This Weekend's Schedule
Kristen Dickmann Invitational at Navy (Tournament Information)
Friday: NSU vs. Nebraska-Omaha, 4 p.m. | Live Stats
Saturday: NSU vs. Navy, 11 a.m. | Live Stats
NSU vs. Hartford, 4 p.m. | Live Stats
NORFOLK, Va. - A disappointing 2011 season, one beset by injuries to a few key players, is now in the rearview mirror for the Norfolk State volleyball team. With most of the team's core players back, and with a highly-touted recruiting class showing plenty of promise, the Spartans are looking to bounce back in 2012 with a season NSU was expecting last year.
Interim head coach Brandon Duvall returns for his third season at the helm. The 2010 MEAC Coach of the Year will attempt to take his seven returning letterwinners – nine returning players all-together – and mix in his six newcomers to create a squad capable of competing for the top spot in the Northern Division.
NSU finished fifth last year in its first season in the division with a 5-7 conference mark, just missing out on the MEAC tournament. The Spartans tallied a 9-16 overall record.
Senior setter Nicole Kessner returns for a fifth year after missing all of 2011 due to a knee injury. Kessner will bring plenty of floor leadership to this year's team while she attempts to return to her 2009 form that saw her earn second-team All-MEAC honors.
“Nicole just brings so much leadership to the team, and she's done a lot to get all of the new players up to speed,” said Duvall. “She's our most experienced player, and having her out on the court is like having another coach out there. She's an excellent floor general.”
Senior Kristen Burt provides NSU with plenty of options at the setter position after taking over those duties for Kessner last season. Burt filled in quite nicely for Kessner but will return to her backup role in 2012. Duvall is also high on 5-6 freshman Darcy Moore, who can be a “program changer,” according to the head coach, and give Kessner a run for her money for the starter's job.
“Kristen's done a good job of connecting with our hitters better and improving her composure out on the court,” added Duvall. “She's more in control, and she's bringing more leadership to her position.
“Darcy is such a great player, and she is a very experienced setter for her age. Her moves are very deceptive, and she has great location and tempo when she's setting the ball.”
Senior hitters Charlotte Armstead and Beatriz Ferreira provide plenty of offensive firepower for the Spartans after finishing 1-2 on the team in kills last year with 2.85 and 2.83 per set, respectively. Armstead will man the middle, while Ferreira is slated to compete on the outside.
“Charlotte is such an explosive hitter,” continued Duvall. “She'll be one of our top scorers, if not the top scorer, this year. She worked hard in the offseason to take her game to the next level.
“Bea is perhaps our strongest athlete and one of our best leaders. She hits a heavy ball, and she has the capability of scoring from both pins.”
Duvall is also expecting big things out of freshmen outside hitters Jessica Johnson and Janay Frazier. The 5-10 Johnson led her Florida high school team to its first-ever playoff appearance while topping 1,000 kills for her career. Frazier, the 5-10 younger sister of former NSU player Jasmine Frazier, was a second-team all-state player in 2011. Duvall believes both players can push for playing time at the outside hitter spots.
“Jessica is a very dynamic player,” Duvall said. “She has a lot of range, has good feet, and adjusts well to what teams are doing.
“Janay has a very good arm, good range and will be one of our top options at outside hitter. She is a perfect fit for our team culture, and she goes out every day ready to prove herself.”
Also looking to bounce back from injury is redshirt sophomore and starting libero Noelle Eagles. After a solid freshman campaign in 2010, Eagles was primed for an even better season last year before concussion symptoms forced her to sit out all but the first two tournaments of the season.
Back as well is sophomore Adriana Ramos, who played outside hitter last year and will battle for time there and at defensive specialist while also serving as the backup libero. She ranked third last year on the team with 2.34 kills per set to supplement the production of Armstead and Ferreira.
“Noelle is our best ball-control athlete, and she reads the court very well,” said Duvall. “She makes the game look so easy.
“Adriana is another one of our ball-control specialists. She has great touch on the ball and maneuvers well on the court. She is also one of our best servers, so we are looking for her to score points there.”
Also back is senior Maatra Henderson, a utility player for NSU who has played both offense and defense for the Spartans in years past. Henderson has shown some good flashes at outside hitter this preseason.
“She has been one of our top leaders this year, and she's one of the hardest workers on the team,” Duvall stated. “She's very explosive and has improved tremendously as a hitter and in her blocking.”
After losing one of the team's better blockers last year due to graduation in Jasmine Frazier, Duvall went out and added a pair of junior college middle blockers with plenty of credentials in 6-2 Goda Jankauskaite and 6-0 Coralie Jarema.
Jankauskaite led her team to the NJCAA Division II national championship in 2011 while earning All-America second-team status. An all-state player in high school, Jarema led her junior college team to an upset of the No. 1-ranked team during the 2010 national junior college tournament.
“Goda is going to bring a lot of size and experience to our team,” Duvall said. “Having missed our preseason camp, she's very eager to come in and prove herself.
“Coralie is a very smooth athlete on the floor and plays well off one foot on offense. She's also one of our most versatile players. She can excel at all positions.”
NSU's other returning letterwinner is sophomore Jasmin Flowers, who has the potential to be a very important component in NSU's blocking scheme after playing more of a backup role in her freshman campaign.
Along with Kessner, redshirt sophomore Kylee Thiim (back) also missed all of last season. Thiim played sparingly in 2010 at her middle blocker position and will play both there and on the right side in this year's offense.
“Jasmin adds size to our front row defense,” continued Duvall. “She's one of our top blockers, and she's improved her footwork a lot from last year.
“Kylee has good ball control and is one of our most versatile players as well. She may be our best all-around player and can easily play the right side and outside hitter positions for us.”
The last incoming player is freshman setter/opposite Angie Darcus. Standing 5-11, Darcus comes in as a preferred walk-on and is expected to see time on the floor throughout the year at the right side hitter spot.
“Angie has good size and strength, has a heavy arm, and can serve so well,” Duvall said. “She has the potential to be a dynamic player, and with her blocking skills is a strong option at setter as well.”
NSU will host a pair of tournaments this season, the Spartan Classic Sept. 7-8 featuring Stetson, Rutgers and UNC Wilmington, along with the Spartan Invitational Sept. 21-22. The Spartans will kick things off at the Kristen Dickmann Invitational at Navy Aug. 24-25 and head to the Robert Morris/Duquesne Invitational Aug. 31-Sept. 1.
The Spartans will take a big trip out west to take part in the Air Force/Colorado Invitational Sept. 14-15. NSU will face, among others, Colorado and Washington State during their time there. Along with the normal six-and-six home-and-away contests between the other MEAC Northern Division foes, NSU will also host William & Mary and Virginia Commonwealth in early October at Joseph Echols Hall.
