OSU volleyball ready to take the next step

By Brooks Hatch
Corvallis Gazette-Times

The team offices have been relocated and renovated, eight new players have joined the team, and preseason camp was completely restructured to foster team-building and bonding.

But the success of the 2006 Oregon State women’s volleyball program will depend on the one factor that hasn’t changed throughout Terry Liskevych’s long and distinguished coaching career.

The team that terminates, dominates.

“That’s what determines who wins in the Pacific-10 Conference, the best league in America,” Liskevych said last week, speaking from the comfort of his spacious new office. “Ball on the floor spiking, ball on the floor blocking, and service aces. Those three things score points.”

The Beavers open Liskevych’s second season at OSU on Friday, against Oral Roberts at the UNLV tournament. He expects them to be more proficient at spiking, blocking and serving, thanks to the continued maturation of a solid core of returnees and eight athletic, tall recruits.

“We’ve got a couple of kids who can hit the ball hard,” Liskevych said of the five scholarship and three walk-on additions. “They’ve got a long way to go, but they’ve got the physicality this program has lacked. (OSU) has had great all-around skill players, but when it comes to putting the ball down on the outside they’ve not had that, outside hitters who can terminate. I think we’ll have those this year. We feel we have a good, solid group of talented, enthusiastic, great young ladies you can really build on.”

Over the years, the preceding coaches and players built a foundation. Now Liskevych wants to finish the house.

“We want to be very, very good. With that, you have to change mindsets, and I feel that being sixth, seventh or eighth in the league kind of was accepted,” he said. “I think we’re going to change that mindset; we already have. The great things that have already happened here this year (in other sports), is a great role model for us.

“Anything is possible if you put your mind, heart and spirit into it to go after it. I think we’re getting that. We’ve got the players who are going to make us better. We’ve got the support of the department, they’ve given us what we need. It’s up to us to make the strides daily, weekly, monthly to put this program on the map.”

The incoming freshmen have added an infusion of speed, height and athleticism to holdover libero Natalie Hooper, outside hitter Kristin Murray and middle blockers Abby Windell and Brittany Cahoon, the returning starters from an 11-13 club that went 7-11 in the Pac-10. The 2005 Beavers had three players 6-foot or taller; the 2006 edition features eight who meet or surpass that milestone.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of the season all eight (freshmen) don’t contribute in some way; four or five will contribute in a big way,” Liskevych said. “There’s a lot of pressure in getting these kids their baptism by fire.”

Cahoon and Windell will also play some outside hitter in an attempt to get more touches for the most experienced players.

“They’ll be able to terminate from different places,” Liskevych said. “We were so dependent on those two playing in the middle last year, I don’t think we utilized their full capabilities, and that’s what we’re going to do this year. We need to maximize (them); you’ve got to get them the ball, and you’ve got to use their experience to help this team. They’ve got to set an example and tone for the younger players.”

Senior Taylor Studzinski and redshirt junior Kristin Murray must lead the way.

Cahoon led the 2005 Beavers in kills (3.21 kpg), blocks (1.04 bpg) and hitting percentage (.287). She’s excited about her impending shifts to outside hitter.

“At first I was kind of nervous,” she said. “But I’m one of those players who can adapt and adjust. Wherever (Liskevych) wants to put me, I’m willing to go play. Just put me wherever.”

The Beavers are spending fall camp at the Alpha Phi sorority house on Northwest 25th Street. The thought is, the team will bond better in a warmer, homier environment than in the more impersonal dorms.

“It definitely has helped,” Cahoon said. “We watch TV together, we eat together ... it’s great, and I love it.”

The 18-player roster should also lead to more competition for positions in practice, as the incoming push for playing time.

“It’s awesome, I get so excited talking about it,” Cahoon said. “The three new liberos, their ball-control is amazing, they’re aggressiveness to go for it all the time. We have five (new) girls 6-foot or taller, they can move, pass and block ... that’s what’s going to helps us, because blocking and serving are the two things we can control. We were the little team in the Pac-10 last year. This year we’re right there with them, it’s exciting.”