The University of Utah volleyball team improved 700 percent a year ago but still isn't satisfied. The Lady Utes are anticipating much bigger things this season.
Meanwhile, BYU begins the year as the team to beat in the nation's toughest conference and ranked in the top 10 nationally, despite the fact it has only one senior on a roster that includes eight freshmen.Both the Utes and Cougars open the season this weekend in the six-team Boise State Invitational.
Utah is coming off a 7-21 campaign, a record most teams wouldn't brag about, but it's a big improvement over the 1-32 mark in 1989.
Ute coach Beth Launiere, in her second-year at the helm, sees the team progressing. "We're looking forward to pretty good things. We've got a lot better depth this year."
Last season Utah had just nine players on its roster, but with the addition of four freshman recruits, this year's team is 12 players strong. Utah's top returnee is senior middle blocker Linda Wilcox, who was a second-team all-WAC selection a year ago.
The Cougars have outstanding talent, are ranked No. 9 in the nation and are picked to defend their WAC crown. It won't be easy, however, as three additional WAC teams are also ranked among the nation's Top 20.
Coach Elaine Michaelis is four wins away from 600 career victories in her 22-years at BYU. Michaelis can reach the milestone with a four-match sweep in Boise, but that task will be more difficult as the Cougar's only senior and defending WAC Player of the Year, Tea Nieminen, won't play. Nieminen had knee surgery on Tuesday and will be out for at least three weeks.
Much of the Cougars' success will depend on freshman setter Charlene Johnson, who was one of the most highly recruited players in the nation last year. Other Cougs to watch are Tumua Matu'u, who was the WAC Freshman of the Year last season, as well as outside hitters Shannan Egbert and Michele Fellows.
"The potential is there for us to have a good team," Michaelis said. "Being a top 10 team is a realistic goal in the long run, but we're not there now."