... - Sports - College - Winthrop University

Saturday, Sep. 06, 2008

Sitzmann a key element in Eagles' attack

Winthrop's volleyball team faces N.C. Central at 10 a.m. and Morehead State at 7 p.m. today at the Winthrop Coliseum in the second day of the Hilton Garden Inn Winthrop Volleyball Classic.

When coach Sally Polhamus arrived at Winthrop two years ago, she knew she would have Shannon Sitzmann as her middle hitter. She'd seen all the stats and knew all the accolades Sitzmann had received.

"I met Shannon in my office before I ever saw her on the court," Polhamus said. "I could tell just from that first meeting, talking to her, she was so driven."

Soon enough, Polhamus got to see her skills.

"Her jumping ability and explosiveness are what sets her apart," Polhamus said. "Some people are born with athletic ability but never reach their full potential. Shannon uses all of her ability."

Sitzmann was recruited by former coach Joel McCartney. She admitted being uneasy when McCartney left for the coaching position at Georgia after her sophomore year.

"It was definitely scary not knowing what's coming next or who was coming in," Sitzmann said in her easy, confident manner.

"Everyone loved Sally right away. She just eased the gym. Her friendly, positive attitude made it easy."

Sitzmann, a 6-3 senior, has excelled under both.

She's been named to the All-Big South Conference first team her first three seasons. Last year, she added player of the year honors to her resumé.

But things haven't come easily. The conference freshmen of the year, she had to redshirt her sophomore year after tearing the medial collateral ligament and anterior collateral ligament in her left knee while instructing at a volleyball camp.

"It was definitely a challenge to come back from that," Sitzmann said.

The hard work she put in getting back on to the court hasn't stopped. Sitzmann went home to Minneapolis for about three weeks over the summer. She spent the rest of the break working with the Winthrop strength coaches.

The Eagles will play in the Gopher Invitational on Sept. 19-20. Polhamus purposefully sought out the tournament so that Sitzmann's family could see her play.

"Hopefully, I've improved every year. I know I am stronger," Sitzmann said.

The team is put through a test to measure vertical jump at the beginning and end of every season. From a standing position, the players jump and reach as high as they can.

"The highest I've reached is 10-4," Sitzmann said.

"She wants 10-6," Polhamus said.

Sitzmann said in Winthrop's media guide, "I can dunk a softball" and "I will dunk a volleyball."

The Eagles are off to a 2-1 start, after competing in the Wake Forest Invitational last weekend. Winthrop defeated Norfolk State and Davidson before dropping a match to the Demon Deacons.

"I think we will be a good team," Sitzmann said. "We are young, but the six freshmen we had last year got a lot of playing time. A year of experience has helped exponentially. And the freshmen we have this year are competing for positions."

She is the only senior and as team captain, has taken on more of a leadership role.

"I am a liaison between the team and coaching staff," she said. "I let coach know what the team is feeling and what we need to work on. As a senior on a young team, I try to support everyone and let them know that I've been there."

Polhamus said Sitzmann has been a big influence, especially with two big recruiting classes the last two years.

"Shannon, being a senior, she takes a lot of pride in that," Polhamus said.