A season that started with promise ended with a sputter early last December.
The U volleyball team, back-to back champions of the Mountain West tournament, was swept out of the NCAA tournament by the underdog Texas A&M Aggies in the heart of Southern California, bringing a quiet close to a season of adversity and bittersweet success.
After advancing to their first ever Sweet 16 appearance in 2001, the Utes had high expectations going into the following season, despite an offseason turnover that left four voids in the starting lineup.
“We had four new starters on the court and we still won the Mountain West Conference championship and got back to the NCAAs,” coach Beth Launiere said. “So I don’t look at [the season] as a disappointment. Really, it was a great season considering how much we lost.”
Now, heading into 2003, Utah may face an even tougher challenge than it did a year ago. Starter Brenda Beal and all conference star Sylva Strzinkova graduated, while another major contributor, junior Sabine Schulz, returned to her native Germany.
As for the rest of the Mountain West competition-it certainly isn’t getting any easier.
But this time around, the Utes may be better equipped to handle the inevitable adversity.
While Beal and Strzinkova were vital to the team’s success the past few seasons, neither was able to provide the kind of leadership needed on a championship team.
But that is one thing that’s about to change.
While the talent pool isn’t quite as deep as in years past, the team expects to see a vastly improved leadership core, which would more than make up for whatever the team may have lost on the court.
That all starts and ends, of course, with the veterans of the squad, in particular reigning co MWC Player of the Year Kim Turner who, along with junior Lyndsey Henderson, forms one of the best middle blocking tandems in the country.
Turner established herself as arguably the top all-around player in the conference last season, despite position changes that affected her consistency. This season, firmly set in her natural middle blocker position, even more will be expected.
“I don’t think there’s a limit to what she can do,” Launiere said. “I do see her taking more of a leadership role this year. Her leadership is a role-model leadership. She’s not going to be the person that tells everyone what to do. But she’s going to do it, and do it as hard as anybody, all the time. Because she knows what it’s about. She’s been there so many times and she wants to win that MWC championship. She needs to put everyone on her back, and she will do that. She’s ready for that.”
On a team that will be welcoming five newcomers to the regular rotation, Turner will be counted on to be the Utes’ calm center of gravity and to provide leadership for those poised to inherit the program.
But with teammates like senior libero Jackie Morrill alongside her, Turner won’t be alone.
“The thing about Kim and Jackie is, nobody works harder than they do, nobody has a better attitude than they do,” Launiere said.
Perhaps a wild card in the bunch is junior setter Kelsie Kartchner, a two-year starter who has impressed the coaching staff over the offseason, during which she competed with the national A2 team along with teammates Turner and Henderson.
“It was almost like I saw the kid grow up in front of me,” Launiere said. “She’s been such a young setter in this program…but all of a sudden I got there, and she just was a great leader for that group. I was so impressed with the way she took charge and the leadership she exhibited. And it made me realize that she’s ready to be the leader on the court for our team, and she has to do that.”
If Kartchner exhibits on the court what she has shown this spring and summer, it will certainly help prevent the breakdowns that stunted the team’s progress last season.
“[Kim, Jackie and Kelsie] are exactly what you want in leadership positions,” Launiere said. “Your best players have those intangibles. I think they’ll be great leaders. And [senior Taryn Horner] is a real leader, too. Leadership is going to be strong. That was a big part of the problem last year.”
Of course, the Utes still have their fair share of concerns as the coming season draws nearer.
Sophomores Shelly Sommerfeldt and Danielle Leichliter have yet to test themselves in full-time duty, but will be counted on to pick up a lot of slack.
The U coaching staff has also expressed concerns with the team’s depth, a weakness the Utes hope they can survive.
Still, there is plenty of reason for optimism-due in no small part to a renewed enthusiasm and commitment throughout the program.
“I thought that the whole program, starting with me, had to recommit itself and get redirected,” Launiere said. “After we went to the Sweet 16…we kind of relaxed a little bit. But it took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get to where we are. So I wanted to bring that attitude back into the program.”
The Utes spent the offseason focusing on their strength and conditioning, their nutrition and-for the first time in a long time-their mental state of mind.
The team brought in sports psychologist Maria Newton to work with the team on communication, leadership and goal-setting, which the coaching staff believes will go a long way this season.
While the season’s outcome is uncertain, the Utes-loaded with one of the best returning groups of players in the conference-expect to at least contend for their third straight MWC title and yet another trip to the NCAAs.
“I’m as excited going into this season as any season I’ve been for a long time,” Launiere said. “And I think the team is really ready, too. We didn’t like losing in the first round.”