Once again in 2003, the Penn State women's volleyball team will be a force to be reckoned with in the Big Ten and on the national scene. Head coach Russ Rose, who is entering his 25th season at the helm of the Nittany Lion program, returns a vast array of experienced players, a talented group of newcomers and some unknown commodities to Happy Valley.

"The most important thing about the group of players we have this year is although they may not have the offensive potential to swing themselves out of trouble, this group gets along well, plays hard and has rekindled the faith in the game and in each other," said Rose, who enters the season with a 768-143 record. "We are in a transition phase. We lost some players from last year's team who we were very dependent on statistically. That changed the face of our team, yet we will be a more balanced team this season. Opposing teams may have a tougher time identifying who they need to stop."

With the losses of All-American Mishka Levy, All-Big Ten honoree Robyn Guokas and libero Hilary Sexton, Rose and his staff of Mike Schall and Julie Miller are looking to senior leadership and underclassmen to fill the voids. The squad returns nine letterwinners from last season's 25-8 squad and adds a plethora of young talent who will have an immediate impact on the success of the program.

Outside Hitter

The loss of Levy, a 2002 first team All-Big Ten selection, leaves a hole that can be filled with two experienced juniors in Syndie Nadeau and Ashley Pederson.

"Syndie and Ashley both struggled at times last season," said Rose. "But both had flashes of playing very well. They are the two players coming back who have the most left side experience, and we will look to them to carry a large load for us."

Nadeau started 30 matches last season, ranking third in kills per game with 2.97 and second in digs per game with 2.42, including a career-high 17 digs at Michigan. She recorded a career-best six blocks at Illinois and notched at least one block in 29 matches. She was named the Most Valuable Player of the Penn State Classic and her breakout match came on television against Florida when she posted a career-high 21 kills, one of 16 double-digit kill matches.

Pederson ranked fourth on the team in kills per game with 2.94, also averaging 1.34 digs per game while hitting .221. She posted double-digit kill numbers in 15 matches, including nine of the first 10 matches to begin the Big Ten conference season. She set a career-high in kills with 17 against Wisconsin and notched at least one kill in 32 matches. Pederson recorded two double-doubles last season, notching 14 kills and 12 digs at Michigan State and posting 12 kills and 12 digs against Illinois. She also posted a career-high five blocks against Wisconsin.

Aiding Nadeau and Pederson on the left side will be freshman Ashley Fidler, a four-year letterwinner at Mundelein High School in Illinois. Twice named all-area by the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, Fidler brings size and physical ability to the outside hitter position.

"Ashley is a very physical player," said Rose. "She has a good awareness of the game and she plays hard. We are going to have to be patient with her, however, as she develops first-hand knowledge of how big the block is in the Big Ten. I have confidence that she will handle the big step well."

Freshman Brooke Phillips could also see time on the outside. Hailing from Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, Calif., Phillips led her team to a second-place finish in the CIF Division II Championship in 2002 and second-place in the state finals in 2001.

Middle Hitter

Senior Cara Smith returns to the middle after the best season of her career. Named a second team AVCA All-American, Smith led the squad and the Big Ten in hitting percentage at .423 and was one of Penn State's most consistent performers. She played in all 112 games and 33 matches, ranking second on the team in kills per game with 3.34 and second in blocks per game with 1.21. She recorded at least six kills and one block in every contest, never hitting below .208 in any match.

"Cara was one of the top players in the conference last season, and she is without question the most competitive player on this team," said Rose. "She has the ability to hit a large number of sets from a variety of positions and she is a very strong leader."

Slotted for the other middle spot is freshman Cassy Salyer, who led Smoky Hill High School to the 2001 and 2002 Colorado state titles. The 6-5 Salyer was also a member of the Front Range Volleyball Club 18-Black team that won the 2002 18-Open Junior Olympic National Championship. She was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2002 Colorado state tournament and was named All-Colorado by the Denver Post in 2002.

"Cassy is an individual who is ready to come in and play more mentally than physically," said Rose. "On the same token, she will hit the ball better than a lot of the freshmen middles in the Big Ten. She is an incredible communicator and an individual we have a lot of confidence in. She will make great contributions as a freshman and will become a mainstay in the lineup over the next few years."

Opposite

Senior Erin Iceman came on strong at the end of last season after recovering from ACL surgery performed the previous spring. She played in 16 matches, starting three, and averaged 0.88 kills per game, 1.60 digs per game and 0.19 blocks per game. Possessing a dangerous jump serve, Iceman also dropped in 0.31 service aces per game. She recorded a career-high seven kills twice, including in the NCAA Tournament first round win over Penn.

"This is Ice's last year, it's as simple as that," said Rose. "She had a great impact in some matches last year and she took some big swings when we needed her to. She is a hard worker and a great person to have on the team."

Redshirt freshman Kim Holm is a player Rose believes he can plug in to any three of the front row positions.

"Kim is a player who has good size, takes a good swing and is a good blocker," stated Rose. "I see her playing in each of the front row positions."

Holm led her St. Charles East High School team to the 2001 Illinois state championship. She was also a vital part in her Sports Performance 18-1 club team winning three straight AAU gold medals, from 1999 to 2001.

Setter

Named the 2002 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Sam Tortorello returns to lead the Penn State offense. The sophomore played in 107 games and all 33 matches last season, starting 30. She led the squad with 12.50 assists per game, dishing out a career-high 70 assists versus Wisconsin. She also led the team in service aces per game with 0.35, posting seven multiple-ace matches, including a record seven aces at Fairfield. A well-rounded player, Tortorello ranked fourth in digs per game with 2.10. She also recorded seven kills at Purdue and posted seven blocks against Temple.

