After a productive summer, a preseason which saw competition at all six positions and the season opener on Friday, MSU volleyball head coach Chuck Erbe named his starters at a press conference Monday.
Senior Nikki Colson will start over sophomore Mickey Davis at the setter position. It will be Colson's third straight year as the No. 1 setter.
As a preseason All-Big Ten selection, senior Jenny Rood will hold down the middle position. Erbe was adamant about the position, stating that Rood was the M1 (middle), but sophomore Megan Wallin is M2 and sophomore Brooke Langston is the M3.
People should expect all three to get time in the middle.
"It really feels like I have three starters in the middle," Erbe said.
The starting left outside hitter, a position Erbe feels will be the most important this season, will be junior Kim Schram. In 2002, Schram led the team with 444 kills and a 3.70 kills per game average.
Junior Sara Villwock will back-up Schram, but Erbe feels she still needs to work herself into top playing condition after a shoulder impingement in the spring. Villwock, a transfer from Colorado, took a medical redshirt and sat out most of last season after suffering a foot injury in the Big Ten opener at Minnesota.
"She (Villwock) is still not attacking the ball all-out and with confidence," Erbe said.
After transferring, Villwock was expected to come to MSU and be a factor last season as well as this season. After the shoulder injury and with the team's depth, Villwock will have to get back to her A-game if she wants to crack the starting line-up this season.
The other left side starter will be junior Diana Steplyk. Steplyk, who is Erbe's lone surprise starter, beat out Villwock for the position, and Erbe feels her work ethic and emotion on the floor will help push her teammates.
Starting as the right side outside hitter will be junior Michelle Kopka. This will be the first year the two-time letter winner will start.
Erbe feels his backcourt is strong and deep with senior Emmy Miller, senior Stephanie Knopp and sophomore Marley Bellwood claiming the territory. Miller will start at the libero/defensive specialist positions in the back, but Erbe is confident all three can play either position at any time.
"Emmy is our best defensive player," Erbe said. "Knopp has been our best passer this preseason. I feel like we've got great balance and depth on this team."
The long road home
MSU hits the road this weekend and doesn't return to Jenison Field House for a while.
After playing preseason tournaments at Jenison and Western Michigan last season, MSU will rack up the miles as they play a three-game tournament at Maryland, a two-game tournament at South Carolina, another three-game tournament at Nebraska and a two-game tournament in Washington, D.C.
No news is good news
After a rash of injuries last year, the team managed to stay completely healthy over the summer and so far this preseason. Other than Villwock, Erbe said all players are completely healthy and ready to go.
