CALDWELL, Idaho – With a pair of All-America outside hitters, along with a quality pool of candidates at both the middle blocker and opposite hitter positions, the College of Idaho volleyball team looks to continue to be one of the more prolific offensive attacks in the Cascade Conference.
Head coach
Liz Mendiola returns second-team NAIA All-America outside hitter
Ashley Pagan – coming off a breakout junior season that saw the Colorado native rack up 462 kills, 530 digs and 53 aces. Her dig total was the most by a non-defensive specialist in the rally-scoring era – while pushing both her career kills and career digs marks over the 1,000 plateau.
She'll be joined as a 6-rotation player by transfer
Phina Leilua. The 5-foot-10 California native began her career at Cal State Fullerton before earning CCCAA All-State and AVCA All-America honors at El Camino College, averaging 4.2 kills, 2.9 digs and 0.5 blocks per set.
"Our outside hitter group is really competitive," Mendiola said. "Ashley does everything so well has not missed a beat in camp. Phina is very similar to Ashley from the sense that she can score, she can play defense, she is a really good blocker and can attack from anywhere on the court."
Senior outside hitter
Mackenzie Keating averaged 1.7 kills per set in her first year with the Yotes after transferring from Division I Niagara University.
Austyn Mauzy had 78 kills and 37 blocks as a freshman on the outside, with true freshman
Kylie Crossland adding to the positional depth after earning All-Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference honors each of the last three years at Buhl High.
"Austyn, Kylie and Kenzie are really good options for us," Mendiola said. "Each of them are 6-rotation outside hitters that can pass and play defense."
The Yotes will have to replace All-American
Taylor Alexander at the opposite pin, but true freshman
Jordyn Boswell has had an outstanding camp and is poised to contend for the starting role. The 5-foot-11 lefty was a 4A All-State selection at Spanish Springs High in Nevada, averaging 3.6 kills and 3.2 digs per set.
Also in the mix is 6-foot-1
Briana Barta – who is doubling as a setter – but is an extremely skilled blocker. Look for Mauzy to also see time on the right side.
"Jordyn is a great all-around player and is extremely smart and will score a lot for us," Mendiola said. "Bri is a talented blocker and will be key for us at the net, while Austyn is a great blocker and has been learning the position and working to increase her range attacking."
C of I will have to replace 4-year starting middle,
Jackie van Vliet – one of only two players in program history with at least 1,000 kills and 500 blocks.
Transfer
Cameron Wallace is poised to make an immediate impact. The 6-foot-1 junior averaged two kills and nearly a block per set last year at Shasta CC, while hitting at a stellar .370 clip.
She'll be joined by returners
Kaydre Thompson and
Danielle Neuman – two players that battled injuries in 2018. Thompson played in just 20 sets last year, but averaged 1.2 kills and 0.7 blocks per set, with Neuman, who will also see time on the right-side, finishing with 67 kills and 46 blocks.
Freshman
Jade Warren will also be in the mix, as the Horseshoe Bend product is the reigning Idaho 1A-Division II Player of the Year.
"Obviously, losing Jackie is tough, it will be hard to fill that hole, but we have a really good group of middles," Mendiola said. "Cameron has been great from Day 1 – she has experience in playing for two years in college – she is so comfortable and has adapted really quickly for us. She has a big block and works so hard to be available all the time to attack. Kaydre, coming off a year where she didn't get to play much – she is extremely anxious. She brings such great energy on the floor, whether it be attacking or blocking. She is so competitive and I think she brings our team to a new level when she is on the court."
The competition for the six spots in the rotation has been difficult for Mendiola to pen down a starting line-up heading into the final week of preseason camp.
"Practices have been super competitive and it's been fun more so than any other year. There are no holes on either side. It is great competition and we haven't come up with a starting group – but when we do, that group is going to be challenged constantly."
C of I opens the season next weekend at the Big Sky Volleyball Challenge in Buttle, Mont.
