Season Preview: New-look Volleyball program hopes for similar success under first-year head coach Katie Kuhn
By Tim Glon
| 2020-21 Volleyball Schedule |
ADA — What a difference one year makes.
A year ago, the Ohio Northern volleyball team featured a senior-laden roster with a legendary coach - 29-year head coach Kate Witte.
The Polar Bears went 27-6, won the Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament titles, reached the Second Round of the NCAA III Tournament and finished the season ranked No. 10 nationally.
This season's ONU squad will look very different as first-year head coach Katie Kuhn, one of the program's all-time great players in her own right, takes over the program after nine seasons as an assistant coach.
Her roster will look different with only one starter and five letterwinners returning.
Even the 2020 season won't be played on time, with the abbreviated 18-match slate not starting until March of 2021.
One thing that Kuhn and her squad hope won't change is the success of the program this spring.
Junior Hannah Irmer (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) and senior Paige Hartings (Coldwater) are two-year letterwinners that lead the list of returners for the Polar Bears.
"We have a lot of new faces and many things will be different this year," Kuhn said. "Most of our experience is in the back row. We also have some very talented ladies entering the program and we are very excited about the team we have this year. Our goals as a program remain the same - to win the OAC and continue to grow."
Here is an outlook of the 2020 Ohio Northern volleyball program, by position:
Defense
Sophomore Hannah Hall (Centerville/Alter) is the team's lone returning starter with 24 starts a year ago.
She had 29 aces and 284 digs in 33 matches as a freshman.
Irmer, an Academic All-OAC honoree has 28 career starts to her credit, with 23 of those coming as a freshman in 2018.
She was second on the team with 354 digs a year ago and has 591 in her career.
Junior Ava Lam (Carmel, Ind.) is the third returning letterwinner on the back row.
Lam is a returning Academic All-Conference selection and has 25 aces in 2019.
Sophomore transfer Lea McFadden (Chillicothe/Paint Valley) and freshman Grace Irmer (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) are newcomers to the back row and will likely factor into the rotation.
"We have several seasoned players on the back row," Kuhn said. "Hannah Hall and Hannah Irmer will likely battle for the libero position. We like our talent and depth on the back row."
Outside Hitter
Hartings is the lone returning letterwinner on the front row and is a two-time Academic All-OAC honoree.
She will serve as one of the team captains this year and enters her senior season looking for a larger role after converting 119 kills in 43 career matches.
Senior Christen Ware (Jackson Center) also returns on the outside with two career starts to her credit.
Four incoming freshmen will all battle for starting spots on the outside.
Kaidie Carstensen (Raymond/Fairbanks), Sydney Eggleton (Southfield, Mich./Farmington), Ava Ehlinger (New Carlisle/Tecumseh) and Madeline Gawthrop (New Paris, Ind./Fairfield) have bright futures in the program, according to Kuhn.
"Paige has been a solid OAC performer in her career and we are excited to have her senior leadership," Kuhn said. "Christen is also a senior leader and has been a avaluable part of our program for four years. Our newcomers are very talented and we are looking forward to watching them develop."
Middle Hitter
Senior Hope Williamson (Noblesville, Ind./Heritage Christian) and sophomore Sydney Casey (White Lake, Mich./Lakeland) are the two returners in the middle.
Williamson has five starts, 95 kills and 31 blocks in her career and Casey had a pair of kills as a freshman a year ago.
Junior transfer Melina Woods (Ada) returns to her hometown after two seasons as a regular at NCAA Division I Canisius where she had 326 kills and 54 blocks in two seasons with the Golden Griffins.
Freshmen Kassie Bowmar (Sunbury/Big Walnut) and Delaney Fenton (Rio Rancho, N.M./St. Pius X) will also challenge for playing time in the middle.
"Hope has been a solid presence for us for the past three seasons and Casey has a year of experience in our program," Kuhn said. "We are hopeful that Melina can be another special player in our program and are excited about Kassie and Delaney. We think this is a very talented position for us."
Setter
Junior Kiki Carle (Cincinnati/Mother of Mercy) is the fifth returning letterwinner and will quarterback the Polar Bear offense in 2020.
She has started 14 matches in her first two seasons and had 540 career assists to her credit, including a career-high 55 assists in a win over No. 25-ranked Muskingum as a sophomore in 2019.
Carle will also serve as co-captain.
Carstensen will move from outside hitter to be the backup setter needed.
"Kiki is ready to shine," Kuhn said. "She is very smart and athletic and is a good leader. As her confidence continues to develop she will continue to grow as a player. Kaidie is an outstanding all-around player and can step in as setter if we need her."
Schedule
The 2020 schedule has been impacted greatly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will run from March 12-April 17, 2021.
Each team will play double-headers on Tuesdays and Fridays with each of the other nine OAC schools for an 18-game regular season.
ONU will open its season on March 12 with two matches against Marietta at the ONU Sports Center.
The OAC Tournament will be an 8-team event and will run from April 13-17.
The NCAA has canceled all Fall and Winter Championships for Division III in 20-21.