2011 Volleyball Outlook

With a core of returning players who have seen game time in close to 900 sets in the last three years, things are looking up for the veteran Saint Mary's volleyball team in 2011. Head coach Toni Kuschel will look to her returning players to help lead the Belles' journey this fall.

Among those returning will be senior Meghann Rose '12 and junior Danie Brink '12. Last fall, Rose became the tenth player in program history to amass 1,000 career digs in just her third year as the Belles’ starting libero. Brink will look to move into the top five all-time in career assists after an injury cut her season short last year. Both players are looking to break into the top five all-time in Saint Mary’s volleyball history in their respective positions. Entering 2011, Rose and Brink are sixth all-time in digs and assists, respectively.

Graduating just one senior from last year's team, the Belles will also return their top two leaders in kills in Stephanie Bodien '13 and Allison Zandarski '13 as well as their top blocker in Christi Wyble '14. During her sophomore campaign last fall, Bodien led the Belles with 231 kills on the year. In her first year with Saint Mary's, Allison Zandarski was second on the team in kills with 162. The junior was also second on the team in blocks with 60 in 2010. Wyble, meanwhile, had team-highs in solo blocks (24), block assists (47), and total blocks (71) during her freshman season last fall.

With eight incoming freshmen looking to contribute complementing the returning core of players from the 2010 season, the Belles will look to make a move up the rankings in the MIAA in 2011.