Live Stats:  vs. Howard  I  vs. Pittsburgh  I  vs. Rhode Island  I  vs. Duquesne

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University’s volleyball team will begin its 2011 season on Friday at the Pitt Panther Invitational in Pittsburgh.

The Colonels are scheduled to play Howard at 3 p.m. and the host Panthers at 7 p.m. On Saturday Eastern will play Rhode Island at 3 p.m., and Duquesne at 7 p.m. Saturday’s second match will be played on Duquesne’s home court in Pittsburgh.

Last year, Eastern Kentucky began the season with a veteran team. EKU had six starters returning, six student-athletes that were beginning their fourth season of play and a seventh with three years of experience in the program. At the start of the 2010 season, nine players total had at least two full seasons of play under their belt.

Unfortunately in college athletics the cycle that gives a team experience one season, often makes for a young team the next. That is where the Colonels find themselves at the start of the 2011 season.

This year’s squad has only five players with two or more years of experience and only two of those have three years under their belt. Nine players have one year or less of experience, including five freshmen.

However, head coach Lori Duncan – in her 14th season at EKU – does not have a bare cupboard. Duncan will rebuild around 2010 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year Ashley Edmond and senior Hannah Groudle.

Along with Edmond and Groudle, sophomore setter/outside hitter Robyn Hench is the only other returning starter from last season. Other returning players include defensive specialists Candice Biltz and senior Jill Henneman, middle blocker Toni Michalski, setter Jessica Mueller and outside hitter Marissa Tashenberg.

“Our mantra this spring and summer has been to be result oriented,” said Duncan. “To be able to capture the tradition of the program we need to be willing to set the bar high, and have the work ethic and attitude to make sure we take care of that.”

OUTSIDE HITTERS
Edmond will look to continue the success she enjoyed as a freshman. In addition to being named the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year the Michigan City, Ind., native was also selected to the OVC All-Newcomer team. She led the team with 366 kills, 25 service aces and 420 points. She ranked seventh in the conference with 3.21 kills per set and sixth with 3.69 points per set. She finished third on the team with 45 blocks. Edmond recorded five double-doubles (kills-digs) and recorded a season-best of 20 kills twice – versus USC Upstate (Sept. 4) and Tennessee Tech (Sept. 17). She also finished with a season-high 21 digs against Tennessee Tech (Sept. 17).

Two newcomers will be asked to make up for departed senior, and All-OVC selection, Lauren Snyder. Newcomer Kelsey Kuehner transferred from Appalachian State. She redshirted last season, but as a freshman she played in 26 matches and started 14 times. She ranked fourth on the team with 165 kills (2.29 kps). She compiled double-digit kills in seven matches, including a season-best 15 against Tennessee Tech. Freshmen Alexis Plagens was an all-state selection in Ohio.

“I feel very strong about our outside hitting position,” Duncan said. “I think those kids are our strongest overall players right now. Those three kids are doing a fabulous job. In terms of depth, this will be our strength.”

MIDDLE BLOCKERS
Departed senior middle blocker Autumn Harms led the team with 78 blocks and was third with 244 kills last season, but Groudle has played a key role for the Colonels for three seasons. She is the team’s top returning blocker from last season. Groudle was fourth on the team last season with 140 kills and third with 185 points while starting all 29 of the team’s matches. She had a season-high 13 kills against Eastern Illinois (Oct. 29) and finished with a season-best five blocks at Appalachian State (Sept. 3).

There is little depth in the middle behind Groudle. Michalski is a junior but has been limited to just 21 matches her first two seasons due to injuries. At 6-foot-2 freshman Hannah Burkle adds height to the middle for the Colonels and is expected to contribute immediately.

“I think we’ll be able to take a step forward from where we’ve been the last couple of years in terms of our middle blocking skill,” said Duncan. “Hannah Groudle and Hannah Burkle are doing a nice job and are the front runners for solidifying the middle, but Toni will be in the mix.”

RIGHT SIDE
Hench, Tashenberg and Michalski will see action on the right side. Hench was the team’s primary setter last year but has the versatility to fill several areas on the court. Tashenberg played in 16 matches her freshman season. She posted a season-high 11 kills against USC Upstate (Sept. 4).

SETTERS
Hench led the team with 707 assists last season. She ranked 10th in the OVC with an average of 7.14 assists per set and was third on the team with 21 service aces. She finished fourth on the team with 36 blocks and fifth on the team with 123 points. Hench recorded six double-doubles (assists-digs). She recorded a season-best 57 assists against Tennessee-Martin (Oct. 8).

With Hench’s versatility, she may see more action at right side if the Colonels develop enough depth at setter. Jessica Mueller played in five matches in 2010. The junior had four kills and 46 assists against SIU Edwardsville (Nov. 6). Freshman Abbey Cvelbar was a three-time all-state selection at Beaumont High School in Ohio.

“We’ve got quality depth at this position,” Duncan said. “Abbey is doing a really good job. She’s a true setter. Robyn and Jessica can take on multiple roles including setting and blocking. Robyn is so versatile. She’s so essential to our group because she can hit and set. She was hitting so well last spring that we can utilize her in a hitting position.”

DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS
At 5-foot-4, #Abby O’Connor# was the smallest player on the team last season, but her shoes might be the biggest to fill this season. As a senior O’Connor finished second in the OVC with an average of 5.66 digs per set on her way to being named to the All-OVC team for the second time. She ranked seventh in the nation in the same category. Her 645 digs in 2010 was the second most in school history in a single season. O’Connor finished her career in second place on EKU’s career digs list with 1,977. That total places her seventh in Ohio Valley Conference history. During the 2010 season, O’Connor registered 10 or more digs in 28 of EKU’s 29 matches. She had 20 or more digs 17 times and turned in six 30-plus dig performances.

Returners Biltz and Henneman, and freshman Dena Ott will be charged with filling the void left by O’Connor. Henneman played in 26 of the team’s 29 matches a year ago. She finished sixth on the team with 94 digs. She recorded a season-high 13 digs at Tennessee State (Oct. 15). Biltz played in 18 matches and started twice. She recorded a season-high 13 digs twice, versus Pepperdine (Sept. 11) and at Southeast Missouri (Sept. 24). She served up three aces at Jacksonville State (Oct. 22). Ott earned all-state honorable mention honors while playing at the same high school as former Colonel standout Brittany Nobilio.

“Who wins the libero position will depend on who can consistently dig balls and who can consistently pass/serve throughout the next couple of weeks,” Duncan said. “All three will play significant roles. One will be the libero but the other two will play when we need to sub for an outside hitter in the backcourt.”