Spartans take long-term view

CNA photo by LARRY PETERSON Spartan volleyball: Members of the 2008 Southwestern Community College volleyball team are, front row from left: Kelsey Grandfield, Winnie Lejukole, Carmen McMillin, Meredith Pegram, Cassie Kadel, Shiann McCann and Stephanie Hines. Middle row: Anna Drake (14), Bridgette Hines (4) and Hilary Runyan (6). Back row: Tejay Tessum, Tiff McArdle, Sam Bennett, Elley Neuzil, Bridgette Hines and Jess Borton. Not pictured: Head coach Rita Schroeder, assistant coach Anna Waymaster and student assistants Caitlin Sprague and Grant Larson.

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CNA sports editor An All-American who led the 2007 team in five hitting and blocking categories is with the Southwestern volleyball team this fall. But there won’t be any contributions on the court by Anna Waymaster when the Spartans participate in the rugged Molten Classic this weekend at the Council Bluffs Mid-America Center, hosted by nationally-ranked Iowa Western. Waymaster, a two-year standout for the Spartans who earned first-team all-region and second-team All-American status as a force at the net, is continuing her education at Buena Vista’s Creston Center this year. She stays with the program as assistant coach for Rita Schroeder, who’s entering her 23rd season at the helm. “Anna originally committed to Grand View,” Schroeder said, “but changed her mind and decided to concentrate on her education and be a coach with us. I think she’ll probably look at it again after this year and decide if she missed it or not.” Waymaster was one of four sophomores on last year’s 24-23 team. Only three of last year’s five freshmen returned to play, leaving Schroeder with a big recruiting task that netted 12 new players. Many have southwest Iowa ties. From last year’s sophomore class, all-region setter Ashtyn Neill has moved on to the Grand View team, where she joins Brittany Riley of Creston. Libero Stephanie Bower, the region’s top libero and owner of school records in digs and serve receive, is playing at Southeast Florida. Last year at this time, Schroeder had only nine players on her roster. Practice situations, and the margin for error in injury circumstances are much improved this year. “For two years in a row we gambled on some good kids. We were a finalist with them, but four-year schools tend to make their financial aid decisions late,” Schroeder said. “We didn’t get them, and then we were shorthanded. This year we had several kids who were interested in playing for us, and we had things wrapped up by April. It’s important to have kids who want to be here, because you know they will work hard and want to improve.” Three sophomores The short list of three returnees includes 6-foot right side hitter Meredith Pegram, who earned all-region honorable mention with 258 kills and 59 blocks. Her topspin serve is among the best on the team. Sam Bennett, a versatile 5-foot leaper who can play outside hitter as well as back row defense, had 109 kills last year and fires a power serve. Bridgette Hines received medical redshirt status after getting in only six matches last year because of a stress fracture. “Good athletes can learn by watching, and you could tell in spring workouts that she knows what she needs to do,” Schroeder said. Area conferences produced many of the top incoming freshmen. From Bedford’s state tournament team, Carmen McMillin is a candidate for middle hitter and Anna Drake is a backup setter. The leading setter in Schroeder’s 5-1 plan for 2008 is Tiff McArdle, who appeared in two state tournaments for Red Oak. McArdle was an all-district selection. Working with McMillin in the middle at the net is CAM outstanding athlete Hilary Runyan, and Jess Borton of Roland-Story. “McMillin and Borton are ahead defensively,” Schroeder said, “but Runyan has fire at the net with a good, quick arm.” Pegram mans the right side with a year of collegiate experience. On the outside, Schroeder is looking for consistency from a group that includes Bennett, the Hines and sister Stephanie Hines, as well as Cassie Kadel of East Mills and Tejay Tessum of Southeast Polk. “We’re stressing fewer errors, because we’re scoring 25-point sets this year instead of 30,” Schroeder said. New setters While the loss of Neill and Bower are big gaps to fill, Schroeder likes the new candidates. McArdle and Drake are capable setters who need only