By Eric Stock
NORMAL – Melissa Myers has become used to exceeding expectations.
The eighth-year Illinois State volleyball coach shrugged off last year’s No. 3 ranking in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll and watched as her team dominated the league, finishing with a perfect MVC record and the school’s first regular season and tournament titles in 17 years while claiming a school record 23 consecutive wins.
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“I prefer to focus on the end-of-the year rankings,” Myers said.
ISU has just two starters returning from last year’s club; all-MVC preseason selections Ashley Rosch and Jaelyn Keene, so the Redbirds could feel slighted again. ISU is projected by the league’s coaches, media and sports information directors to finish fifth in the Valley, four spots behind Wichita State.
Myers said she will be leaning on Rosch and Keene to help provide leadership this season.
This group is just new, it’s different,” Myers said. “We are starting over in some ways but I feel we have two great players returning who knew what that experience was like and knew it wasn’t easy all the time.”
Rosch, a senior outside hitter and three-time All-MVC selection said she’s adjusting to becoming more of a leader.
“I’ve definitely been used to being the youngest one, the baby on the team,” Rosch said. “It’s definitely had it’s ups and downs (this season) and I’ve been learning to deal with so many younger players and how to get them to be on Illinois State standards.”
Keene, the American Volleyball Coaches Association North Region Freshman of the Year in 2014, said the early part of the season is all about developing chemistry on the court after playing alongside All-American setter Kaitlyn Early and libero Emily Orrick last season.
“I’m just as confident as I was coming in last year,” Kenne said. “I’m not saying this is going to be easy or I’m going to get this many kills every game. It’s going to be a process to see how well everyone can mesh together.”
The Redbirds open the season on Friday taking on Miami in the Hurricane Invitational, in Coral Gables, Florida.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
