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2001 Delaware Volleyball Outlook Quick Facts | Outlook      General Information Location Newark, Delaware 19716 Founded 1743 Enrollment 16,000 Undergraduates Nickname Fightin' Blue Hens Official Mascot YoUDee Colors Royal Blue & Gold Affiliation NCAA Division I Conference Colonial Athletic Association Joined Conference First Season President Dr. David P. Roselle NCAA Faculty Rep Dr. John L. Burmeister  Athletics Information Athletic Director Edgar N. Johnson Athletic Office Phone 302-831-4006 Sr. Assoc. Athletic Director Mary Ann Hitchens Associate AD/Programs & Facilities Kate Pohlig Assoc. AD/Business Affairs Scott Eatough Asst. AD/Compliance Sue Groff Marketing Director Curt Krouse Operations Associate Jerry Oravitz Events Supervisor Shane Brey Athletics Development Kathleen Houghton Sports Medicine Physician Dr. Vincent Disabella Head Athletic Trainer Keith Handling Assoc. Head Trainer Joan Couch Assistant Trainer Mike Higgins Assistant Trainer John Smith Strength & Conditioning Coach Russell Barbarino  Sports Information Office Phone 302-831-2186 Sports Information Director Scott Selheimer Selheimer's Home Phone 302-368-8639 Assistant SID Mike Hirschman SID Interns Craig Everett (Volleyball Contact), Jon Markle Everett's E-mail Address ceverett@udel.edu SID FAX 302-831-8653 Blue Hen 24-Hour Sports Hotline 302-831-8139 E-Mail Address 36246@udel.edu Internet Address www.udel.edu/sportsinfo  Volleyball Information Head Coach Shannon Elliott (Miami, Ohio '95) Record at Delaware 15-17 (1 season) Career Record 58-59 (4 seasons) Office Phone 302-831-8606 Asst. Coaches Melissa McLinden (Arizona '85) Sara Pohl (Olivet Nazarene '01) Home Court Barbara Viera Court at Carpenter Sports Building Capacity 1,000 Press Box Phone na 2000 Record 15-17, 8-8 America East (5th Place) All-Time Record 715-459-4 (30 seasons) 2001 Captains Allison Hunter, Kelsey Manning Letterwinners Ret. / Lost 9 / 3 Starters Ret. / Lost 3 / 3 2001 Delaware Volleyball Outlook   A year ago, Shannon Elliott was in an interesting spot. She became the University of Delaware's volleyball coach on June 5, replacing the retired Barbara Viera &endash; a coach that ranks among the all-time leaders in wins. Elliott inherited a program and a recruiting class... a situation that can bring its pluses and minuses. "With the coaching change last year, it took a while for the team and for myself to feel comfortable together. We had many great wins and a number of tough losses. We held our own but in the end we could have been tougher." Cameo Neeman The adjustment period is over and now Elliott, with her first recruiting class under her belt, expects bigger and better things as the Blue Hens move from America East to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). "Moving into a new conference this season will bring exposure at a higher level for this year's team. I am looking forward to the start of this season." The Blue Hens return nine players from last year's squad, only two of which are seniors, and welcome six new faces. That makes for a healthy balance of youth and experience. Of the nine returning, there are four sophomores &endash; including redshirt sophomore Jen Mack, who sat out last year while recooperating from from off-season back surgery. In addition, Allison Hunter, an America East all-rookie selection last year, and Liz Ommundsen played significant time in nearly all of the Blue Hens matches last year. That will help the Blue Hens replace Jennifer Wanner. Wanner, a two-time first-team all-conference selection and a second-team pick as a sophomore, rolled up the numbers as a Blue Hen. She finished eighth in games played, second in kills, fifth in attacks, tied for eighth in digs and third in blocks on the UD career lists. "This year's team will be young but experienced. We have only two seniors, Cameo Neeman and Kelsey Manning. These players can play anywhere on the court and are eager to get the season going." Neeman, a native of Wilmington, DE and a product of Ursuline Academy &endash; the same school Elliott attended, was an All-America East Honorable Mention pick last year. She hit .204 with 293 kills last year. Her 82 blocks last year were second behind Wanner. Manning, a native of Woodridge, IL, emerged last year. After playing in just 58 games as a sophomore, she appeared in 110 games last year with 202 digs, which