some court time with their new teammates. “Tiff is a natural athlete, and she’s solid with her fundamentals,” Schroeder said. “She’ll be our setter in the 5-1, but Drake is getting a lot of work in practice and she has experience playing on a good team, too.” Libero candidates Kelsey Grandfield of East Union and Waukee’s Winnie Lejukole actually have more high school credentials than Bower. Grandfield, a four-sport standout at East Union, earned first team honors in Pride of Iowa Conference volleyball. Likewise, Winnie Lejukole of Waukee received CIML conference honors while also running track for the Warriors. “Those two kids are really impressing us,” Schroeder said. “They are quick players with lots of energy. Bower was not a spotlight kid coming in, no all-conference or anything.” Last year, Des Moines Area and Iowa Lakes represented the Southern and Northern Divisions of the ICCAC in national volleyball competition, and they are the preseason favorites again. Southwestern was third behind DMACC and Kirkwood in the South at 4-4. Tough start The Spartans have made a steady climb back from the 7-30 record in 2005, rising to 16-25 a year later and last year’s 24-23 mark. But it will be a baptism by fire for the young 2008 squad, starting with Iowa Lakes at 1:15 p.m. Friday, followed by Central Nebraska, Division I national champion Western Nebraska and Indian Hills, rated 12th in Division I this year. Saturday’s schedule starts at 10:15 a.m. against Division I Barton County of Kansas, then Cloud County (Kan.), Division I fourth-ranked Iowa Western at 2 p.m. and Hutchinson (Kan.) to conclude the event at 3:15. “It’s more important where we’re at six weeks from now,” Schroeder said. “But it’s good to play tough competition. We just need to keep showing the progress we showed in the first two weeks of practice. I see us developing as the season goes.” SWCC Volleyball Roster Sophomores — Bridgette Hines, 6-0, OH, Omaha Central; Sam Bennett, 5-0, DS/OH, Omaha Central; Meredith Pegram, 6-0, RS, Grandview Park Baptist. Freshmen — Kelsey Grandfield, 5-6, DS, East Union; Elley Neuzil, 5-7, DS/L, Highland (Ainsworth); Stephanie Hines, 5-10, OH, Omaha Central; Hilary Runyan, 5-10, MH, CAM (Massena); Shiann McCann, 5-6, DS, Nodaway Valley; Tejay Tessum, 5-7, Ut, Southeast Polk; Tiff McArdle, 5-7, S, Red Oak; Cassie Kadel, 5-7, OH, East Mills (Henderson); Carmen McMillin, 5-9, MH, Bedford; Jess Borton, 6-0, MH, Roland-Story; Anna Drake, 5-4, S/U, Bedford; Winnie Lejukole, 5-6, DS/L, Waukee. Schedule * — Division Match Aug. 22 — Iowa Western Tourney (C.B.) Aug. 23 — Iowa Western Tourney (C.B.) Aug. 26 — vs. SE Neb., NE Neb., Highland (Kan.) at Beatrice, Neb. Sept. 2 — Grand View JV, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 3 — DMACC*, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5 — Kirkwood Tourney (Cedar Rapids), 2 p.m. Sept. 6 — Kirkwood Tourney (Cedar Rapids), TBA Sept. 9 — at Marshalltown, 7 p.m. Sept. 11 — at Southeastern (Burlington, 7 p.m. Sept. 15 — Graceland JV, 6:30, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 17 — Iowa Central, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19 — at Johnson Co. Tourney, Overland Park, Kan. Sept. 20 — at Johnson Co. Tourney, Overland Park, Kan. Sept. 23 — at Ellsworth (Iowa Falls), 6:30 p.m. Sept. 26 — at Clinton, 7 p.m. Oct. 1 — at DMACC* (Boone), 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 — NIACC, SE Neb., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. Oct. 6 — at Graceland JV, 6 p.m., 7 p.m. Oct. 8 — Kirkwood*, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 14 — Clinton*, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15 — Southeastern*, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17 — Iowa Central Tourney (Fort Dodge) Oct. 18 — Iowa Central Tourney (Fort Dodge) Oct. 22 — Ellsworth, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23 — at Grand View JV, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28 — SE Nebraska, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 31 — Conference Cross Tourney (Fort Dodge) Nov. 1 — Conference Cross Tourney (Fort Dodge) Nov. 4 — First round regional, TBA Nov. 7 — Regional semifinals, 5 p.m., 7 p.m. (Burlington) Nov. 8 — Regional finals, 1 p.m. (Burlington) Nov. 20-22 — NJCAA Championships, Wisconsin Dells, Wis. —————— Larry Peterson can be reached at 782-2141, ext. 232 or lpeterson@crestonnews.com