First-year head coach Mike Gaffaney leads the Beacons into the 2008 season.
EUGENE, Ore. - The Northwest Christian University volleyball team opened up training camp on Monday as they prepare for a season of change. Mike Gaffaney begins his reign at the helm of the volleyball program, ready to lead the Beacons with a new focus, a new offense and a new attitude.
This season the Beacons focus on the opportunity they have to improve with another year under their belts. A core group of five upperclassmen are entering their third year with the team, which itself has only been around since 2006. The leadership will be key for a team having their second go in the Cascade Collegiate Conference where they finished 6-14 a year ago.
According to Coach Gaffaney, “Our single most important goal this season will be to compete for every point. We want to feel we focused our efforts, regardless of the final score. If we do that, then the wins will come. We know we are capable of competing in this conference and that gives us a higher sense of purpose going into the season.”
While still a relatively young team, this will be the first year that the volleyball program will graduate senior athletes. Gaffaney’s first order of business was to call upon the leadership of the teams two senior outside hitters, Brooke Stribling and Cotie Howard. “Brooke and Cotie have shown a tremendous dedication to conditioning and improving their game over the off-season,” said Gaffaney. “They are leading by example and have set the bar high, which is inspiring to their teammates.”
Stribling is a true impact player for the Beacons, having led the team in kills for two straight years. The All-Conference honorable mention hitter has every reason to feel confident in ending her collegiate career at the top. “This team will rally around Brooke,” said Gaffaney. “And she will have a tremendous cast to support her.”
Howard, a transfer last season from Clackamas CC, played her junior year as a middle blocker, but will move to the second outside hitter spot for her final go ‘round. “Cotie is a versatile player and our new offense will allow her to contribute in a much greater capacity, on offense and as a primary passer in serve receive,” said Gaffaney.
After getting hired to take over the volleyball program in May, Gaffaney had a shortened recruiting season heading into the fall. His efforts have yielded a small but strong freshman class. Gaffaney says, “We only lost a couple of players from the 2007 team and I am excited for the talent that is coming in this year.” Adding to the fold are Kalyssa Koontz, a primary middle blocker from Santiam Christian HS and Whitney Hoff a setter out of Marist High. Koontz will provide a strong presence on the net as an aggressive athlete. Hoff will have plenty of opportunity to contribute out of the blocks as one of the primary setters in Gaffaney’s 6-2 offense.
As training camp began this morning, Gaffaney spoke on the excitement that is building for the 2008 season.
“Training camp will be our opportunity to learn and develop our exciting offense. A high tempo style of play is not only fun to watch, but even more enjoyable to be part of. There is a lot of excitement from the girls, and that excitement is contagious. We are ready for this season to start!”
The Beacons have two and a half weeks to prepare for the start of the season, which begins on August 28th with a home match against Simpson University from Redding, Calif. They will also fine-tune the offense next Tuesday as they travel to Albany for a scrimmage with Linn-Benton Community College.