Volleyball replacing program staples with newcomers

The Red Raider volleyball team returns to the court this fall for the 2011 season. Head coach Kyle Van Den Bosch brings back six starters from an impressive 36-2 campaign, but leaves behind a strong 2010 graduating class including three-time All-Americans: outside hitter Hillary Hanno and setter Kaitlin Beaver.
Providing plenty of playing experience and leadership on the court are seniors Kate Boersma and Rylee Hulstein. Boersma, an outside hitter, earned All-Conference GPAC honors last year after hitting .257, averaging 1.8 kills and nearly one block per set.
Hulstein has done great things throughout her career at Northwestern, receiving the accolades of three-time second team All-GPAC, and 2010 honorable mention All-Region. Another outside hitter, Hulstein averaged 1.8 kills per set and 44 ace serves last season.
The bulk of the Raiders versatility is in the junior class, which boasts Jennie Jansen, Jaci  Moret, Heather Goehring and Danie Floerchinger. Jansen, a 2010 second team All-GPAC outside hitter, had the best hitting average on the team last year at .293. She averaged 1.7 kills while totaling 88 blocks. Moret was a strong contributor as the libero last season, averaging 2.4 digs per set. Goehring, an outside hitter with a specialty in serving, recorded an impressive 47 aces in the 2010 season. Floerchinger, a defensive specialist averaged 1.6 digs per set and had the second highest serve receive percentage on the team.
There are some new faces to the Red Raider program who are expected to make an impact immediately on the court. Megan Hutson, a sophomore transfer from the University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA D-II) was a contributing freshman last year as a middle hitter for UNO, hitting .256, averaging 1.5 kills and a team-best one block per set.
Freshman Kaitlin Floerchinger had an outstanding high school athletic career but faces the challenge of setting this season, a position she has never played before.
Other new contributors include middle hitter  Emily Horstman, outside hitter Katelyn Kragt, setter Mikinzie Phillips, libero Alexis Bart, and libero/serving sniper Brandalyn Van Zee.
The Raiders will look to improve more as the  GPAC season approaches and will travel to the Viterbo Tournament in La Crosse, Wis., this weekend.