LJS 2016 Season Preview

[Mavric]

Outside hitters

 

Position breakdown: During the spring season this was the position that may have lowered expectations for 2016 – Kelsey Fien graduated and none of the returners seemed ready for a big role – but that changed some with the summer addition of graduate transfer Andie Malloy from Baylor. She could give the Huskers another good all-around player. … Right-side hitter Kadie Rolfzen will have a great chance to become just the second four-time All-American in program history. … Mikaela Foecke led the Huskers with 19 kills and an impressive .385 hitting percentage in the national championship match last season and was the Final Four MVP. … Annika Albrecht is one of the Huskers’ best servers and back-row attackers.

 

Middle blockers

 

Position breakdown: This position could be a major strength for the Huskers, just like it was for the Huskers in the Final Four last season. … Last season, Amber Rolfzen turned her career around with a successful move from right-side hitter to middle blocker, earning second-team All-American honors. She led the Big Ten Conference and ranked fourth nationally in blocking. ... After 1½ years in the program sitting out due to her transfer, Briana Holman will get to play. She was a first-team All-American at LSU in 2014. ... Lauren Stivrins was the No. 9 recruit in the country in the 2016 class.

 

Setters

 

Position breakdown: Kelly Hunter is in her second season as the starting setter, and really has the respect of her teammates and the NU coaches as the team's only captain. How she elevated her play late last season was a big factor in the Huskers’ streak to the NCAA title. … Hunter Atherton is the back-up, taking the spot of Brooke Smith, who is now a serving and defensive specialist.

 

Liberos and defensive specialists

 

Position breakdown: The Husker coaching staff has been working for several years to build a roster with a strong group of defensive subs, and may have it with this group of two scholarship players and two walk-ons. … Justine Wong-Orantes was the Big Ten Conference defensive player of the year last season. … Freshman walk-on Alex Ratzlaff trained with the team this summer, but has since decided to take the season off to focus on her health.

 

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