BlueGold Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Rooting for the ladies this weekend as they start the season in Cali at the Pepperdine Asics Classic. First up is Nevada on Friday, August 29th at 6:30pm Central, then South Alabama and the host Waves in a day-night doubleheader at noon and 9pm Central on Saturday, August 30th. We'll be counting on another big season from our only senior, outside hitter Sara Pope. Last season's Southland Newcomer of the Year, she was also a First Team All-Southland selection and Honorable Mention AVCA All-South Region Team pick, ORU's first since 2006. She brings the boom. We lost five seniors to graduation, including three key starters, and replacing them won't be easy. Junior Kylie Johnson should step in as the starting setter. She hasn't played the position a lot while at ORU but was a setter in high school and for her club teams. She's replacing Laura Taylor, ORU's career assists leader. Freshman Maggie DiPronio will be given the opportunity to take over the libero position that was filled so honorably by Bruna Silva the past four years. Silva was one of the most decorated Golden Eagles ever, with three First Team all-conference selections and two defensive player of the year awards, one each in the Summit and the Southland. At middle hitter/blocker we should see a combination of players (juniors Jovana Poljasevic and Caroline Arnould and freshmen Shelby Cox and Megan Doran) rotate, with Poljasevic having the edge on getting the most playing time. They will help to fill the shoes of the departed Jessica Pancratz, a Second Team Southland pick last season. We are picked fifth in the Summit preseason coaches' poll. Out of eight teams. We were 22-7 last season with a final NCAA Division I RPI of 96 that was 13 spots higher than the top-ranked Summit League team. Last season was last season, and we lost a lot, so we'll see how the prognosticating plays out. I expect we'll do better than fifth. Out of eight teams. Go Golden Eagles!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORUJason Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Nice synopsis. Megan Doran was very good in the middle during high school and I look forward to seeing her develop over the next few years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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