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This Week...
Westminster heads for Azusa, California, to take part in the 2009 Cougar Classic hosted by Azusa Pacific University. Westminster will play in the Cougar Classic for the first time in school history this weekend. This will be the first of three trips to California for the Griffins.
They open the tournament on Friday, August 20 with a 1:30 p.m. match against Biola. Friday's action concludes at 6:00 p.m. when the Griffins face San Diego Christian College.
Westminster will face The Master's College on Saturday, August 21 at 11:15 a.m. and end the event with a 3:45 p.m. match against Concordia (Calif.). All matches will be played in the Richard and Vivian Felix Event Center on the west campus of Azusa Pacific University.
The Westminster women's volleyball team is reloaded and ready for the 2009 season. They have spent the offseason building and preparing for another run at the Frontier Conference title and a return trip to the NAIA National Championships. They have added several new players that should all compete for playing time this season.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the 2009 Cougar Classic are $7 for adults and $5 for children and students. You can purchase tickets in advance through the Azusa Pacific Athletics web site at: apu.edu/athletics. They will also be available at the door.
Live Stats
Live stats will not be available for the 2009 Cougar Classic.
Westminster Volleyball Quickly...
•Westminster won six of its final nine matches in 2008.
•This is the first time in four years that the Griffins have opened the season on the road.
•Westminster was 0-9 against ranked opponents last season, including a 0-3 loss against Biola.
Offensive Notebook
Ericka Evans is the top returning outside hitter in 2009. She recorded 1.93 kills per set during her sophomore campaign and has totaled 313 kills during her two-year Westminster career. Evans finished third on the team last season with a .136 hitting efficiency and was tied for the team lead with 36 blocks. A dynamic athlete, Evans spent much of her freshman year of 2007 playing middle blocker.
Kelsey Schaufler returns after becoming the starter at middle early in 2008. With regular playing time, Schaufler finished the year second on the team with her .157 hitting efficiency while recording 35 blocks. She averaged over four kills per set over the final seven matches of 2008 while hitting .232.
Defensive Notebook
Tahnie Blymiller should step right into the libero role after redshirting in 2008. During her freshman year of 2006, Blymiller averaged 4.98 digs per set to lead the team. She spent the 2007 season playing as a defensive sub and recorded 1.90 digs per set. Blymiller has posted double figures in digs 32 times in 66 career matches.
Katie McLintock will also be asked to play as a defensive specialist and/or libero. McLIntock played that same role in 2008 before missing more than a month due to injury. She played in 15 matches and recorded 97 digs, an average of 1.98 per set.
Setting Notebook
Jessica Schmidt joins the Griffins after spending one year with Walsh University. While at Walsh, Schmidt recorded 10.6 assists per set in helping them advance to the NAIA National Championships. She also recorded 44 kills with a hitting efficiency of .352 last season. An all-around player, Schmidt averaged 1.49 digs and 0.40 blocks as well. Her experience running the floor will be key to her success this season.
Megan Evans will look to carry her prep success into her collegiate career. She led her high school team to the school's best finish as a senior, her first as a full-time setter. Her competitiveness and desire to win will help her lack of big time experience in 2009.
Coaches Pick Griffins Fifth
The Frontier Conference released the 2009 Preseason Coach's Poll for volleyball on Tuesday, and Westminster was picked to finish fifth. The Griffins received 25 points in the poll of the eight conference coaches. The Griffins finished the 2008 season in a tie for the fourth spot.
Defending Frontier Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Lewis-Clark State College received seven first place votes and is the preseason favorite of league volleyball coaches to win the league title for the 2009 season.
Next Week
Westminster will return to California, this time to play in the Fresno Pacific Tournament. The Griffins have never been to this event, hosted by the two-time defending national champions. Westminster will face Menlo, Southern Oregon, Cornerstone, and Fresno Pacific over the two days of the event.
