingy and you'll probably see a picture of Jennie Loerch in the margin. You are aware she will finish in the Top 10
in the Southland in kills per set for the THIRD straight year, right? Oh,
you're not? That's right, no one pays enough attention to ACU. Well, I do and let me tell you that Loerch is
incredible. It's one thing to be strong,
intimidating and powerful like some of the hitters on this list. Now, Loerch is no push-over, but she 's not
exactly the size of even the typical NCAA DI team kill leader. Doesn't matter, Loerch will eat you alive.
Loerch had 24 kills on her senior day and then came back with 21 kills in her
final match in a win at Northwestern State.
Just punctuation at home AND on the road to an amazing career. A workhorse, always taking a ton of swings,
she is someone who literally doesn't know her own stats because she is just
interested in beating you down. ACU will
play in the SLC Tourney for the first time in 2017 and the groundwork for
future Wildcat success was paved in large part by players like Jennie Loerch.
Cortney Moore (Lamar)
This is the second year in a row that Moore will hit over
.330. Last year, only the aforementioned
Jacque Allen hit for a higher percentage that Moore. The first thing out of anyone's mouth over
the last two years when you talk about Lamar Volleyball is "those athletic
middles". I've heard it from all
around the conference - players, coaches, parents, fans: "Those middles at
Lamar". People KNOW Cortney Moore. Just one look at her and you realize
that she is just pure athleticism.
Consistent and dominant. Her
career began as the Freshman of the Year in 2012 and will end leading her team
in kills, kills per set, hitting percentage and finishing in the Top 5 in the
conference in hitting % as well. In case you see all this offense and happen to
forget: She tallied 93 blocks this year
and 77 the year before. A true go-to
player, I'd always shutter when the game was on the line with Lamar because I
just knew they would set Moore. And
"Moore Often Than Not".. it was a kill.
Unfortunately, Lamar has been rather mum on returning requests for interviews over the past two years. I regret that I've never had a chance to talk with Cortney Moore.
Caiti O' Connell (NSU)
The runner up to Moore in 2012 in the Freshman of the
Year balloting, O'Connell was an absolute delight to watch play. Quick:
Who had more kills per set among the Demon squad that won the 2014 SLC
Tourney.. her or DiFrancesco? You know
why I ask.. because the answer is O'Connell. O'Connell never led the Demons in
total kills or kills per set in her four years in Natchitoches, but she ALWAYS
was in the top 3. On many, many
Southland teams over the last few years she would have been the go to
hitter. Her stable presence only proves
how deep Northwestern State has been with talent over the last few years. I happen to know that O'Connell is as smart
as they come and I've first hand observed a high level of integrity and leadership. She was part of that big recruiting class
that came to NSU in 2011, but O'Connell took a redshirt her first year on
campus. She was the perfect compliment
on so many well rounded teams in the last four years at NSU. Had she gone somewhere else, she probably
would have even more accolades. But, two
Southland pre-season team honors, two Louisiana Sports Writers honors, the 2012
Louisiana Sports Writers Freshman of the Year and one SLC Tourney Team honor should
serve to remind you of her impact. Oh
yeah, and there's that thing about a ring, too.
Caiti O'Connell's built quite the resume. She was always a delight to chat with as
well.
OJ Olson (SFA)
I admit it. OJ is
just flat out one of my favorite players in the 10 years I've been working for
SFA Volleyball. She's a math major and
I'm around her each week whether we are in season or in the Spring
semester. I've had OJ in one of my classes. She's sat and talked with me in my office
many times. So, I easily know her better
than anyone in this article. Everyone
who reads here knows I love back row defense.
We have been blessed with some fantastic liberos through the years, but
OJ has as strong a claim on "next best to Figgers" as anyone. Olson has 2114 career digs. That's good for third all-time at SFA. She needs just 7 digs this weekend to break
her own season high of 645. When she
does, she will occupy both 2nd & 3rd place on the season dig leaders at
SFA. She and Figgers are the only two
liberos in SFA history with multiple 600-dig seasons. The
fact that she wasn't a first-team SLC honoree last year was a complete
joke. The libero voting in 2014 was flat
out horrible. If by some act of pure
madness, her and Kate Klepetka at TAMUCC aren't the top vote getters at libero
this year, I might just blow a gasket. Stop letting sentimental coaches' internal
player rankings (*cough **UCA last year** cough*) swaying you! C'mon
people.. for her senior year.. get it right for once.