"Sam has a terrific feel for the game and she has added a great deal of muscle to her frame by hard work in the weight room," stated Rose. "She is a good blocking setter and has a good serve. Sam is quietly feisty and has always been very competitive."

Senior Jessica Hayden provides additional experience at the setting position. Hayden began last season as the primary setter, recording a season-high 51 assists against Akron. Also having an effective serve, Hayden averaged 0.20 service aces per game, including a three-ace contest against Yale. She led the Nittany Lion team in assists during her freshman and sophomore seasons, tallying 11.57 and 9.17 assists per game, respectively.

"Jessica provides great experience and a needed spark. She is our best server and I expect her to play in every game and find a way to make an impact. I'm proud of how she has handled her career. Although she isn't in the role she thought she would be in, she is still one of our hardest working player in the gym."

Libero

Sophomore Kaleena Walters took over the role of libero midway through last season and is in prime position to maintain the spot. Beginning the year as a defensive and serving specialist, Walters played in 107 games and all 33 matches. She recorded three aces in a match on three different occasions before becoming the libero. There, Walters posted 13 double-digit dig matches, all coming in the last 16 matches of the season. She recorded a career-high 18 digs in the NCAA Tournament first round win over Penn and ranked third on the squad in digs per game with 2.24.

"Kaleena is wired at a good level to play this game," said Rose. "She is a good passer and a very courageous defensive player. She isn't the quickest libero, but quickness isn't the number one necessity in that position. The key is having someone who has great confidence, who other people can play well with, and who has the ability to settle other people down. Kaleena has all of those things and she is a great player to have in our program."

Challenging Walters for the libero position will be freshman Kris Brown. A four-year letterwinner at Wooster (Ohio) High School, the 5-6 Brown was twice named third team all-state and was tabbed the 2001 District IV Player of the Year. Also a member of the Cleveland Volleyball Company club, Brown led her squad to six consecutive Junior Olympic National tournaments.

"I have known Kris since she was 13 years old, and I've wanted her to be a part of this program ever since," said Rose. "She has great charisma, is a great competitor, and whether she plays libero or plays an important role in the back row, she is going to play. She has a good jump serve and she brings a whole different level of passion with her performance that we've missed in the last few years. Kris's passion for the game and skill level will be valuable to us."

Defensive Specialist

Several players will be able to contribute extensively to the success of the program as defensive specialists. Senior Emily Gerega and junior Tabitha Eshleman bring experience and hard work to the gym and both will see time in the back row.

Gerega played in 13 matches last season, averaging 0.44 digs per game. She recorded a dig in five contests, including a season-high three in a three-game win over Morgan State. According to Rose, Gerega's most important skill of the season could be leadership.

"Emily has worked hard every day she has been at Penn State. She leads by example, coming into the gym every day and giving her all."

Eshleman played in all 33 matches, averaging 1.16 digs per game as a consistent defensive player and passer. She recorded a career-high 11 digs at Michigan State and posted at least one dig in 26 matches.

"Tab has played a lot and is a good backrow player and passer," stated Rose. "Last season she was thrown into a different role and she handled it well. She plays hard, has a lot of confidence and is quick to the ball."

Schedule

Matches against nine teams that competed in the 2002 NCAA Tournament, including three that finished the season ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation, highlight the 2003 Penn State women's volleyball schedule. Minnesota, Ohio State and Wisconsin ended the 2002 season ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll while Michigan State, Michigan, Northwestern, Cincinnati, American, Indiana and Robert Morris also received bids to last season's NCAA Tournament.

"The conference portion of our schedule is the hardest for us. We don't have the same experience level that we've had with some other teams that maybe we would have stepped up and played the more traditional powers. We have a competitive schedule in the preseason that will prepare us for the Big Ten."

Penn State holds a 309-69 record over opponents it will face in the 2003 season, including a 204-36 Big Ten record since joining the conference in 1991. The schedule also features two first-time meetings in women's volleyball, as the Nittany Lions will take on Maine and Southeast Missouri State for the first time in series history.

The Nittany Lions travel to three preseason tournaments to begin the year before returning home to host the Penn State Classic. Penn State opens the 2003 slate at the Maine tournament on Aug. 29-30 with matches against Rhode Island, Colorado, Maine and Southeast Missouri State before traveling to Akron to face American, Pittsburgh and host Akron on Sept. 5-6. The Nittany Lions close out their preseason road schedule by traveling to Provo, Utah, on Sept. 12-13 for matches against Rice and BYU in a tournament hosted by the Cougars. Sept. 19-20 features matches against Robert Morris, Brown and Cincinnati at the Penn State Classic.

Penn State travels to East Lansing, Mich., to open the Big Ten slate on Sept. 26 with a 7:00 p.m. match against Michigan State before taking on Michigan the following night in Ann Arbor, Mich. Defending Big Ten Champion Minnesota comes to Happy Valley on Oct. 18 and the Nittany Lions host Ohio State on Wednesday, Oct. 22. Penn State closes out the home Big Ten schedule on Nov. 22 against Wisconsin in a 7:00 p.m. contest.

"The Big Ten is an incredibly difficult conference, and the level of play continues to get better. The balance in the conference has always been one of its strengths. There are some veteran teams that have the ability to beat you on the road and every team has the ability to beat you on their home floor. To me that is what separates the Big Ten from every conference in the country."