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Volleyball Team 2018
Steve Simoneau

Volleyball Athletic Communications

Season Preview: 5 Things to Know about Hatter Volleyball

FIU KICKOFF TOURNAMENT
WHEN | 10 a.m. Friday vs. Tennessee State | 12 p.m. Saturday vs. Florida A&M | 4 p.m. Saturday at FIU
WHERE | Ocean Bank Convocation Center, Miami, Fla.
LIVE VIDEO | None
LIVE STATS | FIUsports.com/sidearmstats/wvball/
TWITTER | @StetsonVB
TEXT ALERTS | HatCheck

The 2018 Stetson volleyball gets underway this weekend at the FIU Kickoff in Miami.  Before the Hatters take the court against Tennessee State on Friday morning, here are five things you need to know about this year's squad.

1. The Hatters will benefit from veteran experience

Unlike last season when the newcomers outnumbered the returners, Stetson will have 11 returners competing in 2018, including four seniors - Anna Bezhan, Charlotte Earnhart, Hao Jin, and Julie Varga.  The Hatters have also welcomed three newcomers to the team, junior transfer Emily DeStaffino, and freshmen Lindsey Leipold and Alejandra Perez.

Second year head coach Yang Deng said that the team is further along this season than it was at the same point last year.

"The returners are still improving and the newcomers are adding a different style of play, because of their background," Deng said.  "They are still trying to adapt to the system.  However, when you look at the newcomers, they are holding their own.  They are trying to do the right things, but they need to get experience.  You can't teach that.  It takes time."

2. Stetson will have some options at the setter position

Naina Ivanova was asked to step into the setter role last year when preseason injuries limited Karmen Reivik and Jenna Boland.  Ivanova rose to the challenge, starting all 26 matches and collecting over 800 assists on the year.

The Hatters are much deeper at the position this season.  DeStaffino joins the Hatters from Daytona State, where she averaged over 10 assists-per-set last season, and Boland, now a sophomore, is healthy as well.

"Emily adds a lot of consistency at the setter position," Deng said.  "'Nani' did a good job stepping in last year, but at the same time, it's hard to compare a setter who has set their whole life with someone who changed to a setter in the middle of their career.  Those positions are unique and very difficult.  To have three setters is very good."

3. The Hatters' defense should be one of the team's strengths once again

If Ivanova is not setting, she may transition to a defensive specialist, helping bolster an already solid back row led by libero Chelcie Spence.  As a freshman, Spence played in all 26 matches and averaged over four digs-per-set (4.04).  Ivanova ranked second on the team with a 2.83 digs average.  Stetson ranked third among all ASUN teams last year in digs-per-set (15.84).

Leipold and Perez will also add depth at the DS position.

Stetson should also be strong at middle blocker.  Jin, the ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, led the ASUN with 1.14 blocks-per-set last season.  She will be joined in the middle by junior Brianna Schmid, who redshirted last season, and sophomore Rebecca Ingram, who can play right side as well.

4. Stetson will look to sharpen its offense

The Hatters will need to improve on last year's .150 team attack percentage if they are to make a move in conference play.  Junior outside hitter Eva Deisa led the Hatters in kills-per-set (2.62) despite missing the final seven matches due to injury.  She also ranked third on the team in digs-per-set (2.67).  In addition to providing a steady presence in both the front and the back row, Deisa will be looked to as a team leader as well.

"Eva is one of our core players that we rely on for leadership," Deng said.  "In addition to the skill and emotion she brings, we need her to be on the court for her maturity and her communication."

Joining Deisa at the outside hitter spot is Riley Nieporte, Bezhan and Perez.  Varga and Earnhart will look to contribute on the right side.

"We have a lot of options, but there is no single person stats-wise putting balls away as well as we want," Deng said.  "It is probably going to come down to who can function better, and it might depend on the game.  It will take an overall team effort, but we have the maturity to do it.  We have that mindset that we can't rely on just one person."

5. Consistency is Crucial

Deng noted that with several Hatters coming back from injuries or sliding to new positions, along with the addition of the newcomers, the team is still learning to play together.  She is looking at the four preseason tournaments as an opportunity for the players to get more comfortable with each other on the court.

"The individual skill is there but gears are not really biting each other yet," Deng said.  "Consistency will be a huge question for us.  Can we consistently perform at a high level?  Consistency and knowing how to play together is going to be the challenge.  If we learn to do those things, we could make a huge jump."

Stetson will face Tennessee State, Florida A&M and FIU in this weekend's season-opening tournament.  FIU will provide live stats of all the matches on their website.  Postgame coverage can be found on GoHatters.com.

Fans can follow the Hatters all season long on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For immediate updates on news and scores, fans can sign up for the HatCheck text messaging service.

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.


 
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Players Mentioned

Karmen Reivik

#5 Karmen Reivik

S
5' 11"
Sophomore
Anna Bezhan

#7 Anna Bezhan

OH
5' 10"
Senior
Jenna Boland

#1 Jenna Boland

S
5' 10"
Sophomore
Eva Deisa

#23 Eva Deisa

OH
5' 10"
Junior
Charlotte Earnhart

#10 Charlotte Earnhart

OH/RS
5' 10"
Senior
Rebecca Ingram

#4 Rebecca Ingram

OH/RS
6' 0"
Sophomore
Naina Ivanova

#12 Naina Ivanova

L/S
5' 10"
Sophomore
Hao Jin

#22 Hao Jin

MB
6' 2"
Senior
Riley Nieporte

#8 Riley Nieporte

OH
5' 9"
Sophomore
Brianna Schmid

#2 Brianna Schmid

MB
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

Karmen Reivik

#5 Karmen Reivik

5' 11"
Sophomore
S
Anna Bezhan

#7 Anna Bezhan

5' 10"
Senior
OH
Jenna Boland

#1 Jenna Boland

5' 10"
Sophomore
S
Eva Deisa

#23 Eva Deisa

5' 10"
Junior
OH
Charlotte Earnhart

#10 Charlotte Earnhart

5' 10"
Senior
OH/RS
Rebecca Ingram

#4 Rebecca Ingram

6' 0"
Sophomore
OH/RS
Naina Ivanova

#12 Naina Ivanova

5' 10"
Sophomore
L/S
Hao Jin

#22 Hao Jin

6' 2"
Senior
MB
Riley Nieporte

#8 Riley Nieporte

5' 9"
Sophomore
OH
Brianna Schmid

#2 Brianna Schmid

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
MB