VIDEO: OJ Olson Senior Interview
Malina Sanchez (McNeese)
I am so glad to see Sanchez getting back to her
dominant ways this year. If she has a
big game on Friday and/or McNeese advances to Round 2, she has a great shot at
going over 400 kills on the season. She
and Jessica Wooten (HBU) are the only two that have a chance to join Heather
Schnars (424) at that plateau. I still
remember seeing Sanchez as a freshman in Shelton Gym when the Cowgirls came to
play SFA in 2012. She probably made the most immediate impact on me
of any freshman I've seen in the last four or five years. I thought she was going to jump out of the
gym. Like Baresh, Sanchez is great on the
back row. McNeese's back row went in the
tank several times last year and so Sanchez had to rotate back to help out at
libero at times and play more of a defensive posture. This year, McNeese is more stable in the
off-colored jersey and Sanchez has gone back to what head coach Ashleigh
Fitzgerald tends to call "poundtown". Sanchez is one of the players this weekend
that I most want to seek out and talk with again. If for no other reason, just to tell her how
much I enjoy watching her play. Just a delight.
Heather Schnars (UCA)
I can't say anything in this space that you don't already
know. My words can't add to the
awesomeness that is Heather Schnars. It
is so ironic that this week I will drive back to UCA and cover matches in the
Ferris Center. You see, in 2012, the SLC
Tourney was there as well. When the tournament
was over one player was on my mind in terms of breaking out for her sophomore
year: Schnars. I was SO impressed - absolutely mesmerized. I
remember a conversation I had with then head coach David McFatrich at that
tournament. He looked me straight in the
eye and said "I am SO glad we
decided to finally commit and pursue her coming here. If we had let her go, it would have been one
of my most horrible mistakes". He
had this sincere, grateful look in his eye and I remembered that all off-season
before Schnars came back and began her complete assault on the league. Yes, there have been times where I have
questioned the aggressive serving. Yes,
I took Wells-Gibson over her for player of the year last year. But let me leave this out here in the most unequivocal
way I possibly can: There is no better
player currently in the Southland Conference than Heather Schnars. If you have to have a kill, everyone in the
gym knows it's going to her. If you are
on the other side, you might as well pack it in.. you're already dead. You're NOT stopping her.
Angelique Vidaurri (UIW)
Like Loerch at ACU, Vidaurri has spent the last four
years at Incarnate Word knowing that she wouldn't have an opportunity to play
in the postseason. Like Loerch, she's
been out on the West side of the conference and relatively dismissed with
exception only of those that really study the numbers. Make no mistake, Vidaurri - like Loerch - is
terribly underrated. Vidaurri is pretty
fierce. I've watched her for several years
against SFA and I'll tell you this: She
wants the ball and she is an amazing competitor. Earlier I wrote that Baresh would be an
automatic first rounder if we could create a Southland Conference Volleyball fantasy
league. Schnars, of course, would be the
first pick. But, if you've ever played
fantasy sports, then you know there is that ONE player that you have circled
that you think everyone else is going to pass on and you are going to snatch up
a round or two early. That's Angelique
Vidaurri - the ultimate value pick.
2012: Led her team in kills as a freshman. 2013: Honorable Mention All-Southland. 2014:
Went over 400 kills. This year,
the emergence of freshman Autumn Lockley eased some of her load, but she is
still second on the team in total kills.
Like Loerch, someone owes Vidaurri a "thank you for paving the
road" when UIW steps on the court for the 2017 Southland Conference Tourney.
I spoke briefly with Vidaurri last week after UIW beat SFA in her final collegiate match. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to schedule an interview with her before the match due to preparations for our own Senior Day festivities. Due to purely random scheduling conflicts, I never was able to travel to San Antonio with SFA while she was at UIW.
Five other seniors that stick out to me as I think back over the years:
Amy South (UCA).. very gracious in granting a video interview last year
Allison Doerpinghaus (HBU)... towering.. I remember sidling up to her in 2014 before a match to see if she was legit 6'4" since I am that tall... the answer was yes.
Kelly Graham (McNeese).... smooth.. love the ball coming off her hands. One of my fave setters.
Celeste Ramirez (UNO)... see Graham.. always loved that Ramirez was good at libero AND setter.
Tori Bates (SFA).... class. I'll just leave it at that. So, classy.
Congrats and thank you to all of the 15 seniors above as well as these that round out this year's class:
ACU: Sarah Siemens and Madison Hoover
UCA: Corri Hunt
UIW: Kaitlyn Brooks, Taylor McClelland and Jordan Reifsteck
LU: Jenna Jackson
McNeese: Amber Fryer
UNO: Sara Hammotene, Lauren Levy and Milica Zmiric
Nicholls: Alyse Barclay
NSU: Amanda Kunz
SLU: Mikayla Shippy, Shelby Devlin, Tiffany Thomas, Veronica Turk and Brooke Balser
TAMUCC: Kelsee Felux, Hailey King and Shayla Maldonado
SFA: Jordan McArdle
Sam Houston didn't have any seniors!
See you at the Tournament on Friday!!