BEARS HOPE ADDED DEPTH WILL BRING SUCCESS IN 2003

Fans of Shawnee State volleyball may find themselves referring to their game programs more frequently in 2003 than past seasons.  Even seventh-year head coach Dr. Steven Rader may be glancing at his roster from time to time. 

Of the thirteen players on the Bears’ 2003 squad, six were not on the roster in 2002.  One might expect so many new faces to translate into youth and inexperience.  Not necessarily. 

The Bears have experience, led by senior co-captains Kristen Jones (MH, Bolivar, OH) and Tabby Gullett (S, Lucasville, OH).  Both three-year starters, Jones was a second-team all American Mideast Conference selection in 2002, while Gullett is SSU’s career assists leader.  Throw in 2002 AMC All-Freshman team selection Kara Miller (Soph, OH, Lancaster, OH).  Rounding out the returnees are a duo of junior outside hitters, Chelsey Eldridge (Chillicothe, OH) and Kristi Twyman (Vincent, OH), along with sophomore defensive specialist Tiffany Holbrook (Grove City, OH).  “This is Kristen and Tabby’s team,” Rader says of his veterans.  “Both are three-year starters, and both have been through the wars.  I’m counting on them to lead us back to our winning ways.” 

Experience is not limited to the returnees alone; four of the six new faces suiting up for Shawnee State in 2003 bring previous college playing time with them.  Junior middle hitter Dancin Gastelum (LaCrescenta, CA) spent two seasons at Pasadena (CA) City College, while junior setter Erin Spriggs (Grove City, OH) also has two years under her belt from Mid America Nazarene University in Kansas.  Sophomore setter/hitter Cheryl Ziser (Hesperia, CA) played a season at Riverside (CA) Community College.  The fourth experienced newcomer is not exactly new: sophomore Mandy Goin garnered first team all-conference and all-District 9 honors for the Bears in 2001.  A pair of freshman outside hitters completes the array of new faces:  Carly Cameron (Orient, OH/Westfall H.S.) and Elizabeth Eby (Eaton, OH/Eaton H.S.).   “I’m really excited about our incoming players,” says Rader.  To be able to add so many with college playing experience only makes us stronger.  I expect to see several of them on the court in the starting line-up.”

After posting winning seasons in 2000 and 2001, 2002’s 12-13 mark compelled the Bears to do some soul-searching in the off-season.  “We’ve done a lot of analyzing of last season,” Rader notes.  “We know we never really got ‘clicking’ --- and we think we’ve pinpointed the things that kept us from reaching our goals.  We had a good spring practice season, and chemistry among the returners seems good.  We’ll see.” 

A challenging 2003 schedule does not make the Bears’ drive for a winning season any easier.  Says Rader, “Challenging?  That would be a major understatement.  There’s not a weak team in this conference, let alone the southern division.   The AMC simply does not have “down” years in volleyball. 

“This has the makings of a fun year,” Rader concludes.   “Literally every position on our team will be contested; unquestionably the keenest competition for playing time we’ve ever had.  Hopefully, the competition among experienced players will yield dividends when it comes to conference tournament time.”