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PITTSBURG —
Pittsburg State volleyball will play in a refurbished John Lance Arena and will feature several new players for veteran head coach Ibraheem Suberu.
Last year, Pitt State opened its season in a tournament hosted by Division II volleyball powerhouse Concordia-St. Paul and played four straight nationally-ranked opponents in Minnesota. This year, Pitt State hosts the Pittsburg State Classic Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.
“Having a young team, the four games will give ourselves a transition into the season,” Suberu said. “With veteran teams in the past, we’ve always gone on the road to prove to ourselves that we can handle the road and that we can come back home to defend home. But, this time around, being very young, we had to review the philosophy of what we’ve done scheduling in the past.”
Suberu added that nominal home court John Lance Arena will be not ready for the Classic and instead Pittsburg High School will be the host site.
Suberu said the Gorillas’ home court should be ready for their Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association opener Sept. 11 against conference newcomer Central Oklahoma. However, Suberu could barely contain his enthusiasm whenever the renovations came up.
“That’s a bonus,” Suberu said. “That’s an exceptional gift from the Whetzels (Alan and Roberta), one that I think all of our players and everybody in our community certainly appreciates.”
Pitt State graduated one player from last year — Kelley Bugler, a transfer from Division I Marshall University — and the Gorillas roster mixes and matches returning players and newcomers.
“We’re about half and half, 10 returning team members with three redshirts and then eight new incoming team members,” Suberu said. “We are doing well with blending our veterans and youth together. The transition is going well for all of our new players and they’re definitely handling all the things we’re throwing at them to speed up their understanding of the speed, time, tempo, rhythm and the competitiveness of Division II volleyball.”
Pitt State returns seniors Brooke Fay and Leah Flynn (three-year letter winners) and juniors Becca Pearson, Kirsten Erikson and Christa McCaw (two-year letter winners), as well as senior Nicole Rockhold.
“They (Fay, Flynn and Pearson) were here as freshmen when we were in the NCAA Tournament last (2009),” Suberu said. “We’re leaning on them for their expertise and I do believe that their focus this preseason has showed a sense of urgency. They’re leading, they’re in front of everything that we’re doing right now and they’re trying to make sure that we return back to where they started from (in 2009).”
Pittsburg State volleyball will play in a refurbished John Lance Arena and will feature several new players for veteran head coach Ibraheem Suberu.
Last year, Pitt State opened its season in a tournament hosted by Division II volleyball powerhouse Concordia-St. Paul and played four straight nationally-ranked opponents in Minnesota. This year, Pitt State hosts the Pittsburg State Classic Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.
“Having a young team, the four games will give ourselves a transition into the season,” Suberu said. “With veteran teams in the past, we’ve always gone on the road to prove to ourselves that we can handle the road and that we can come back home to defend home. But, this time around, being very young, we had to review the philosophy of what we’ve done scheduling in the past.”
Suberu added that nominal home court John Lance Arena will be not ready for the Classic and instead Pittsburg High School will be the host site.
Suberu said the Gorillas’ home court should be ready for their Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association opener Sept. 11 against conference newcomer Central Oklahoma. However, Suberu could barely contain his enthusiasm whenever the renovations came up.
“That’s a bonus,” Suberu said. “That’s an exceptional gift from the Whetzels (Alan and Roberta), one that I think all of our players and everybody in our community certainly appreciates.”
Pitt State graduated one player from last year — Kelley Bugler, a transfer from Division I Marshall University — and the Gorillas roster mixes and matches returning players and newcomers.
“We’re about half and half, 10 returning team members with three redshirts and then eight new incoming team members,” Suberu said. “We are doing well with blending our veterans and youth together. The transition is going well for all of our new players and they’re definitely handling all the things we’re throwing at them to speed up their understanding of the speed, time, tempo, rhythm and the competitiveness of Division II volleyball.”
Pitt State returns seniors Brooke Fay and Leah Flynn (three-year letter winners) and juniors Becca Pearson, Kirsten Erikson and Christa McCaw (two-year letter winners), as well as senior Nicole Rockhold.
“They (Fay, Flynn and Pearson) were here as freshmen when we were in the NCAA Tournament last (2009),” Suberu said. “We’re leaning on them for their expertise and I do believe that their focus this preseason has showed a sense of urgency. They’re leading, they’re in front of everything that we’re doing right now and they’re trying to make sure that we return back to where they started from (in 2009).”
The Gorillas finished their 2011 season 9-22 overall, 6-12 in the MIAA, 6-7 at home and 2-10 away from John Lance Arena. Suberu identified keys to a winning season in 2012.
“Us taking care of the things that we have under our control and doing a better job of it than last year and the previous year,” Suberu said. “Last year and the previous year, we weren’t able to take care of the things that we’re supposed to do better. Ball control was not as decisive as it should have been. . . . You put it on the coach. After all, I’m the one who recruits the players and trains the players. This year, I feel like our players have bought into the ball control aspect of it and I do believe that will pay off significantly for us this year.”
Flynn ranked third in kills last season with 215 and Fay third with 68 total blocks (9 solo, 59 assist). Kills leader Morgan Voorhes and blocks leader Lauren Brentlinger do not return this season — Voorhes transferred to Div. I University of Missouri-Kansas City (where she will be teammates with PHS graduate Skyler Muff) and Brentlinger has been hired on as Frontenac Junior High volleyball coach.
Junior college transfers Paula Okrutna (Fort Scott) and Jordan Rehm (Hutchinson) are both expected to contribute immediately and Pitt State brought in six true freshmen.
“Both (Okrutna and Rehm) have the expertise of having been in the NJCAA and having done well at the college level,” Suberu said, “so the college experience is something they’re not surprised by or their transition’s much smoother, going to classes, traveling, all the things that a lot of freshmen have not done. Those two will definitely be a key as the season rolls around where playing on the road is different from playing at home. For our freshmen, they’re all very athletic and will have an equal opportunity to compete for us. They’re working really hard to transition quickly.”
Four new conference members begin play this season — Nebraska-Kearney, Lindenwood, Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State.
“Deeper, stronger conference,” Suberu said. “Nebraska-Kearney, a perennial top 10 program. Central Oklahoma’s had a great tradition and success in the Lone Star. Lindenwood has been one of the top 25 volleyball programs with great resources and were able to transition really well to Div. II because of the depth of their recruiting base in St. Louis and the resources that they have that are much better than most schools.”
Pitt State hosts its annual preseason scrimmage and autograph session (both open to the public) this morning at Pittsburg High, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
The Gorillas play Illinois-Springfield (10 a.m.) and Northwestern Oklahoma (7:30 p.m.) Aug. 31 and Bemidji State (11 a.m.) and William Jewell (4 p.m.) Sept. 1.
