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2010 Volleyball Team

Volleyball

Women's Volleyball 2010 Preview: Time for Change

Time for Change

Entering his fourth season as the head coach for the women's volleyball program, head coach Scott Davenport turned this spring and summer into his best recruiting class to date in an effort to finish well ahead of the 10th position that was predicted by the coaches in a preseason California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) coaches poll.

Grabbing only two wins in 29 matches, the Toros saw their second win of 2009 come in their second to last game, a 3-0 sweep of Cal State Stanislaus, before falling 3-1 to No. 25 Chico State in the regular season finale, hopefully giving the Toros a glimpse of this year's consistently competitive nature after sending out 2009's seniors on “Senior Day.”

“We learned a lot about preparation, and how our behavior during the course of the season has a major impact,” Davenport begins.

“And we realized that we have to change our behavior to improve week in and week out, and not only when we have a good match or get a win so the newcomers can model the returners from the get-go.

“The core returning players know what we expect of them, and they know what we expect them to teach the  new players.”


The Returners

This year, the Toros return six players and three with redshirt experience on the sidelines, led by five-year senior Ashley Clark and instant offense herself, senior Samantha Maxwell.

Clark, a former CSUDH Presidential Scholar who'll also be embarking on her third term as Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President, was the lone Toro to appear and start in all 29 matches.  She led the team in kills and finished 2nd in kills per game, tallying 5 double-doubles and landing a season-high 23 kills and 21 digs against CS East Bay.

Her value both on and off the floor is immeasurable, and a trait Davenport surely will miss at the season's end.

“Ashley has developed into the best player she can be and is doing everything we are asking of her as a captain, leader, mentor and role mode,” he begins.  “She is the foundation of the program and also has been one of the more productive players on the team, and we expect that from her again this year.”

An explosive leaper, Maxwell started 21 matches in 22 played, leading the team with 3.18 kpg and tallying double-digit kills in nine matches, double-digit digs with six, and garnering five double-doubles.  She landed a personal-best attack percentage against Western Washington, connecting for 18 kills in 34 attempts (.412).

“Sam is a very offensive minded player who hits a very heavy ball, and we are hoping she can come back from her injury and give us the points on the court she did last year,” says Davenport.

Junior setter Cassidy Mangum begins her second full season as the starting setter, looking to improve upon her 6.26 assists per game and total of 570.  She was the only other Toro besides Clark to see action in all 29 matches, starting 24, with her 570 assists bringing her at No. 5 on the Toros' all-time assist list for a single season.  The Victorville native enjoyed two matches with at least 40 assists, and currently sits at No. 10 on the all-time Toro list for career assists with 764.

“Cassidy is going to bring a lot of leadership and knowledge of our offense,” says Davenport.  “She is completely on the same page with our system, and will run our offensive effectively.”

A libero by trade, junior Madison Horsley will also see action as an outside hitter this year, a move that will utilize both her range and leaping ability. The San Dimas native appeared in 28 matches while starting in 18, finished 2nd on the team in aces and 3rd in kills.  She also recorded two double-doubles and 10 double-figure dig efforts, including a season-high 19 digs against CSUEB in the Toros' first win of the season.

“Madison knows the system and will be huge for us this year,” Davenport says.  “She will also bring a lot of energy and leadership to the court.”

A true bright spot for last year's squad, libero Hilary Hougardy came on strong during the season, finishing 2009 at No. 5 in the CCAA in digs per game with 4.0 after seeing action in 27 matches as the libero.  She grabbed 35 digs in the final match of the season to push her to No. 5 in the school's single-match records, while leading the team with 19 aces. 

“Hilary climbed in the rankings last year from being in the bottom of the conference as a libero to being in the top five,” Davenport beams.  “She knows what to expect from our opponents and is very well prepared, and will be able to show our newcomers how to prepare for our opponents and step into that role.”

A senior this year, Cambrea Horn looks to improve upon last season's effort that saw her net 0.40 blocks per game in 18 matches played.  The Fresno native record a season-high four blocks against CSUEB, and six kills twice to end with 41 on the season.

“Cambrea is a proven winner, and someone who knows how to compete,” says Davenport.  “She will bring a very high level of competition to the gym, and will push others to be better.”


The Future

Claiming victories in the southern California recruiting war has been few and far between for the Toros in recent years, but this year continues the positive upswing in finding the best local talent available.

“With the recruits we are bringing in, I think we can compete with the elite teams in the CCAA and challenge them,” Davenport begins.  “I am not sure if we can beat all of them, but with the talent we have, I believe we can end up somewhere in the middle of the pack at the end of the season.”

Freshmen rule this year's recruiting class, with Elaine Hicks expected to provide the most immediate impact.  A 5-11 outside hitter from Elsinore HS, she led the Tigers to four-straight league titles, including three undefeated seasons.

Additionally, two redshirt freshmen in Denise DeVine and Celeste Tuioti-Mariner will be counted on after spending a year in the system and getting rid of the true freshmen jitters.

“Elaine will have an immediate impact and be a marquee player,” Davenport says,” while Denise and Celeste should come out strong to start the season after training with us and knowing how competitive the conference is and seeing what it takes to win in the CCAA.”

Middle blocker Abbey Prusa is another freshman who will be counted on for immediate production this year.  After being named a 1st-team all-league selection en route to leading her squad to a 14-0 season last year, Davenport expects big things from the Simi Valley native.

“Abbey is very dynamic and explosive player with a huge upside, and a lot of room to grow,” says Davenport.  “She will play a big part as well.”


One Step at a Time

Looking forward to no longer being the doormat of the CCAA, Davenport is hopeful with this year's roster, but remains conservatively optimistic after last season's sub-par season.

“It took a number of years to get the right girls in, who have good character and are willing to learn and improve, which is paramount” he begins.

“We are focusing on improving, especially on being a tenacious defensive team that goes after every serve and keeps every ball alive.  We will also run a very fast offense with a lot of speed and a lot of energy, and I hope that this could be the year where we can turn things around and start to be consistently competitive.

“We are light years ahead of where we were at the end of last year, and it's really fun to be in the gym right now.”

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