AUGUST 20, 1998

Sports:

Volleyball looks forward to challenging year

This year’s schedule has tougher non-conference foes than in years past.  The Mountaineers look to improve on their third-place finish in the conference, the worst in Coach Dave Markland’s six-year tenure at Appalachian  State University.

Appalachian finished last year 19-14 with a loss to the eventual champ, UT-Chattanooga in the conference tournament.  “It was nice to have a winning season,” said Markland.  “We beat everyone in the conference except Chattanooga, and no one beat them,” he added.

ASU will face all the normal conference foes with one addition: the College of Charleston.  “We beat them in five sets at their tourney in ’95, but they’ll be in the hunt this year,” said Markland.  The Mountaineers will also have an extremely tough non-conference schedule as they face teams from the Big 12, Big East, ACC and SEC.  “The biggest top teams we will play are Oklahoma, Carolina and Tennessee.  But UNC-Asheville and Radford will also be tough; they both beat us last year,” said Markland.  ASU will also face former conference rival Marshall this year.  ASU gave Marshall a swift kick in their Herd by sending them out of the conference tournament in 1996.

This year’s squad will be very young, with the addition of seven new members, including a junior college transfer.  “We have very good returning players,” said Markland.  ASU will return five starters from last year’s team.

“Our goal is always to shoot for the conference championship.  It’s going to be hard to finish in the top half (of the conference),” Markland said.
Two key players will not be returning this season: Cindy Kolomechuk and Jennifer Rumfeldt.  “Cindy was a setter for us, and Jennifer was first team all-conference selection last year,” said Markland.

The Mountaineers do, however, return two seniors: Paula Levay and Stephanie Young.  “Paula is one of the best players in the conference,” said Markland.  Levay has been selected to the first team all-conference the past two seasons.  “Stephanie is a solid player, and we need her to take her game to another level,” Markland  added.  Sophomore Tiffany White will remain the setter for the Mountaineers.

The battle for the conference championship could just be a replay of the last two years.  Chattanooga has captured the last two championships and did not drop a single conference match last season.  Furman, Davidson, UNC-Greensboro and, of course, Appalachian should contend for the crown.
Appalachian State will have the distinct advantage of hosting this year’s conference tournament in late November.  “For the players, it’s an advantage, but I’m not sure it is for the coach,” said Markland.  “Our players enjoy playing here (at Varsity Gym) and we have the best volleyball following in the conference,” he added.

ASU has a tough season in store, not only because of the level of competition, but because of the amount of travel  slated for the team.

In the month of October, the Apps will play one match at home and will  play eight matches on the road

October’s schedule seems to epitomize the 1998 season for ASU.  The Mountaineers only have 10 out of 31 games at home this year.  Markland said that his opponents have similar schedules, and he added, “It’s not fair to the kids.  I don’t like it at all for the kids in terms of classes.”

The Mountaineers will dig in on September 1 with their Black & Gold scrimmage in Varsity Gym at 7 p.m.  The real season will start on September 4 at Wake Forest in a pair of matches against Oklahoma and former rival Marshall.

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