Baylor ranked #1

[bearwatch]

www.big12sports.com/sports/w-volley/big12-w-volley-body.html

[Phaedrus]

Enjoy it while it lasts. Funny thing is the bottom of the conference doesn't seem like it will change.

[vbobsessed]

I almost posted that link earlier today, but I didn't want to offend you bearwatch. I'm glad to know you thought it was funny too.

[db]

Too cute. Way to keep it upbeat, BearWatch. ;D

[bearwatch]

I'm back at Baylor, Move in day, and I got to sneak a peak at a practice. Protect your women and children this team is dangerous. Couple of the new kids are hitting the ball like the mens team. Sanders and Breyfogle are animals. I'm saying it right now, those two will be All-Big 2 this year. I've never seen defense that good here at Baylor. It was like a popcorn machine. Watch out world, HERE COMES BAYLOR!!!!

[mauricciobal]

I think this Baylor team is up for great things this year, and firmly believe they'll end up close to the rank they're at right now. Sic'em

[bearwatch]

2007 Volleyball Outlook: Youth is Served

A preview of the 2007 Baylor volleyball team.


Aug. 18, 2007

The 2007 Baylor volleyball team is the youngest of Jim Barnes' four-year coaching tenure in Waco. The Bears return three upperclassmen from last season's squad that finished the season 18-15 overall and 6-14 in conference play to place seventh in the Big 12.

Baylor is loaded with young talent, with the 2006 and 2007 recruiting classes ranked second and third in Baylor history, but two seniors, Amanda Modglin and Kristen Schramek, and junior Mandy Elliott, will be called upon to provide leadership for the Bears' young guns.

"I think that we are going to get leadership from different areas," said Barnes. "I definitely think that we will get it from our seniors, who have both invested a lot of time in this program. They are both hard workers and will definitely lead us at the top."

After starting four freshmen during the 2006 season, Baylor used the 2007 spring to focus on improving its skill level and transitioning young players into leadership positions.

"Since we started so many freshmen last season, one of our goals during the spring was to work a lot on our all-around game," said Barnes. "Most of our freshmen didn't play front and back row, so we really wanted to get them some experience with their all-around game. I think that it really helped to broaden their roles as leaders on the team. As freshmen it's really tough to step up into a leadership role, but this spring they were able to really step up and be leaders."

Baylor's young leaders include a trio of sophomores battle-tested from a season in the Big 12 Conference. Taylor Barnes, Anna Breyfogle and Katie Sanders combined to start 83 matches and saw action in 352 games, quickly establishing themselves as All-Big 12-caliber players. Much of their spring was spent increasing their roles as players and leaders.


"I think that Katie really stepped up a great deal this spring," said Barnes. "Offensively she took it to about three different levels. Just about every spring match she led us in kills, and I think she took a huge step in her development. Anna and Taylor are two others that really stepped up; and their roles on the team are really expanding. Our freshmen from last season gained a lot of experience and are really beginning to take ownership of this team as sophomores."

With the entire squad on campus for the summer, the Bears made strides heading into preseason workouts. The six newcomers have adjusted to campus life, and are preparing for the grind of the fall season.

"Having our team here this summer was definitely an advantage," said Barnes. "Our whole unit is together and they get to form a strong bond with each other that we will need for the battles we go through this fall. Our skill level has really improved; the players we have brought in have good skills and our level of play has really improved as a result. Our players are competitive and passionate when they play, and you can see it in the way they play the game. They feed off each other and really mesh together well."

SETTERS

Taylor Barnes started all 33 matches last season and saw action in 119 games as a freshman. She quickly made her mark in the Big 12, recording a triple-double in the conference opener against Kansas State. She later followed with her second career triple-double against Missouri, recording the only two triple-doubles in Big 12 conference matches. An offensive-minded setter, Barnes also features one of the top jump serves in the conference, setting a school and Big 12 record with 11 service aces against Missouri. Freshman Mady Bates will add depth at setter for Baylor this season.

"Taylor is a tremendous player, and she has the talent to be an All-American," said Jim Barnes. "She is getting over some nagging injuries, and is really starting to feel strong again. Last season she was really hobbled in the last month of the season, so we think this is going to be a great year for her. She is an offensive setter and people really have to gameplan against her.

"A lot of times you focus on a setter's tendencies, but with Taylor, other teams have to focus on how to stop her because she is offensive with her serving and her attacking and how deceptive she is with her setting. Mady will be a great setter for us. She will be our second team setter, which is an important position for us with our practices."

OUTSIDE HITTERS

On the outside, Baylor will have to replace Nicole LeBlanc, a four-year starter who finished her career as one of the most decorated players in Baylor history. LeBlanc ended her career sixth all-time in kills and nine all-time in digs. She became just the sixth player in Baylor history with 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs for a career.

Sanders worked her way into a starting role as a freshman, starting 18 matches and playing in 119 games. A powerful hitter, Sanders recorded double-digit kills in 14 matches.

"Katie has really stepped up and nailed down the top outside position," said Barnes. "Katie is going to have a great year and she's got a shot to be an all-conference performer. If she is able to stay healthy, then I can really see her being an All-Big 12 player."

The second outside hitter position will be an open battle among a host of players. Sophomore Kelsey Smith has the most experience of the group, starting seven matches and playing in 70 games in her first season after recovering from knee surgery. Elliott and freshmen Ashlie Christenson, Sarah Grace and Caitlyn Trice will also battle for playing time on the outside.

