The Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) released its annual Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll with the Dominican University Stars claiming the top spot in the poll after posting a 21-13 overall record and 10-2 record in the NAC last season to claim a share of the regular season conference title.
The Stars return nine student-athletes from last season’s squad, including Darcy Kammeier (Kirkwood, Mo.), Jacy Lawrence (St. Louis, Mo.) and Kasey Kiepura (Vernon Hills, Ill.). The trio all averaged more than 2.0 points per set while garnering all-conference honors from the NAC coaches.
Kammeier, a 5’8 senior, led the Stars with 331 kills last season and has been the team leader in kills per set since joining the Stars’ roster as a freshman in 2007. Defensively, Kammeier tallied 336 digs, second only to libero Megan Moore. Throughout her career, Kammeier has logged 40 double-doubles, including one career triple-double with 20 kills, 18 digs and 11 aces in a four-set victory over Marian College in 2007.
Lawrence burst on the scene as a freshman last season, posting seven kills and a team-high 15 digs in a three-set win over Judson University in the Stars’ season-opener. Just days later, Lawrence was named the Most Valuable Player at Dominican’s annual Star Classic, as the Stars claimed the tournament championship with a 3-1 record in the tournament. On the year, Lawrence totaled 299 kills, 298 digs and 58 total blocks.
Kiepura, a senior middle, was the Stars’ top presence at the net last season, posting a team and NAC-best 125 total blocks. The 5’9” Kiepura enters her senior campaign in fourth on the Stars’ all-time blocks list with 295 total blocks, just 95 blocks behind Mary Welk for second on the Stars’ all-time list.
“Certainly Darcy Kammeier and Jacy Lawrence have the potential to be the best outside hitting duo in the conference,” stated Christine Paciero, the Stars’ third-year head coach. “More importantly though, is the fact that we return almost the entire starting lineup from last year’s team and have added eight freshmen to round out our roster with experience, athleticism and depth, which will be our strength this season.”
In addition to Kammeier, Lawrence and Kiepura, the Stars return senior Jessica Gallagher (Bourbonnais, Ill.), juniors Evelyn Gamboa (Chicago, Ill.) and Kellie VanVoorhis (Union Mills, Ind.) and sophomore Jessica Guerrieri (Plainfield, Ill.), all of whom played a role in the Stars’ success in 2009.
“The returners have tasted success and are working hard to return to the NAC automatic qualifier match,” commented Paciero. “To come as close as we did before falling in the fifth set with a bid to the NCAA National Tournament on the line, definitely left the girls with a sense of unfinished business.”
Paciero brings in an athletic and determined core of rookies to help the Stars reach the ultimate goal of a NAC tournament championship led by Claire Dezelski (Northville, Mich.), Julie Schulenburg (Springfield, Ill.) and Mary Pollard (Naperville, Ill.).
“This group of freshmen has the potential to be a very special class,” commented Paciero. “Not only do they posses athleticism and size, but experience as well having all competed at a high level in high school and club. They give us quality depth at every position and are challenging our program—players and coaches—to get better every day.”
Dominican will open the 2010 campaign on Wednesday, September 1, playing in a triangular at Lake Forest College, featuring the Stars, University of Chicago and Lake Forest. Dominican will then come home to host the Star Classic on Friday and Saturday, September 3 and 4. NAC play opens on Tuesday, September 14, with the Stars hosting the MSOE Raiders.
