As the U volleyball team members prepare for their second match of the season, they are learning two things: Injuries are unpredictable, and the Utes are deeper than they have been in a long time.
The Utes square off against Weber State on Tuesday at Crimson Court. First serve is at 7 p.m. Not likely to be playing with the team on Tuesday will be three players expected to have a big time impact in 2005.
Senior Shelly Sommerfeldt continues to suffer from an abdominal strain and wasn’t even able to hit during drills at Monday’s practice. Also expected to be on the bench is senior Danielle Leichliter, whose nagging knee injury has been swelling up.
“It’s a challenge to have our two senior captains over on the side of the court,” U head coach Beth Launiere said. “We’ll have to see what we’re made of.”
Adding to the bad luck is another injury to 2004 Mountain West Conference Libero of the Year Connie Dangerfield. The junior defensive specialist was already expected to be sidelined until mid-September with a rotator cuff injury, but made matters worse when she accidentally dropped a 30-pound weight on her left foot during conditioning. The foot isn’t broken, but the deep bruise had her on crutches at Monday’s practice.
The good news for the Utes is that, thanks to four freshmen and several other newcomers, they are quite deep, leading to increased competition for playing time.
“In years past, the players that start are the good players, and we didn’t have any depth,” junior Amie Tingey said. “Now you know if you slack off one day in practice, your spot is on the line. We are always working hard.”
Formerly Amie Toone-she married in June-Tingey says the ongoing position battles have been fierce, with the friendly rivalry between upperclassmen and freshmen only helping the team.
“Our freshmen this year bring a lot more than freshmen in past years,” Tingey said. “It’s hard for everybody, but at the same time the freshmen are pushing you. It’s competitive, but good.”
The lauded freshman class has already started to rack up awards. On Monday, outside hitter Airial Salvo was named the Mountain West Player of the Week thanks to her 15-kill, 11-dig performance in her first collegiate match on Friday.
While the increased depth is nice, Launiere pushes the points that to be successful the team needs to get healthy-even Tingey has been suffering shin splints-and that no matter how good the youngsters are, there is no substitute for senior leadership.
“I think the rest of the team can probably be OK, but we need Shelly and Danielle back,” Launiere said.
