Lakeland Mirror

Issue date: 9/23/04 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Sotaro Keii Resi Ertler spikes the ball during a match against MSOE on Sept. 21st [Click to enlarge]

Chemistry, one word that will either make or break the Lakeland Women's Volleyball team this season. After crushing the competition in the Lake Michigan Conference last year and emerging undefeated, winning 29 straight conference matches and earning a second consecutive NCAA bid under the leadership of stand-out seniors Monica Draeger and Melissa Braaksma, the Muskies have floundered slightly and lost their dominating stranglehold with a 5-4 record overall, while remaining undefeated in LMC action at 3-0.

"We haven't found court chemistry yet," said head coach Chad Schreiber. "There is no flow to our game." However, last season's seniors left some big shoes for others to fill as Draeger totaled 1,334 career kills with a 37% hitting average while Braaksma tallied 384 career blocks. "Monica was the best player on the team last year, and Melissa was the best blocker we've ever had in the program," commented Schreiber.

Despite the loss of talent, an optimistic Schreiber believes that the roster holes have been filled, partially due to getting back senior middle hitter Leeann Hupfer who missed all of last season recovering from Hodgkin's disease. "It's a combination of getting Leeann back, a good recruiting class and the returning squad that has helped to fill talent...this is the deepest team we have ever had," said Schreiber.

The Muskies will once again quest for an NCAA tournament bid, and started out strong in their season opener September 1 against Lawrence in three hard-fought games with scores of 30-22, 30-26, and 30-18.

Hupfer left no doubt in anyone's mind that she was back to full strength, leading the team with 12 kills and 2 digs, supported by juniors setter Lana Neuman and defensive specialist Sarah Buechel with 39 assists, 7 digs and 15 digs, 4 aces respectively.

Next, the team traveled to Bloomington Illinois for a tournament at Illinois Weseleyan, losing a tough first match in five games to Illinois College 30-20, 23-30, 17-30, 30-27 and 15-13. Hupfer led the team once again with 20 kills and 6 digs, supported by fellow senior outside hitter Therese Ertler who recorded 16 kills and 19 digs. In the second match of the tournament, host team Illinois Weseleyan handed the team their second loss of the season in four games of 27-30, 30-23, 15-30, and 22-30. Once again, Hupfer led the way with 13 kills, backed by junior Heather Heberlein who tallied 12 kills and 4 digs.

Continued...

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