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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Previewing The 2012 Volleyball Season
August 20, 2012 | Volleyball
Bowling Green, Ohio - Coaching transitions aren't supposed to go this smoothly. When Denise Van De Walle retired after 29 years as the head coach of the Bowling Green State University volleyball team, three-time Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year Danijela Tomic stepped into a situation that most new coaches can only wish for. With 12 returners, including five starters (and libero Ashley Dunn), back from a team that went 19-12 a year ago, the Falcons are positioned for more success in 2012.
“The unique thing about this team is that we have pretty much everyone back,” Tomic said. “For a new coach, that's very beneficial when you inherit an eager and hard working group of players. We had a very productive spring semester where we implemented a new offensive and defensive system and worked a lot on improving our serve and serve receive. We'll be a more mature team and a more balanced team.”
Eleven of the 13 players on the team are juniors and seniors, but much of the success of this team will be determined by a seven-person junior class that could go down as one of the best classes in BGSU history. That group is spearheaded by returning first-team All-MAC right side Danielle Tonyan. Along with Tonyan, outside hitter Paige Penrod, setter Laura Avila, and Dunn all started from almost the moment they stepped foot on campus as freshmen. Lindsey Butterfield, Kaitlyn Skinner, and Libby Dachenhaus have continued to develop and are key members of the rotation as well. Some of them will likely step into starting roles also.
“There's usually big growth from the sophomore to the junior year,” Tomic said. “All across the board, our vertical jumps and strength have improved in the spring, but more importantly our volleyball skills and volleyball IQ have improved significantly.”
Setters
Incumbent starter Laura Avila and sophomore Erica Fullenkamp will fill the setter role. Avila has more experience at the position, but Fullenkamp spent a lot of time on the court as a freshman at a variety of positions. She spent the spring and summer focused solely as a setter.
“Laura has great leadership skills and is well respected by her teammates,” Tomic said. “Her and Erica's court personality and skills complement each other. We will create the system that fits our personnel and it will be interesting to see how their roles develop this year. Erica's setting consistency and the tempo of her sets have been much better and she has been working a lot on her footwork and setting technique.”
Right Side
Danielle Tonyan is a returning first-team All-MAC performer and ranked third in the league in kills a year ago (first in the East Division). Only one player in BGSU program history has recorded 300 kills in all four years of her career, but Tonyan (along with Paige Penrod also) has posted at least 300 in each of her first two seasons.
“Danielle is going to have a really good year,” Tomic said. “She's been working hard and is open to the changes that we have been implementing. She's jumping higher, she's hitting stronger, and her blocking and defense has improved. Our goal for Danielle is to make her a more complete player, a player who can play all six rotations. She has that potential and she is showing that to us now in the gym.”
Lauren Mizgalski, who has struggled with shoulder injuries during her career, will back up Tonyan. Although sophomore transfer Kelsey Bates is slotted to play middle, she would move to the right side if necessary.
“Lauren has improved in the spring, especially when it comes to her blocking,” Tomic said. “We want her to be a dominant blocker and also increase her hitting efficiency.”
Middle
With four players at this position, Tomic has depth in the middle, which is a tremendous luxury. Senior Kari Galen was one of the top players in the MAC a year ago in attack percentage and was the team's leading blocker. Senior Leah Shaw and junior Kaitlyn Skinner are considered two of the most improved players on the team, while Kelsey Bates, a sophomore transfer from Syracuse University, will push for time as well.
“Kari had a strong junior year and we want her to build on that her senior year,” Tomic said. “Leah and Kaitlyn are definitely the most improved of the group. They had a huge spring and continued that into the summer. They are all working very hard and pushing each other in practice every day.”
Outside Hitters
Junior Paige Penrod has the most kills, most aces, and second-most digs in the program over the past two years. She is a complete player who can take over a match in a variety of ways. Again, this year, she will be a focal point both offensively and defensively for the Falcons.
“Paige is a very gifted athlete and she reads and knows the game very well,” Tomic said. “She is our best defender and her speed, reaction, and anticipation is very good. As a six rotation player, we expect a lot from her in serve receive, defense, and as a powerful hitter. Our main goal for her is to increase her hitting efficiency this season, while maintaining a strong defensive presence on the court.”
Lindsey Butterfield and Cassie Berning are both showing strong improvement to push for time on the court. Both players have battled injuries at times during their careers, but are healthy and ready for 2012.
“Lindsey has improved tremendously,” Tomic said. “People will be surprised by her improvement. She is more physical and has increased her vertical by four inches. Moreover, her arm swing has improved and she is just playing on a different level right now. I think she will have a breakthrough junior year. Cassie had a good spring without injuries and is more confident now. She has made improvements in her serve receive and defense which will make her a more complete outside hitter.”
Libero
Juniors Ashley Dunn and Libby Dachenhaus are competing for time as the libero. Dunn has played the role exclusively over the last two years and Dachenhaus has served as a defensive specialist.
