Young Eagles squad ready to take on best in Big South

By Will Parrish - Will Parrish

Winthrop volleyball coach Sally Polhamus fielded one of the nation's youngest teams in 2007. Not much has changed in a year.

Winthrop still has one of the youngest teams in NCAA Division I. But Polhamus, beginning her second season, isn't fretting the small stuff.

The Eagles started the Polhamus-era at Winthrop with a roster that included two seniors, a pair of juniors, one sophomore and six freshmen. One of those juniors -- libero Pohai Nu'uhiwa -- had athletic eligibility remaining, but elected to graduate and return home to Honolulu.

Photo 1: Young Eagles squad ready to take on best in Big South

So this year when Polhamus greeted the Eagles, there was one senior, one junior, six sophomores and five freshmen on the floor. The good news for Polhamus is the eight upperclassmen have plenty of experience, and a solid 20-12 overall record and an 11-1 mark in Big South Conference play to fall back on.

"Yes, it is still a very young team," Polhamus said. "But all of our offensive and defensive systems are in place now and we're going to have depth. We do have some experience to work with and our five freshmen are fighting for starting roles, so it's been very competitive in practice. I do believe all of our freshmen will have an impact this year.

"Last year we didn't have the depth, so we didn't have that person pushing the player in front of them. That's something that's been nice to have this year."

It's also nice that 2007 Big South Conference player of the year, Shannon Sitzmann, is back for her senior season.

Sitzmann, a 6-3 middle hitter, has been a powerful force in the middle on offense and defense. She led the Big South in kills (475) and heads into her senior year with 1,292 total kills.

Her cumulative numbers speak for themselves, but it's her leadership on and off the court that has Polhamus raving.

"She's very driven," Polhamus said. "As a leader, she demonstrates what it takes to excel at the highest level. Her intensity and competitiveness has set the tone for our players in practice and in matches."

Sitzmann, a business marketing major and the team captain, has embraced her role as leader with the same determination and preparation she displays in games.

"It's up to me and (junior) Kelly Taylor to take the younger players under our wing and try to teach and let them know that we're always here to help them out," she said. "I look at it as teaching them through my own experiences."

Most of the questions from the incoming first-year players are about the adjustments from high school to the total college experience.

"They're finding out very quickly that it's a lot different," Sitzmann said. "Time management is probably the most difficult thing they'll have to learn.

"(College) is a shocking experience. You have to learn how to take care of your body and knowing what you can and cannot handle. You have to eat the right kind of food and make sure you get the right amount of sleep."

Taylor, a 6-1 right side hitter, had an outstanding sophomore season with 355 kills and the second best attack percentage on the team.

Sophomore Kelsey Hall started all 32 matches as a freshman and ranked fourth among BSC setters with 11.44 assists per game. Freshman Chrissie Albers should also see time at setter.

The Eagles also return one of their top outside hitters in 6-0 sophomore Kellie Sellers, along with sophomore outside hitter Kaley Viola and second-year middle hitter Sara Felts.

Two other sophomores -- right side hitter Kelsey Harrison and defensive specialist/libero Ginnie Talley -- return after injury-plagued years. Harrison was injured for most of last year and missed spring practice due to a broken leg, while Talley was limited to just three games.

Talley will be battling for playing time with freshman Janice Rivera for the starting libero position.

Other first-year players expected to deliver early are Lauren Huber, who has the ability to play the middle, outside and right side hitter positions, 6-3 Brittany Blackman and athletic 6-2 leaper Becca Toor.

This year, the Eagles open with four straight tournament appearances that start Friday at the Wake Forest Invitational, where they'll face Norfolk State, Davidson and the host Demon Deacons.

"We start out again with a very tough pre-conference schedule," Polhamus said. "Obviously, that's a measuring stick for where we are at a national level. We'll see lots of different conferences and two teams (No. 16 Minnesota and No. 19 Clemson) that begin the season ranked nationally."

Winthrop had won five straight Big South Conference tournament titles heading into last season, but lost to Liberty 3-0 in the 2007 finals.

Even with such a young team, Polhamus feels her Eagles have what it takes to start another streak.