USD Volleyball 2006

TOREROS, LOCKED, LOADED AND READY FOR 2006 SEASON

"Christie has the potential to lead the conference in kills , and become one of its top blockers," said Hilliard. "I expect nothing less then her stats improving exponentially this season. " Junior Moira McCarthy returns for her third year as a middle hitter for the Toreros. In 2005, she had the third highest hitting percentage on the team at .275 as she recorded 289 kills in 109 games played. Hilliard said "Moira is one of our most efficient trackers, a bit undersized , but one of the most aggressive play– ers on our team. " USD's next projected starting middle hitter will be Laurel Abrahamson , who returns to USO after a productive sopho– more season and an even more productive spring . Abraha– mson was tied for the team-lead in blocks with 84 last season and recorded 240 kills for an average of 2.12 kills per game and a .277 attack percentage. Hilliard sees her as a possible All– American candidate as well. Lauren McClure also makes her return to the Toreros as a middle hitter after seeing limited time this past season. Hilliard is confident that she will see some court time this season as he expects his entire junior class to blossom in their third year. Middle hitter and newcomer Amy DeGroot comes to USO after a standout high school career at Loyola High School in Frenchtown , Mont. She was named the 2005 Montana Class B volleyball and basketball Player of the Year. She helped her team win the Montana state championship in volleyball en route to a first-team All-State selection. "I am very interested to watch her develop this season ," said Hilliard. "I don't care what state you are in, weather it is Rhode Island, Montana or California, if you are named the state player of the year in two sports, that means you are an exceptional athlete." USD's final middle hitter on the 2006 roster is Torey Ellick who comes to USO after a standout career at San Clemente High School where she helped lead her team to back-to-back undefeated South Coast Conference seasons. She was a first– team AII-CIF selection as a junior and senior and Hilliard feels she is poised to make an immediate impact on the team. ~~~ USD's other All-American candidate, outside left-handed hit– ter Carlson , is expected to make a huge impact on the Toreros in 2006. Last season, Carlson was averaging 5.36 kills per game until she suffered a season-ending injury at the start of conference play. USO was 13-1 before she went down for the season . Carlson was ranked ninth in the nation during Septem– ber in kills with 5.19 per game en route to being selected the WCC Player of the Month. Carlson is expected to make a full recovery and help lead the Toreros through the 2006 season. "I think there are a lot of schools that are hoping she will not be ready," said Hilliard. "She is one of our main passers, is a great server, team leader and is capable of being first-team All– American ." Two-year starter Erin Wiskar makes her return to the court for USO in 2006 . Last season , Wiskar posted 241 kills and

Sure the three-time West Coast Conference Defender of the Year and San Diego's all-time digs leader Jackie Bernardin is gone and so too is All-American setter and all-time WCC assist leader Lindsay Sherburne. But the cupboard is far from bare for the University of San Di– ego women 's volleyball team entering the 2006 season as USO returns two All-American candidates and have the bulk of the 2005 NCAA Tournament team returning , which makes interim head coach Brent Hilliard excited about this teams potential. "I believe that if our team can stay healthy, we will have a good opportunity to compete for and possibly win the confer– ence championship," said Hilliard. Not only will the Toreros have to replace their veteran libero and setter, but USO will also have a change in the coaching ranks as well. Hilliard, USD's top assistant for the past five sea– sons, will take the reigns for this season as Interim Head Coach as USD's head coach Jennifer Petrie is taking the semester off to spend time with her new born son Charles and her two-year old daughter Jane. Hilliard said that he is "humbled by this opportunity. Normally when a coach steps into their first head coaching job it is not for a top-20 program. I know it will be difficult, but I feel that my competitive experience as a player and an assistant coach will carry over and help me to succeed at this level. " Hilliard brings a wealth of volleyball experience to the head coaching position as he has won at the highest levels of vol– leyball. Hilliard was a catalyst for the 1991 Long Beach State men's volleyball national championship team en route to earn– ing the NCAA Player of the Year award . In 1992, Hilliard was a member of the bronze medal wining U.S. Olympic team, and one year later, he helped the U.S. earn a silver medal at the Pan American Games. The Toreros' goals for the season are the same as they have always been, to win the WCC Championship , advance into the NCAA Tournament, and once in the tournament, make it at least one step further in the field then any other USO team has made it. So USD's goal this season , to make it to the Elite Eight as the 2004 squad set the program mark by making it to the Sweet 16. "We have lofty goals, and we don't know where we are going to end up, but we know it will all depend upon us staying healthy and peeking at the NCAA tournament time," said Hilliard. The Toreros will rely on veteran leadership of All-American candidates Christie Dawson and Kristen Carlson as well as nine other returning letterman from last season's NCAA tourna– ment team to help them achieve their goals.