“Both of them are working hard,” Tomic said. “They both have the ability to do the job, but it's still too early to say who's going to be a libero and who's going to be a defensive specialist.”
“The unique thing about this team is that we have pretty much everyone back,” Tomic said. “For a new coach, that's very beneficial when you inherit an eager and hard working group of players. We had a very productive spring semester where we implemented a new offensive and defensive system and worked a lot on improving our serve and serve receive. We'll be a more mature team and a more balanced team.”
Eleven of the 13 players on the team are juniors and seniors, but much of the success of this team will be determined by a seven-person junior class that could go down as one of the best classes in BGSU history. That group is spearheaded by returning first-team All-MAC right side Danielle Tonyan. Along with Tonyan, outside hitter Paige Penrod, setter Laura Avila, and Dunn all started from almost the moment they stepped foot on campus as freshmen. Lindsey Butterfield, Kaitlyn Skinner, and Libby Dachenhaus have continued to develop and are key members of the rotation as well. Some of them will likely step into starting roles also.
“There's usually big growth from the sophomore to the junior year,” Tomic said. “All across the board, our vertical jumps and strength have improved in the spring, but more importantly our volleyball skills and volleyball IQ have improved significantly.”
Setters
Incumbent starter Laura Avila and sophomore Erica Fullenkamp will fill the setter role. Avila has more experience at the position, but Fullenkamp spent a lot of time on the court as a freshman at a variety of positions. She spent the spring and summer focused solely as a setter.
“Laura has great leadership skills and is well respected by her teammates,” Tomic said. “Her and Erica's court personality and skills complement each other. We will create the system that fits our personnel and it will be interesting to see how their roles develop this year. Erica's setting consistency and the tempo of her sets have been much better and she has been working a lot on her footwork and setting technique.”
Right Side
Danielle Tonyan is a returning first-team All-MAC performer and ranked third in the league in kills a year ago (first in the East Division). Only one player in BGSU program history has recorded 300 kills in all four years of her career, but Tonyan (along with Paige Penrod also) has posted at least 300 in each of her first two seasons.
“Danielle is going to have a really good year,” Tomic said. “She's been working hard and is open to the changes that we have been implementing. She's jumping higher, she's hitting stronger, and her blocking and defense has improved. Our goal for Danielle is to make her a more complete player, a player who can play all six rotations. She has that potential and she is showing that to us now in the gym.”
Lauren Mizgalski, who has struggled with shoulder injuries during her career, will back up Tonyan. Although sophomore transfer Kelsey Bates is slotted to play middle, she would move to the right side if necessary.
“Lauren has improved in the spring, especially when it comes to her blocking,” Tomic said. “We want her to be a dominant blocker and also increase her hitting efficiency.”
Middle
With four players at this position, Tomic has depth in the middle, which is a tremendous luxury. Senior Kari Galen was one of the top players in the MAC a year ago in attack percentage and was the team's leading blocker. Senior Leah Shaw and junior Kaitlyn Skinner are considered two of the most improved players on the team, while Kelsey Bates, a sophomore transfer from Syracuse University, will push for time as well.
“Kari had a strong junior year and we want her to build on that her senior year,” Tomic said. “Leah and Kaitlyn are definitely the most improved of the group. They had a huge spring and continued that into the summer. They are all working very hard and pushing each other in practice every day.”
Outside Hitters
Junior Paige Penrod has the most kills, most aces, and second-most digs in the program over the past two years. She is a complete player who can take over a match in a variety of ways. Again, this year, she will be a focal point both offensively and defensively for the Falcons.
“Paige is a very gifted athlete and she reads and knows the game very well,” Tomic said. “She is our best defender and her speed, reaction, and anticipation is very good. As a six rotation player, we expect a lot from her in serve receive, defense, and as a powerful hitter. Our main goal for her is to increase her hitting efficiency this season, while maintaining a strong defensive presence on the court.”
Lindsey Butterfield and Cassie Berning are both showing strong improvement to push for time on the court. Both players have battled injuries at times during their careers, but are healthy and ready for 2012.
“Lindsey has improved tremendously,” Tomic said. “People will be surprised by her improvement. She is more physical and has increased her vertical by four inches. Moreover, her arm swing has improved and she is just playing on a different level right now. I think she will have a breakthrough junior year. Cassie had a good spring without injuries and is more confident now. She has made improvements in her serve receive and defense which will make her a more complete outside hitter.”
Libero
Juniors Ashley Dunn and Libby Dachenhaus are competing for time as the libero. Dunn has played the role exclusively over the last two years and Dachenhaus has served as a defensive specialist.
“Both of them are working hard,” Tomic said. “They both have the ability to do the job, but it's still too early to say who's going to be a libero and who's going to be a defensive specialist.”
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