Aug. 8, 2007

FAIRFAX, Va. - The 2007 season has brought about many changes for the George Mason women's volleyball team, namely the renovation of Linn Gym following the first four home matches. While the perennial home of Mason volleyball is renovated and expanded, the team will play the remainder of its home schedule at the Field House, as head coach Pat Kendrick will set her squad's sights on a return to dominance in the Colonial Athletic Association.

"The team had a very good spring season, and we were very happy with their progress," Kendrick said. "Hopefully, that success will continue in the fall. "

Joining Kendrick on the bench will be Dottie Porch, who was hired in February as the team's assistant coach. Porch, who comes to Fairfax from Indiana University, was instrumental in developing the Hoosiers' middle blocking corps. She is a former standout player at IPFW as well as at the professional level and she brings a wealth of experience to the Patriots.

After consecutive seasons below .500 for the first time in nearly 10 years, Kendrick will use a mix of experienced veterans and promising newcomers as the Patriots look to return to the top of the CAA standings.

Leading the crop of veterans will be senior outside hitter Jaqueline Kohler, whose outstanding 2006 campaign earned her second team All-CAA honors. The Curitiba, Brazil native led the Patriots' attack all season long, ranking third in the conference in kills per game with an average of 4.33 and sixth in the conference in points per game with an average of 4.80. Kohler also ranked seventh in the CAA with 15 double-doubles. Her play earned her accolades at two early-season tournaments. She was named to the 2006 D.C. Challenge All-Tournament Team as well as the 2006 Brion's Grille Patriot Invitational All-Tournament Team, helping lead Mason to the tournament title.

"Jaque is really looking forward to her senior season," Kendrick said. "She has improved as a player in all aspects of her game. Most of the team really looks to her as a leader, as a senior with her skills."

Two senior liberos, Kristen Byler and Melissa Kryfka, round out the Patriots' fourth-year class. Both will be counted on to contribute heavily on the court, as well as off the court in leadership roles.

"Kristen is a steady performer and has earned a starting spot as the libero," Kendrick explained. "As a senior, she takes her leadership role very seriously. Meanwhile, Melissa is a hard worker, and the most competitive on the team in terms of physical training. She's the `workout queen.'"

The front line attack will be headed by Kohler as well as sophomore outside hitter Rebecca Walter, who will seek to improve on an outstanding freshman season that earned her All-Rookie Team plaudits. Walter, who quickly earned a spot in the starting lineup after an excellent prep career in Australia, ranked second on the team in kills per game and points per game. She averaged 3.38 kills per game and 3.80 points per game, in addition to 2.86 digs per game, which ranked third on the team.

"Bec came to us with a lot of experience," Kendrick said. "She is fiery, and we expect her to continue being a big part of the team's success."

Joining Walter will be classmate Laura Turner, a versatile net player who has shown tremendous improvement in her game. The team's other veteran middle blocker, junior Jourdan Dozier, will use her outstanding athletic ability to help offset the loss of Chantal Bodkin-Clarke, who led the CAA in blocks per game (1.43), as well as the team in attack percentage (.281) in her senior season. Additionally, the middle blocking corps will look to replace Janelle Wilson, a four-year starter who was a productive contributor at the net as well as a strong presence on the team.

"Laura came in as a freshman and played a lot. She has shown big improvement in her strength and ability at the net, while Jourdan came off injury and also showed improvement at the net," Kendrick explained.

Juniors Morgan Connell and Chelsea Kropp each bring a vast array of skills to their respective positions, and will be counted upon heavily in many different roles. Connell appeared in 21 matches in 2006, and according to Coach Kendrick, will continue to see plenty of playing time in various roles.

"Morgan has shown flexibility, as she can play a number of different positions," she said.

Kropp, although not in the starting lineup, saw court time in all but one match last season, and will be a valuable contributor.

"Chelsea has a lot of energy, and she is trying to compete for more playing time at libero, as she moved to that position from the setter spot," Kendrick said.

Redshirt junior Sarah Hipps will rejoin the team in 2007, as the Upper St. Clair, Pa., native will compete for time at the setter spot, after sitting out the season with a redshirt year.

Sophomore Sam Simmonds rounds out the veteran group of Patriots. The second-year opposite hitter from South Australia will be an important contributor.

"Sam has gotten stronger, and she can use the fact that she is left-handed as an advantage," explained Kendrick.

Two newcomers will join the Patriots in 2007, as freshmen Holly Goode and Fernanda Bartels each bring unique experiences to Mason.

Goode, a 6'1" middle blocker and opposite hitter, arrives in Fairfax after a successful prep career at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach. A former basketball letterwinner as well for the Chiefs, Goode's athleticism earned her second team All-Beach District honors, as well as being named offensive MVP in her junior and senior seasons.

"Holly is very athletic," Kendrick said. "She has the potential to play a lot of positions due to her size."

Bartels comes to the Patriots after a standout career in Brazil, both at the Escola Santo Tomás de Aquino as well as for a number of regional all-star teams. Daughter of Blenda Bartels, a professional volleyball player for 13 years, Fernanda has played on championship teams at the national and state levels.

"Fernanda comes to Mason with a lot of experience, and she has been around the game for a long time," Kendrick explained. "She will challenge for time at setter."

Due to a change in the conference scheduling format, the Patriots will have a chance to compete against strong non-conference opposition early in the 2007 season. After opening the year against American, Georgetown and George Washington in the DC Volleyball Challenge, the Patriots will host Villanova before the Patriot Invitational Tournament. This year's event will take place on September 1, featuring Mason, Howard and Lehigh. Following the Patriot Invitational, the team will move across campus to the Field House for the remainder of the season.

Two more tournaments will expose the Patriots to a variety of competition, as they will travel to the University of Pittsburgh and the University of South Florida on back-to-back weekends in September before opening conference play.

"Since the CAA moved to a round-and-a-half conference schedule format, it opened up more opportunities to play in tournaments," Kendrick explained. "Playing at Pittsburgh and USF's tournaments is something that we haven't been able to do in a number of years."

Once CAA play begins, the Patriots will host seven matches against conference foes in the hopes of advancing to the CAA Championships, which will be held November 16-18 at the highest seed's home court. While only the top six teams will qualify for the tournament, Kendrick knows that before the Patriots can make a run at their eighth CAA crown, they must focus on a strong regular season.

"Our goal is to get back into position to compete for the conference championship after doing it for so many years," she explained.