"Kelsey played about half the season at the number two outside position, so she has a little bit of experience," said Barnes. "She is getting over some injuries and is close to being 100% coming into the fall. She will be highly contested at that position by Ashlie Christenson, who is a tremendous talent, but she is a freshman so she will have a lot to prove. We are expecting both of them to play a lot during the season and to compete all year for that spot.

"Sarah Grace will also compete for playing time. She is a smaller outside hitter, but we are inexperienced at that position so she will get a chance to compete. Mandy Elliott and Caitlyn Trice will also be in the mix on the outside. When you are dealing with outside hitters, you really need a lot of depth, and they will both get a chance to earn playing time."

MIDDLE BLOCKERS

The Bears will look to replace Desiree Guilliard-Young, the top dual-threat middle blocker in Baylor history. Guilliard-Young, a two-time All-Big 12 performer, became the first player in Baylor history to record 1,000 kills and 600 blocks in a career. She ranked fourth in the conference in hitting percentage in 2006 and led the league in blocks per game.

Breyfogle started 32 matches in 2006 and saw action in 114 games as a freshman. She ranked eighth in the conference in blocks per game, and placed second on the team, behind Guilliard-Young, in hitting percentage and blocks per game. Her .786 hitting percentage against New Mexico was the top single-game performance in the Big 12 last season. She also posted the third-best single-game block total in school history with 12 against UC-Davis.

"We are very excited about our top middle blocker position, and Anna has really locked that down," said Barnes. "She is going to be an all-conference-type performer. We feel that Katie (Sanders) and Anna will be two strong foundations for our team this season."

Modglin, a setter-turned-middle blocker, secured the second middle blocker position with an outstanding spring season. Freshman AShley Byrd, an athletic leaper, will push the senior.

"Amanda played really well this spring, and was one of our most improved players. She has always been a backup setter for us, and she got some time to focus on playing middle blocker for the first time. It's pretty rare to have a setter move to middle blocker, but she was really more of a middle than a setter, so I think this is a more natural spot for her. AShley Byrd is a very athletic freshman who will really push hard for playing time this fall."

RIGHT SIDE HITTERS

The right side position will be an open competition from the first day of fall practice. Sophomore Ashlee Cooper moves over to the right side after playing middle blocker during her freshman season. Also in the mix will be transfer Haley Thomas, a 2006 junior college All-American in 2006.

"Both Haley and Ashlee are going to have a really good competition for the right side position," said Barnes. "Haley brings good experience as a junior college All-American. She played middle blocker in the past, but we really see her fitting our system as a right side hitter. She has a little more experience and a little better all-around game. She hits the ball over 10 feet and is very powerful. The way she plays fits well with our team, and she has already started becoming a leader on our team."

LIBEROS/DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS

Schramek has held the starting libero position for three seasons and is just 341 digs from becoming Baylor's all-time leader. She already holds the Baylor record for digs per game at 3.63 and ranked sixth in the conference in 2006. She will be challenged by Grace, a high school All-American.

"Kristen has been our libero for the past three years, and has really gotten better each year," said Barnes. "She will be tested by Sarah Grace, who is a tremendous player and can push for the libero position. It will really come down to what helps our team the most. Both girls will see a lot of playing time whether it's at libero or defensive specialist, because both positions are so important. The both have to serve-receive and defend, and they really set the tone for our team. Both will be very important to our team no matter what role they fill."

SCHEDULE

Baylor will participate in three weekend tournaments, including hosting the annual Clarion Invitational. The Bears will also travel to the University at Buffalo Classic and the SMU Invitational. Baylor will host Texas State and travel to TCU to round out its non-conference schedule. The Bears will be tested again in the 20-match Big 12 slate that features six teams from the 2006 NCAA Tournament, including defending national champion Nebraska.

"Our first tournament is on the road at Buffalo," said Barnes. "I always like to schedule that first tournament on the road. You go hard in the gym the first few weeks of practice, so it is a good bonding time to go away and be on the road together. When you are on the road in the Big 12 it is tough, so we have to learn to compete in an unfriendly atmosphere. We host our tournament which features two NCAA Tournament teams from last year and a tough team from the SEC. Our third tournament is closer and we like to use that to fine tune before we start Big 12 play. We will play Ole Miss who was an NCAA Tournament team last season. Any time that you play NCAA Tournament teams helps your RPI and strength of schedule. I think those three tournaments are a great setup before Big 12 play. We play everyone in the conference twice, and that's when the grueling part of the season starts, where every night is a dogfight."

GOALS

"A lot of goals that we are setting as a team have to do with what contributes to playing at your best," said Barnes. "We are focusing more on the process of what we are doing and not worrying so much about the outcome. We focus on the little things to win the point and we are constantly focused on that. Eventually they will tell us to get off the court, and then we will find out if we win. We are not going to change the way we play if we are winning or losing.

"As a coach, this is one of the scenarios that you get really excited about. We brought in some great young talent, and you don't really know where the ceiling is with them. We feel like we have enough core players that it won't be too much of a roller coaster ride. We have good returning players and a lot of firepower coming in from the young players. There is the thrill of the unknown, of `how good can we be?' If we put it together early then we can compete at the top of the Big 12 and make it to the NCAA Tournament. We have the talent, so now it's just about putting it all together."