RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team begins its season this Friday in a non-conference match against Towson. The Colonels also have a match against Southern Illinois on Saturday as part of the Comfort Inn and Suites Invitational, hosted by Morehead State University.

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Below is the season outlook for the 2007 Colonels.

One of the most successful Ohio Valley Conference volleyball teams over the last four seasons will have a new look in 2007. The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team has averaged more than 12 conference victories a year over the past four seasons, but senior Brittany Nobilio is essentially the lone piece left from those championship teams.

“Brittany helped raise the program to another level,” head coach Lori Duncan said. “As we look forward to this season, I’m not going to be surprised where people pick us to finish [in the conference standings]. For this team, it’s not about where we start; it’s about where we actually finish in November. I’m very encouraged with the combination of athletes and competitiveness that surround this team.”

Nobilio is the only senior on the Colonel roster that features seven newcomers, including five freshmen. What Eastern Kentucky lost in offensive firepower from 2006, the Colonels have replaced with a stronger defensive team that will focus on passing and ball control. In many ways, the 2007 team mirrors the 2004 squad which also featured one senior and an inexperienced core group. The 2004 Colonels went on to win 27 matches and capture the OVC crown.

“I’m very optimistic about this new group coming together and what they can accomplish by the end of the season,” Duncan said.

The non-conference schedule offers a wide range of challenges to prepare the Colonels for the 20-match league lineup, an increase from 16 matches which had been the norm since 2000. Eastern Kentucky travels to California in early September to challenge nationally-recognized programs Minnesota and Cal. The Colonels hit the road to face both Louisville and Kentucky in the first month of action as well.

Defensive Specialists
Nobilio, one of the most decorated Colonel players in program history, needs 180 more digs to establish a new OVC career record. The 2004 and 2005 OVC Defensive Player of the Year was ranked seventh nationally in digs per game (6.35). Nobilio’s range and ball control has helped her become “as good as a defensive player that we’ve ever at EKU” according to Duncan.

Returnees Abbey Blank and Liza Kelley gained valuable experience in the back row as freshmen and give the Colonels three dependable defensive players. Blank and Kelley combined for almost 500 digs in 2006. Add into the mix newcomer Abby O’Connor, who earned All-Ohio accolades as a senior prepster, and EKU is loaded with defensive specialists.

“We have to pass-serve better than any team and dig more balls than any team in the conference,” Duncan said. “If we accomplish those tasks, I believe we will lead the conference where it counts.”

Setters
The Colonels have big shoes to fill in the setter’s role due to the departure of four-year starter Kelly Jennings, who left Eastern with an OVC record 5,543 assists.

However, Duncan has high hopes for freshman Kate Hendle who has the same competitive drive as Jennings. Hendle set a new career record for assists at Marian Central Catholic High School last year as a senior prepster.

Blank will also see time in the setter’s role depending on the make-up of the opponent. The sophomore came to Eastern Kentucky as both a setter and defensive specialist.

“This is the first time in my tenure at Eastern we will work on a 6-2 rotation,” Duncan said. “We have always run a 5-1, but we have the personnel to do it and that makes a big difference.”

Middle Blockers
Last year was supposed to be the break-out season for junior Amanda Wilson. Unfortunately, an early-season injury forced fellow junior Bridget Mustard into the role. By the end of the 2006 campaign, Mustard turned into the Colonels’ go-to player.

Mustard returns as Eastern Kentucky’s top offensive threat. In the 2006 OVC Tournament quarterfinals against Morehead State, she tallied a team-high 14 kills while finishing with a .324 hitting percentage. Mustard ranked second on the squad in kills per game (2.65) and blocks per game (0.79) as a sophomore.

Wilson is one of the most athletic players on the team.

“That’s the one position we have the greatest question mark,” Duncan said. “It’s not because [Mustard and Wilson] aren’t qualified or capable, more so than anything, it’s the fact we are thin at that position compared to others.”

Bringing in junior college transfer Traesha Worley gives EKU some added insurance and experience at the middle blocker spot. Coach Duncan expects to use her as a right side player as well.

Outside Hitters
The Colonels’ top outside hitter from 2006, Jessica Sabath, left another huge hole for Eastern to fill. The recent graduate led EKU in kills (391) and was second in digs (521) as a senior. Coach Duncan went to the junior college ranks to fill the void with an experienced player in the form of Ashley Bayer.

“Bayer is going to be a major contributor,” Duncan said. “She not only will swing front row, but she’ll also pass and serve in the back row. Bayer is a solid all-around player in the mold of Jessica Sabath.”

The other outside hitter position will most likely be up for grabs between freshmen Amanda Fago and Leah Nelson.

“We might limit these two freshmen to front row responsibilities to begin with to take a little of the pressure away, but I believe they both will do a fantastic job,” Duncan said.

A third freshman, Chelsea Lee, will look to gain some experience within the program to help her fill a role towards the end of the season and next year.

Right Side
“We are going to ask our right sides to block balls and that’s what Kirby [Barnhart] does well,” Duncan said.

Barnhart filled in admirably as a freshman and will likely continue her role of blocking the opposition’s primary hitter. Worley is also expected to compete for time at the position.