Aug. 21, 2009
Check back on Aug. 23-26 for position-by-position previews on the volleyball page at BaylorBears.com.
With his first recruiting class at Baylor becoming seniors in 2009, and having all seven starters back, head coach Jim Barnes has plenty of reasons to be optimistic. The leadership and experience that this Baylor team possesses will have a huge impact on the type of run it can make. The Bears return 11 letterwinners, and will add the 14th-ranked recruiting class in the nation, to a team that finished with 18 wins in 2008.
"As a coaching staff, the biggest thing is trying to figure out combinations," Barnes said. "There will be some fireworks in some of our practices because of the talent level and competing for some positions. The thing with this team is, you can't take a day off because somebody will be ready to step in. As coaches you like that kind of leverage to get the players to focus every day."
Barnes' crew features three seniors, including two that received all-Big 12 and all-Central region honors last season. Middle blocker Anna Breyfogle and setter Taylor Barnes earned most of the hardware, but Katie Sanders had an equally big impact filling up the stat sheet across the board. The trio entered Baylor as the 16th-ranked recruiting class in the country, and with the help of three consecutive top-40 classes behind them, this team has the depth and experience to make a run toward the top of the Big 12 and that coveted NCAA tournament berth.
"They are the ones that have helped turn this program around," Jim Barnes said. "What we like right now is that we have a combination of experience that we have never had here, and depth. Those are two things required for success in the Big 12. That's what we are most excited about, and those three seniors are certainly driven."
The depth will come in the form of solid sophomore and junior classes. An injury to Breyfogle last season, combined with only four returning starters from 2007, gave some underclassmen valuable playing time and experience. All 11 returning letterwinners started at least two matches in 2008, with nine of those eleven starting at least six matches.
Barnes' juniors are led by outside hitter Ashlie Christenson and middle blocker Ashley Byrd, who had a breakout season in 2008. Christenson finished second on the team in kills with 258 and was one of five Bears to record more than 50 blocks. Byrd was fifth on the team in kills and third in blocks. Also in the junior class, libero Caitlyn Trice and Texas transfer Elizabeth Graham will play an important role. Trice got just eight starts, but average 2.60 digs per set in her time on the court. Graham, a 6-2 middle blocker, will add length to the front row.
"Our juniors are a very good group that also does a good job of leading," Barnes said. "They have been through all the Big 12 wars, so they know what it takes to get a team to that level."
Sophomores Allison King and Briana Tolbert combined to start all but one match as freshmen, making their impact early, while piling up solid rookie numbers. The 5-11 King showed her ability to play a variety of positions, starting 24 games at libero and seven games at outside hitter opposite Sanders in the rotation. King piled up 445 digs, including 3.94 per set, to lead all Big 12 freshmen and rank eighth overall in the league. Tolbert, on the other hand, earned her starting spot at middle blocker and put up great numbers in her rookie season. She ranked second on the team in blocks with 88 and fourth in kills with 198. Along with King and Tolbert three more sophomores saw the court as freshman. Defensive specialist Jordan Rice, setter/defensive specialist Brittany Ridenour, and outside hitter Qian Zhang each contributed to the Bears 18-win season.
"That is a very good group we brought in last season," Barnes said. "They are going to continue to provide depth and compete. With the freshmen coming in behind them, it can make this program very deep top to bottom. We will be able to play a number of people who can compete and help us finish strong."
Rounding out the program is the second-highest ranked class in Baylor history, and Barnes' second top-20 class in the last four years. The 30th-rated player in the nation, Torri Campbell, supremely athletic Zoe Adom and highly-skilled Kiley Sherman will enter with a load of hype and a load of talent. Campbell was named the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year, while Adom and Sherman each earned team Most Valuable Player honors.
"That's how you win games, with good players," Barnes said. "These four coming in can all step on the court, and they are probably the most experienced and best physically in-shape group that we have ever brought in. They are going to be a group, like our senior group, that is going to continue to help this program move forward because they are that talented."
