USD Volleyball 2009

Consider six West Coast Conference championships, 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, two trips to the Sweet Sixteen, seven AVCA All-Americans, five wee Player's of the Year...combined with a first-rate coaching staff that has three WCC Coach of the Year Awards, one Olympic Bronze Medal, and a NCAA National Player of the Year...include a beautiful campus, an amazing city and a dedicated fan base, and you have...San Diego Vol– leyball. Over the past 15 years, the Toreros have become a national power in the sport of women's volleyball, and this season the Toreros will look to continue that tradi– tion as they gun for their fourth consecutive West Coast Conference championship and ninth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. "Our goals for the 2009 season are extremely excit– ing, as we defend the West Coast Conference Champi– onship for the fourth year in a row, which will be very challenging," stated head coach Jennifer Petrie. "This -- year's squad is filled with veterans that have high ex– / Jpectations not only in conference, but also for the NCAA tournament at the end of the year." The Toreros are locked, loaded and ready for this sea– son as they return senior All-American outside hitter Amy Mahinalani DeGroot,and All-American candidate Ali Troost. DeGroot took home All-American honors last year after leading the team in kills with 392 (4.22 kps) and was second in digs with 231, en route to be– ing named the WCC Player of the Year. Troost will also be a huge impact player for the Toreros this season, as the junior right side brings back her 221 kills, .291 attack percentage and her first-team AII-WCC distinction from a year ago. "The combined offensive power that Ali and Amy add to our team is tough to stop," said Petrie. "They are two of the strongest attackers not only in our conference, but also in the country. Their experience and leadership will hugely impact the success of our season." Petrie and the coaching staff can also look to a pair of seniors in middle hitter Torey Ellick and libero Kay– leen Webster to provide strong leadership and set the standards for the program. El lick returns after having a break out junior season in which she recorded 195 kills and hit for a .335 clip. El lick also led the team in blocks with 53. Webster was used mainly in the back row last

season, and this season, she will be looked upon to lead the team's defense. As a junior, Webster recorded 159 digs and had three service aces. Another impact player who makes a return is junior middle blocker/outside hitter Ashton Basch. Last sea– son, Basch was moved to the outside after several in– juries hit the team, and in turn she flourished. In her first match in this position, she recorded a career-high 17 kills on a nationally televised victory over WCC rival Santa Clara. It was all business for the remainder of the season for Basch as she finished second on the team in kills with 237, while hitting for a .248 clip and recording 48 blocks. The remainder of the outside hitters are comprised of freshmen in the form of Mariah Jakosky, Amber Tatsch, and Carrie Baird. Jakosky comes to USO after a stand-out career at Mater Dei High School, where she earned back-to-back first-team All-Trinity League honors as a junior and se– nior and was also selected to the All-Orange County team in those same seasons. She also played club vol– leyball for Long Beach Mizuno. Tatsch comes to the Toreros from San Antonio, Tex– as, where she was not only a stand-out on the Ronald