Scots volleyball ready for new shoes

Release Date: August 25, 2003

MONMOUTH, Ill. – Monmouth College volleyball coach Kari Shimmin will have some big shoes to fill this season with last spring’s graduation of record-setting setter Megan Harris and future Hall of Fame hitter Melissa Jones.

“We can’t really fill their shoes, we’ll just get another pair,” said Shimmin when asked about the loss of Harris’ record 3,109 career assists and Jones, whose 1,325 kills rank her second in school history.

With eight returners from a year ago, combined with 9 newcomers, Shimmin won’t have to break in a brand new pair of shoes at setter just yet, as junior Heather Randall (Biggsville, Ill./Union) has seen action behind Harris the previous two seasons.

“We really will not see any significant changes in the offense with Heather,” said Shimmin. “We have always practiced her and Megan together, so we are very comfortable with her at setter, and she’s an aggressive defender as well.”

Shimmin named newcomers Anna Allred (Mt. Carroll, Ill./HS), Melissa Haverback (Cambridge, Ill./HS) and Heather Giacobazzi (Farmington, Ill./HS) as possible backups for Randall.

Senior Amy Bender (Crystal Lake, Ill./HS), junior Molly Pendergrass (Galesburg, Ill./HS) and sophomore Karissa Murray (Hometown, Ill./Oak Lawn) will form the nucleus of the attackers and could be joined in the early season by freshmen Kari Jefferson (Augusta, Ill./Southeastern) and Yvonne Sample (Jacksonville, Ill./Routt).

Junior Kristen Hodgeman (Galesburg, Ill./HS) and sophomore Miranda Mathisen (Ft. Lupton, Colo./HS) will provide needed support.

Shimmin thinks the Scots will be in good shape defensively with the return of two defensive specialists - senior Heather Burrows (Lewistown, Ill./HS) and junior Maria Shepard (Delavan, Ill./HS).

A record-setting server, junior Emily Berry (Lewistown, Ill./HS) returns to the lineup. Berry established the team record for ace serves in a three-game match when she posted nine of the winners in a game against arch-rival Knox last season.

Rounding out the squad are six freshmen - Brittany Bertell (Grand Ridge, Ill./Ottawa Township); Heather Harkey (LaHarpe, Ill./HS); Laura Orwig (Wyoming, Ill./Stark County) and Ann Sims (Alexis, Ill./HS).

With a good balance of seasoned veterans and talented newcomers, the Scots hope the pieces fit like a comfortable pair of old shoes.