CARDINAL VOLLEYBALL HOME
(http://sports.smumn.edu/volleyball)
Cardinal Roster
Cardinal Statistics
Cardinal Schedule
MIAC Standings
National Polls
2005 Final Record:
3-8 MIAC, 10-19 Overall
Upcoming Events:
Fri.-Sat., Sept. 1-2: at Elmhurst Tournament
Wed., Sept. 6: vs. Stevens Pt. (at Viterbo), 6 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 6: vs. Clarke (at Viterbo), 8 p.m.
Cardinal News and Notes:
Megan Roesler (St. Paul, Minn.) was the Cardinals' representative on the All-MIAC team. Roesler appeared in 10 MIAC matches, recording 108 kills (2.77 kills/game), while boasting a .221 attack percentage, 13 aces, 36 digs and a team-best 26 blocks. … Lisa Engdahl (North Branch, Minn.) finished the season with a team- and career-high 367 kills. … Roesler tallied a career-best 324 kills, while also leading the team in attack percentage (.273) and aces (42). … Amy Benz (Oshkosh, Wis.) ended the season with a team-high 93 blocks, with Carolyn Kiefer (New London, Wis.) dishing out a team-leading 754 assists and Desiree Larson (Blaine, Minn.) adding a team-best 417 digs. … Six of SMU's losses came against nationally ranked teams. … SMU managed just two wins in 11 matches decided by three games. … SMU was 5-5 in four-game matches and 3-5 in matches that went the maximum five games.
Lester faced with another unanswered question,
but Cardinals are eager to prove they have answer
Who's Hot?

Carolyn
Kiefer
754 assists as
freshman
WINONA, Minn. — A year ago, Saint Mary's University volleyball coach had one concern — who was going to replace three-year starter Tessa Stranik as the team's setter?

Seven hundred fifty-four assists later, Lester had his answer: Carolyn Kiefer (New London, Wis.).

As the 2006 season draws near, Lester once again has a glaring, unanswered question: How to replace 568 kills, 119 aces, 977 digs, and 241 blocks — numbers put up by members of the Cardinals' graduated senior class?

"We lost quite a bit — a lot of integral parts of this team for the last several years — there's no question about that," said Lester, who graduated six seniors — including starters Lisa Engdahl, Desiree Larson, Beth Schubert and Amy Benz. "But we've also got a number of young players — Theresa Perrini (Fairway, Kan.), Carolyn Kiefer, Molli Dant (Forest City, Iowa) … — who were significant contributors last year and come into this year with so much valuable playing experience.

"Our lineup is going to have a completely new look this year, but I think we have the personnel to make some real strides in the conference race."

A race the Cardinals never got out the starting blocks for a year ago. Not that Lester would remember — he's already erased SMU's 3-8 conference showing from his memory bank.

And so have the Cardinals.

"We made it clear during spring practice that last year was over and we weren't going to dwell on it," said Lester, whose team missed the conference's post-season tournament for the first time in the tournament's history. "Not making the MIAC Tournament last year was disappointing and getting back into that field is definitely a goal for this group.

"Hopefully everyone used what happened last year as motivation over the summer, but once we took the court for our first practice, everyone's focus was on this year."

Just how do the Cardinals get back on the MIAC's post-season mailing list? Teamwork.

"This team reminds me a bit of the team we had in 2000," said Lester, who coached SMU to its first-ever NCAA regional tournament appearance in 2000. "We didn't really have a go-to person back then, and we don't have one this year. Diane Wood was our offensive leader (in 2000), but we also had four hitters with 300 kills — and I think we have some of that same balance this year, and I wouldn't be surprised if we had another season with four, 300-kill performers.

"Teams aren't going to be able to key on one player to shut us down," continued Lester. "We've got a lot of very good athletes, which will allow us to be very flexible in what we do.

"I think we're going to surprise a lot of teams this year, and that's exciting."