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Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball Preview: Outside Hitters
8/22/2015 9:59:00 AM | Volleyball
LAFAYETTE – The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns volleyball team has an even mix of returners and newcomers in its group of outside and right side hitters entering the 2015 season.
Headlining the group for head coach Heather Mazeitis-Fontenot is returning starters Sara Mossakowski and Stacey Reilly at outside hitter. The duo started all 33 matches in 2014.
Mossakowski has been a mainstay in the lineup the past two seasons, starting 62 matches. She led the Cajuns in kills last season with 335, averaging a team-best 2.60 kills per set, and registered eight double-doubles.
At 623 career kills heading into her senior campaign, the Frisco, Texas, native is on pace to reach program's rally scoring era career Top 5.
"She's here ready to play," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "She's being a great leader on the floor."
Reilly averaged 1.97 kills and 2.56 digs per set over 33 matches as a freshman last season. She had 14 matches with at least 10 kills and 15 matches with at least 10 digs.
A career-high 20 kills against Little Rock, the most by a Ragin' Cajuns freshman in a single match since 2003, showed what the Houston area native and Concordia Lutheran product is capable of. A developing knee injury, though, would hamper her production in the second half of the season.
"Last year she started lights out and with her injury you could see her play slow down," Mazeitis-Fontenot noted. "Hopefully we can get her back to her original form."
Sophomore Chloe Cordell from Enid, Okla., has caught Mazeitis-Fontenot's eye in preseason camp. She saw time in just two matches a year ago, but may see increased time in the rotation this season.
"She's now finding her zone," Mazeitis-Fontenot remarked. "She's our highest elevating attacker, not only because she jumps well, but because she hits high and has a super-heavy arm swing.
"Now she's just trying to take a little more risks in her shot selection. We want her to do the unexpected and she's learning that and becoming a very nice six-rotation player."
Senior Katey Kyle rounds out the list of returners amongst the hitters. The Blinn College transfer played in 14 matches and 42 sets in her debut season and averaged 2.10 digs per set.
Kyle and freshman Hanna Rovira (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's Academy) are utility players who can play outside, middle or right side.
"We are training them (Kyle and Rovira) in multiple positions," Mazeitis-Fontenot noted. "Because they have the ability, the timing and the on-court knowledge to play all three."
Kyle and Rovira are expected to spend time at right side hitter and will be joined by freshman Tylar Beckham (New Orleans, La.; McGehee School) who moved from outside to right side.
"She (Beckham) is adjusting technically," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "I think she can be a nice right side attacker. She's a big kid with a big block."
McKenzie John transferred after two seasons at NCAA Division II Dominican (N.Y.) College to return home to Lafayette. The Lafayette HS product, an All-American selection in 2014 for Dominican, is the most decorated of the incoming group of hitters.
"She is a phenomenal player who puts more heat on the ball than anyone in our gym right now," Mazeitis-Fontenot stressed. "When she hits you hear it, feel it and know it."
Sophomore Chynna Brooks (New Iberia, La.; New Iberia Senior HS) switched from middle blocker where she worked as a freshman in 2014.
"She is a super gifted athlete who is learning the position," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "But give her a little more time and she will find some playing time. She is so competitive and is one of the hardest working individuals on the team."
The Ragin' Cajuns, entering the eighth season under Mazeitis-Fontenot's direction, seek to build upon a 20-13 showing in 2014, the program's first 20-win season since 1990.
Louisiana opens the 2015 season Aug. 28-29 in Lubbock, Texas, participating in the Texas Tech Invitational. The home portion of the schedule opens Sept. 4-5 with Sawyer Camillo Memorial Volleyball Classic.
2015 Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball Preview Schedule
August 20 - Setters
August 21 - Libero/Defense
August 22 - Outside Hitters
August 23 - Middle Blockers
Headlining the group for head coach Heather Mazeitis-Fontenot is returning starters Sara Mossakowski and Stacey Reilly at outside hitter. The duo started all 33 matches in 2014.
Mossakowski has been a mainstay in the lineup the past two seasons, starting 62 matches. She led the Cajuns in kills last season with 335, averaging a team-best 2.60 kills per set, and registered eight double-doubles.
At 623 career kills heading into her senior campaign, the Frisco, Texas, native is on pace to reach program's rally scoring era career Top 5.
"She's here ready to play," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "She's being a great leader on the floor."
Reilly averaged 1.97 kills and 2.56 digs per set over 33 matches as a freshman last season. She had 14 matches with at least 10 kills and 15 matches with at least 10 digs.
A career-high 20 kills against Little Rock, the most by a Ragin' Cajuns freshman in a single match since 2003, showed what the Houston area native and Concordia Lutheran product is capable of. A developing knee injury, though, would hamper her production in the second half of the season.
"Last year she started lights out and with her injury you could see her play slow down," Mazeitis-Fontenot noted. "Hopefully we can get her back to her original form."
Sophomore Chloe Cordell from Enid, Okla., has caught Mazeitis-Fontenot's eye in preseason camp. She saw time in just two matches a year ago, but may see increased time in the rotation this season.
"She's now finding her zone," Mazeitis-Fontenot remarked. "She's our highest elevating attacker, not only because she jumps well, but because she hits high and has a super-heavy arm swing.
"Now she's just trying to take a little more risks in her shot selection. We want her to do the unexpected and she's learning that and becoming a very nice six-rotation player."
Senior Katey Kyle rounds out the list of returners amongst the hitters. The Blinn College transfer played in 14 matches and 42 sets in her debut season and averaged 2.10 digs per set.
Kyle and freshman Hanna Rovira (Baton Rouge, La.; St. Joseph's Academy) are utility players who can play outside, middle or right side.
"We are training them (Kyle and Rovira) in multiple positions," Mazeitis-Fontenot noted. "Because they have the ability, the timing and the on-court knowledge to play all three."
Kyle and Rovira are expected to spend time at right side hitter and will be joined by freshman Tylar Beckham (New Orleans, La.; McGehee School) who moved from outside to right side.
"She (Beckham) is adjusting technically," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "I think she can be a nice right side attacker. She's a big kid with a big block."
McKenzie John transferred after two seasons at NCAA Division II Dominican (N.Y.) College to return home to Lafayette. The Lafayette HS product, an All-American selection in 2014 for Dominican, is the most decorated of the incoming group of hitters.
"She is a phenomenal player who puts more heat on the ball than anyone in our gym right now," Mazeitis-Fontenot stressed. "When she hits you hear it, feel it and know it."
Sophomore Chynna Brooks (New Iberia, La.; New Iberia Senior HS) switched from middle blocker where she worked as a freshman in 2014.
"She is a super gifted athlete who is learning the position," Mazeitis-Fontenot said. "But give her a little more time and she will find some playing time. She is so competitive and is one of the hardest working individuals on the team."
The Ragin' Cajuns, entering the eighth season under Mazeitis-Fontenot's direction, seek to build upon a 20-13 showing in 2014, the program's first 20-win season since 1990.
Louisiana opens the 2015 season Aug. 28-29 in Lubbock, Texas, participating in the Texas Tech Invitational. The home portion of the schedule opens Sept. 4-5 with Sawyer Camillo Memorial Volleyball Classic.
2015 Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball Preview Schedule
August 20 - Setters
August 21 - Libero/Defense
August 22 - Outside Hitters
August 23 - Middle Blockers
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