29 August 2002

Titan Volleyball Aims for Successful Campaign

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — With the goal of vastly improving on last year's showing, eight letterwinners return for the 2002 Illinois Wesleyan University volleyball team.

The Titans open their season at the Elmhurst tournament on Friday (Aug. 30) with matches against St. Mary's at 6 p.m. and Loras at 8 p.m.

With a 19-20 mark, the Titans suffered through a losing season for the first time since 1987 and head coach Kim Nelson-Brown says her players are intent on that not happening again. "Last season we weren't a team of fighters and when things got tough we had a tendency to not be strong," she said. "This season I have seen a different work ethic and it's been great."

Leading the returning players is three-time "Most Valuable Player" Tiffany Hamblin, a Bloomington High School graduate who paced the Titans with a school-record 1,450 set assists last fall and already holds the school career mark with 3,959 assists. A two-time first team all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection, Hamblin also led the 2001 team with 71 service aces and 531 defensive digs, second-most in a single season at IWU, and had 178 kills with a .334 hitting percentage.

In three seasons, Hamblin ranks second all-time at IWU with 1,340 digs, No. 6 in service aces (167), and tied for 12th in blocks (175).

"There are high expectations for Tiffany as we want to see her finish her career strong," Nelson-Brown said. "She is really a good team leader and is challenging her teammates to step up their games."

Also returning is senior outside hitter Julia Socke (Chicago, Resurrection HS), a co-captain with Hamblin. Socke led the Titans last fall with 123 blocks, sixth most in a single season, and is 15th on the IWU career list in blocks with 156.

"Julia has taken her role of captain seriously and is going to be a good leader for us on the court,"
said Nelson-Brown.

Two newcomers, 6-foot junior transfer Crystal Andrus (Darien, Wis., McHenry West HS) and 6-foot-1 freshman Molly May (Mt. Prospect HS), are targeted for playing time along the front line as hitters. Andrus played at Indiana State and Kishwaukee Junior College prior to coming to IWU.

"Crystal is a real competitor with a great reach and snap to her hit," said Nelson-Brown. "Molly is a hard worker who doesn't seem like a freshman. She has the natural approach of a high jumper, which is what she does in track."

Other hitters returning are juniors Beth Crowley (Bloomington, Normal West HS) and Brette Bower (Palatine HS). "Beth has improved every year and creating more shot options is important for her this season," said Nelson-Brown. "We are converting Brette to a hitter after being a setter for two years and she is coming along really well." .

Seniors Taryn Borendame (Wheaton, North HS) and Stefanie Wlodarczyk (Custer Park, Reed Custer HS) and junior Erin Ernst (Lemont, Montini Catholic HS) are all competing for the newly-instated "libero" position or as a defensive specialist.

Freshman Lindsay Clements (Mt. Pulaski HS) has also progressed during preseason workouts. "She's someone we can use in three positions, is a smart and athletic player who is good at looking for her shots."

The demanding IWU schedule sees the team facing five teams ranked in the top 20 of the national preseason Division III poll — Emory, Wartburg, Central (Iowa), Elmhurst and Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
 
 

CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206 and/or head coach Kim Nelson-Brown, 309-556-3349