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NPU Volleyball Boasts Deep, Experienced Lineup
CHICAGO, IL (September 2, 2003) - With eight members from last year's freshman
class returning and a strong contingent of newcomers entering the
program, the 2003 NPU women's volleyball team will have plenty of
players who can contribute to the team's success.
The Vikings will "have more depth than we've ever had," says head coach
Susan Zimmer, now in her seventh year at NPU. "Last year, everyone was
so young but they all got plenty of experience. And the kids coming into
the program the past two years have all come from talented high school
and club programs."
Three of the returning sophomores, Shannon Zoll of Champaign, Illinois,
Lindsay Reh of El Paso and Amanda Phoenix of St. Louis will provide
offensive punch as outside hitters. Zoll had injury problems a year ago,
but is expected to get plenty of playing time. Phoenix had 202 kills
last fall and Reh had 174, good for second and third on the team, which
finished at 11-27.
Two other outside hitters should help Zimmer right away. Junior Darcy
Enders of Addison led NPU with 227 kills last fall. Freshman Jessica
Smyser of Lenexa, Kansas, missed her senior year of high school
volleyball, but played club volleyball last spring and should be an
immediate contributor.
Freshmen are also expected to start as the middle hitters in Zimmer's
lineup. Six-foot Amanda Mazur of Wheaton is the tallest of the bunch and
should create havoc for opposing offenses with her blocking skills. She
shows a creative side off the court too - she earned an Art scholarship
to the school, said Zimmer.
Rachelle Lipka of Springfield is only 5-foot-8 but Zimmer likes her
quickness in the middle. Lipka played at Springfield Lutheran High
School, which lost in the Class A girls volleyball title game last year.
NPU's captains, juniors Jennifer Williams and Amanda Klufetos, will have
a lot of influence in the team's fortunes this fall. Williams of Chicago
has been moved to setter while Klufetos of Addison is North Park's top
defensive player (known as the libero). Klufetos is just 4-foot-11, but
she made a big impact by earning honorable mention from the College
Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
"Amanda (Klufetos) is the heart and soul of everything we do," said
Zimmer, who enters this season with a 104-118 record at NPU. "And
Jennifer (Williams) does a great job communicating with our hitters."
Sophomores Stephanie Sabaduquia of Chicago and Shari Marcukaitis of
Carol Stream, Illinois, are two other top defensive players who will see
plenty of action in 2003. Sophomore Dayle Dillon of the Evangelical
Covenant Church of Paxton, Illinois is among the other returnees for
Zimmer's team, which opened play against host Benedictine University on
Friday.
NPU opens its home season tomorrow in a 7:30 p.m. match against Trinity
Christian College. The Vikings, 0-7 in conference in 2002, will open
CCIW play on September 19-20 with matches at Millikin University in
Decatur and Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington respectively.
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