Coaches Dave
and Barb Herron have entered their seventeenth season at Northland International
University. They welcomed back a good core of returners and anticipate the
strength of some newcomers. Captains Ellie Hodak (Senior), Elizabeth Leeds (Junior), and
Melissa Moisant (Junior) will lead the team through the season, which began on August
20. The team will participate in "three-a-day" training sessions
before beginning competition on Thursday, August 25, in the Chicago
area. They then move on to the Great Lakes Christian College Invite in Lansing, Michigan, for the weekend.
Coach Herron
commented, “We really are depending on our captains to set the pace and climate
for our team this year. I believe we are a bit more talented, and if I can keep
from messing it up we should do well! Captains Hodak, Leeds, and Moisant will
need to be productive in their positions.” Coach Herron is also looking for
positive performances from some returners. Junior Chelsea Behn will help as a middle hitter/right side hitter. Sophomore Lauren Mullahy has a year of experience as a right side hitter. Senior Sarah Leeds
is a player that should make a contribution at the net for the Lady Pioneers.
New players
to the team are:
Alyse
Sugimoto: Junior, a transfer student from Clearwater Christian College who will set for Northland;
Bethany
Aynes: Junior, a newcomer to the program who will reinforce the setting lineup;
Allie
Elmore: Sophomore, a newcomer who will contribute as an outside/right side hitter;
Marissa
Hawley: Freshman who comes with good high school experience and good talent;
Valerie
Satuff: Freshman who should should help greatly as an outside hitter;
Mariah
Hannegan: Freshman who comes with good experience and desire from Guam;
Aurora Ness: Sophomore, a transfer student who will be a good addition at
the defensive specialist/libero spot;
Payge
Nelson: Freshman, a utility player who will develop in the system;
Christy
Bose: Freshman from the local area who comes with good skills.
Other
players were yet to be determined, but Coach Herron and assistant Mrs. Herron
feel very good about the abilities that God has granted the team.
The theme
for this year is "Soul Sisters." Coach Herron uses the encouragement from Ephesians
4 for the "Unity of Spirit" and "Bond of Peace" that should be evident in a
believer’s life. He desires to motivate this collection of individuals to
become a unified group, driven to use their abilities as well as they can.
Successful play early on will be more critical than Wins/Losses. The team’s
first home match will be September 9 and 10 on the
Northland campus in the Pioneer Activity Center. Trips to Lower Michigan and central Iowa precede that match.