George Washington University Athletics
GW Volleyball Season Outlook
8/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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Saying the 2014 George Washington volleyball season began on the final day of the 2013 season would be an accurate description according to fourth-year Head Coach Amanda Ault.
After returning to the Atlantic 10 Championship for the first time since 2011, the Colonials knocked off Rhode Island in the quarterfinals in front of a raucous crowd at the Charles E. Smith Center for their first postseason win since 2008.
However, the final result - a loss in the semifinals to VCU - left the Colonials thirsting for more.
"Our postseason experience last year is definitely fueling us this season," said Coach Ault. "Our reaction to that loss is the biggest thing that stands out. Seeing how they dealt with it after we were finished, you could tell that to them, it was not good enough. Now it is about taking those steps to continuing along that path to our goal which is to win the Atlantic 10 Championship."
The 2014 season began in earnest during spring workouts last semester. GW's nine returning players picked up where they left off, making strides on the court in everything from technique to team chemistry.
"2014 definitely started last spring," said Coach Ault. "There was a different atmosphere in the gym. Determination is the key word and it started then with the nine returners. This group really did some great work in their final months on campus. Now, with the four freshmen that we have added - you can tell there is something new. The vision they all share is special."
The group of 13 girls has put together an exhausting preseason filled with two-a-days and sore bodies, but the results are beginning to show as the Colonials are within 24 hours of their season-opening doubleheader on Friday at the GW Invitational.
"Preseason has gone extremely well," said Coach Ault. "These girls have really bonded and come together in these last two weeks, which I think is extraordinary given the circumstances of being such a short amount of time. Now it is a matter of transitioning from practice to live games - and believe me, we are itching to get started."
Breaking down the Colonials by position:
SETTERS
The Colonials will have two capable student-athletes to run the setter position in junior Jordan Timmer and sophomore Emily Clemens.
Timmer totaled 330 assists in her debut season at GW after transferring from Central Michigan. She posted double-digit assists in 12 matches while posting 77 digs.
"Jordan has used her spring and her summer to really put her in a fantastic place," said Coach Ault. "She has worked extremely hard. She stayed on campus all summer and you can really tell the amount of work she has put in and her commitment level to put her in a very good place, not only physically, but mentally as well. The rest of the team has picked up on that."
Clemens paced the Colonials last season with 708 assists across 106 sets along with 10 double-doubles. She earned an Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week nod during her debut season and Coach Ault identifies her experience as a strong part of her arsenal.
"Emily is coming back from a very strong freshman year," said Coach Ault. "She definitely has that background in running the floor and running our pace and connecting with our hitters. It will help her tremendously in the season ahead."
HITTERS
Senior Kelsey Newman highlights the stable of three outside hitters for the Colonials in 2014.
An Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team selection last season, Newman is closing in on 1,000 career kills after totaling 287 winners last season, bringing her career total to 738.
"Kelsey doesn't have to carry a huge load for us this year because we have depth," said Coach Ault. "For us, depth is a very good thing. She is one of our best returning attackers and we expect big things from her. I think she is adding to her game to become more of an all-around player. She has become one of our best serve receivers while improving her defense."
Sophomore Loren Williams looks to build on a solid freshman campaign where she posted 91 kills in 17 matches.
"Loren has taken huge steps since last season," said Coach Ault. "She is very confident on the court. A lot of balls go through the outside position and you are going to get a lot of balls that aren't going to be perfect. But, over the past year she has learned a way to take care of those balls. She is going to play a big role for us this year. Whether she is a six-rotation player or she is there in the front row, whatever it may be, she has more confidence and it shows in her game."
Freshman Aaliya Davidson has put together an impressive preseason camp after a decorated scholastic career. She helped Cass Technical High School to four consecutive city and district championships and was an All-State selection as a senior.
"Aaliya is a very versatile player," said Coach Ault. "She has played middle in high school and for club and has now moved to the outside. It's not her first time on the outside but her versatility helps her game. She is comfortable in the fast tempo and is figuring things out on the outside."
MIDDLES
Sophomore Chidima Osuchukwu returns after a standout freshman season where she was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie squad. The Virginia Beach, Va., native led the Atlantic 10 with a .365 attack percentage and 33 solo blocks while posting 260 kills. She was a two-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week selection and was named to the A-10 All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the season.
"ChiChi is such a powerful presence in the middle of the floor," exclaimed Coach Ault. "She has added so much to her game in this past year that it is exciting to say. Last year she was dominating simply because of her presence and her being a freshman had everyone trying to figure her out. And then the second time through our conference schedule, teams were figuring her out. She didn't have the extra dimensions to her game. She has added new layers now to her game and she can take more of a load on in the front row."
Junior Maggie Skjelbred has played multiple positions for the Colonials in her first two seasons but seems right at home in the middle as the team closes in on the season opener.
"Coming in as a junior we have found the right position for Maggie," said Coach Ault. "She is really coming into her own now and is doing some great things in the middle while working very well with ChiChi. It's great to have that competition. Maggie is such a quick and dynamic player that the middle suits her well."
Senior Landon Garvik returns for her final season and continues to be a consistent presence in on the net for the Colonials. She posted a career-high 160 kills in her junior season and will provide consistency in 2014.
"Landon had a really strong year for us on the right side last year," said Coach Ault. "She provides stability for us on the right side, which is so important to have on your right-side pin. She puts up a big block for us and reads hitters well and allows the defense to set up behind her extremely well."
Freshman Emily Newell had a decorated scholastic career at Kenston High School in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and will make an immediate impact in 2014.
"Emily is a real hard-nosed kid and her attitude and her ability to learn and get better helps her tremendously," said Coach Ault. "Although her learning curve might be great right now, because of the pace of the game and learning to run the middle of the floor, she hasn't backed down from it one bit. We can see her getting better every day. Although some things might be unconventional for her right now, she is finding her way onto the floor and picking things up. I'd say it's one of her best attributes."
LIBERO/DS
Junior libero Maddy Doyle returns for her third season in the Buff and Blue and has totaled 698 digs through her first two seasons.
"Maddy is a key part of our serve receive and been very reliable on the back line for two seasons now," said Coach Ault. "She can continue to take more court and broaden her range. The best thing for her so far has been that competition with Christina Porada."
Porada was a two-time All-State selection in the state of Michigan, a PrepVolleyball.com Academic All-American and the No. 1 libero in the state of Michigan at Divine Child High School.
"Christina brings the level of the gym up," said Coach Ault. "She is very trustworthy and she reads the block extremely well. She is a quiet player, we don't hear much out of her, but her actions speak for her game."
Sophomore Natalie Leger returns as a reliable server and serve receive option after appearing in 50 sets in her debut season.
"Nat continues to get better in the gym every day," said Coach Ault. "Her fire and intensity in practice pushes the girls. She is somebody that can come in and have a service run for us. She will be a serve-receive option and a defender in the back row. Her strength is definitely her passion and love for the game."
Rounding out the roster is freshman Jessy Ober of Alamo, California.
"Jessy has been a very pleasant surprise," said Coach Ault. "She came to us late in the summer and having her in the gym the past three weeks, we can tell she is going to add something great to our team. She is a great student of the game and is always trying to figure out a way to win. Whether its reading the block and telling the hitters where to go or putting herself in the serve receive lineup, she sees the little odds and ends that make a big difference. Great court vision and she is not afraid to speak up."