ranked third on the team. "They both need to be strong leaders for this team." They will likely team with either Ommundsen or redshirt sophomore Sara Kearns on the front line. Ommundsen, a native of Northport, NY, appeared in 84 games as a freshman with 111 kills and hit .112. She also had 51 blocks, third on the team, as a rookie. Kearns, a 5-11 local product out of nearby St. Mark's HS, played in 37 games last year and hit .160. "Sara Kearns will have a large role on the team as a middle hitter. She has worked hard to regain her knowledge, timing, and confidence since sitting out her freshman year." Also returning to the front line are juniors Jessica Bradosky, Michele Maughan, and the aforementioned Mack. Bradosky, a 5-10 native of Huntington Beach, CA, appeared in 47 games last year and recorded 48 kills. Maughan, a product of Edgemont HS and native of Scarsdale, NY hit .125 last year in 50 games, while Mack, a former Delaware State High School Player of the Year, returns after her one-year layoff. She appeared in 46 games during the 1999 season. "Jess is returning from a torn PCL last spring. We hope that she has healed properly because we will need her strength outside. She is the only true outside returning hitter. I think she is ready for the role. "Michele has shown great improvement over this past year. She has increased in strength, knowledge and confidence in herself. She can play both left and right side. That will depend on her." The freshmen class will also add to the front line. Of the six in this year's incoming class, four are 6-0 or taller. Adding that to their club experience makes Elliott not afraid to look at the future. "The freshmen enter with an array of knowledge, skill and desire. They come from all over the country playing for some of the best club programs. They know what it is like to compete on a winning team and I like that. With this team being young, that will only make us stronger in the years to come. These freshmen will have four years to learn each others strengths and play together." Nicole Stuka, a 5-11 native of Saugus, CA, comes to Delaware after earning all-league honors at Hart HS. She will be expected to contribute as an outside hitter. Taylor Govaars is a 5-11 native of Balboa, CA. The Newport Harbor HS product earned District Player of the Year honors last season and was an all-conference selection and a second-team All-CIF selection. She, too, will see time as an outside hitter. Kristin Brooks was a second-team all-conference selection at Laguna Hills HS in California. The 6-0 Brooks will be counted on as a right side as a Blue Hen. Valerie Murphy comes to Delaware after a successful high school career in Virginia. She was named the State Player of the Year last year as her Loudon Valley HS team was a perfect 25-0 in winning the state title. The 6-0 native of Round Hill, VA will play middle hitter at Delaware. Megan Stradler was a second-team all-state pick last year at Susquehannock HS in Pennsylvania. The 6-0 native of New Freedom, PA was also a first-team all-district and all-county pick as her team won four division titles, two district titles and a state title, finishing the season unbeaten and ranked No. 7 in one national poll, during her career. Hunter, a native of Sandy, Utah, returns to the starting setter slot. Last year, the 5-8 Hunter set a UD freshman record for assists with 958. A three-time America East Rookie of the Week pick last year, she also hit .339 with 83 kills and added 201 digs and 49 blocks. Her 42 service aces were second on the squad, one behind Wanner, and ranked her fourth in America East in aces per game. "Allison did everything we could ever ask for last year, especially as a freshman. She is a leader on and off the court." Backing her up will be the aforementioned Manning and freshman Sarah Engle. Engle, a 6-1 native of Yorba Linda, CA who will also see time as a ride side behind Manning, was a first-team all-league and second-team All-CIF at Esperanza HS. The Blue Hens will look to Jackie Vaught as a defensive specialist. Vaught, a local product from Tatnall HS who earned a spot as a walk-on two years ago, appeared in 81 games last year with 62 digs. "Jackie enters this season with increased playing time. She was our go to defensive player last fall and will be again. She is a hard worker who always asks for more." With the new season, comes new challenges in the new CAA.