CARSON -- The 2013 volleyball season will be unlike any other in the history of the program. At least that's the mindset in Carson after the reigning California Collegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year Jennifer Adeva, now in her third season, led the 2012 Toros to unprecedented success.
"It feels great, but the players were really in charge of the transformation and the culture change," begins Adeva, ever humble.
"The veterans really stepped up and showed a lot of leadership, which the program was in need of, and we are really excited about our potential for this season.
"We have some really talented newcomers and a lot of experience and depth from the returners."
Thirteen players return, including 11 letter-winners, after leading the 2012 team to 11 more wins than the previous season to tie for the best single-season improvement in CSUDH volleyball history, and setting a program record with 10 wins in league play that included three-game match sweeps against perennial powers Cal State L.A., Cal Poly Pomona, Chico State and UC San Diego, giving the Toro volleyball fanbase much reason for optimism.
Three seniors and two sophomores will look to guide the Toros to the program's first ever NCAA postseason appearance, but understand the road to that success will be long and arduous.
A pair of 2nd-team All-CCAA selections in middle Whitney Lee and outside hitter Elizabeth Krieger, along with opposite Abbey Prusa and sophomores in setter Dana Brown and libero Korryne Kelley, will set the tone for this season, and are bolstered by a talented group of experienced and hungry teammates, all with the program's history on the line.
Here's a closer look at this year's team, equipped with the potential to be the best in program history:
SETTING THE TABLE
With a plethora of talented seniors making the final stand of their careers, this season's success will rest upon the broad and capable shoulders of sophomore setting sensation Dana Brown, who established the CSUDH single-season record for set assists last year en route to becoming a finalist for the CCAA Freshman of the Year award.
The Bellflower native enjoyed four matches with at least 50 sets and eight with at least 40, also tying for the most double-doubles on the squad with 14 after digging a career high 26 balls at Cal Poly Pomona (Oct 6).
Highly versatile, the lanky 6-footer also finished 3rd on the team in digs, blocks and service aces, and 7th in kills with the highest hitting percentage on the squad at .300. Amongst the league's best, Brown finished 4th overall in sets, including the 3rd-best mark in CCAA matches.
"Dana is a smart kid on and off the court," begins Adeva, of her quarterback. "She knows we have a lot of talented players, which will demand that she run a balanced offense, and this will keep her engaged and on her toes."
Senior Hillary Domecus also saw playing time as setter, finishing with the second-most assists on the team. Additionally, the Vallejo native boasted a season-high 18 digs against Point Loma Nazarene as part of 6 matches with at least 10 digs to add to her versatility.
DON'T MEDDLE WITH THE MIDDLE
An imposing force at 6-2, senior Whitney Lee will look to improve upon a performance that saw her set the CSUDH single-season records for block assists and total blocks en route to earning 2nd-team All-CCAA honors. In the CCAA, Lee finished 3rd in blocks and 10th in hitting percentage in her first full season of competition.
From Live Oak, Lee posted three solo stuffs in three matches, and two solo block efforts in seven other contests, while boasting 18 matches with at least 10 kills including her final five and eight of her final nine to end the 2012 regular season, with an 18-kill effort coming at cross-town rival Cal State L.A. (Nov 7).
"Whitney's strong presence at the net gives us a better opportunity to score," says Adeva. "She is a strong blocker and hits a heavy ball."
Fellow senior Hannah Oros also will compete for playing time after seeing action in 14 matches, including 4 starts. The Roseville native tallied 27 kills on the season for a 1.17 kill per game average, and boasted a season-best seven kills with no errors against UC San Diego (Sep 14) for a 0.636 attack percentage.
LAYING THE HAMMERS DOWN
Senior Elizabeth Krieger will lead a talented group of outsides this year after earning her first-ever postseason accolade, a 2nd-team All-CCAA nod.
Krieger led the team in kills and points, and finished 2nd in service aces and digs. She tied Brown for the most double-doubles with 14, and enjoyed 18 matches with at least 10 kills, and 21 matches with at least 10 digs, including season-bests of 17 kills three times, and 20 digs hosting CS East Bay (Sep 22).
"I expect Liz to continue her overall consistency in both the front and back rows, which will definitely score points for us."
One of two Toros to start all 29 matches and having played 113 of a possible 114 games, Krieger set the CSUDH single-season record for attacks to add to her list of accomplishments. A leader on and off the court, Krieger also serves on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, taking on a third of the Secretary duties.
A pair of junior outsides also will be counted upon this year as Azieanna Smith and Corissa Santos each has her own skill set to contribute.
Last year, Santos averaged 2.00 kills per game after starting 11 matches and entering in 71 games. The 6-0 Sacramento native boasted six matches with at least 10 kills, and a season-best 17 digs coming at CS East Bay (Oct 26), while chipping in 89 digs and 21 total blocks.
Smith, meanwhile, contributed 1.77 kills per game as arguably the best athlete on the team after seeing action in 70 games, adding 49 digs and 18 blocks in her second year as a Toro.
Senior Chelsea Almario also will compete for time on the outside this year after appearing in 17 matches and notching a season-high 10 kills at perennial power UC San Diego in mid-September.
OPPOSITES ATTACK
Possessing all the skills necessary to succeed as an opposite -- height, blocking, hands, passing, quickness -- senior Abbey Prusa will be the focus of the opposite position, using her long 5-10 frame to fluster opponents on the right side as she sees action opposite the opponent's setter.
Last season, Prusa finished with the third most kills and fourth most blocks on the team after making 24 starts in 26 matches and seeing action in 99 games.
"We're counting on Abbey to continue to be dynamic at the net, which will definitely score points for us."
Prusa tallied 11 matches in double-figure kills, saving her best for last as evidenced by a 20-kill performance on "Senior Day" against Chico State. The Simi Valley native also contributed 61 blocks, including seven block assists in the penultimate match of the season.
Brown, Krieger and Domecus also may see time in the opposite position, providing the Toros with depth and experience in that position.
THE LIBERATORS
Sophomore Korryne Kelley established herself as a defensive force in her true freshman campaign, setting the CSUDH match record for digs in the rally scoring era, and the 5th-best single-season dig total in program history. Additionally, she boasted 20 matches with at least 10 digs and served 24 aces, good for fourth on the team.
"Korryne has returned from the summer break fit and hungry to prove herself," says Adeva. "She really wants to win and stay on the court."
Fellow sophomore Kathleen Molina will compete for time as the defensive specialist after contributing a season-high nine digs at Humboldt State (Oct 4) en route to 21 total digs on the year.
FRESH FACES
Head coach Adeva and her staff recruited a quintet of talented and explosive newcomers, with the two freshmen and three transfers all expected to contribute to what could shape up to be a historic season.
A pair of towers in 6-2 Tarryn Luafalemana and Taryn McCullouch will be the seventh and eighth players who stand at least 6 feet tall, with each bringing an imposing skill set.
From Carson, junior outside Luafalemana earned all-league and all-state honors at El Camino College after a prep career starring in both volleyball and basketball. A freshman middle from Cypress HS, McCullouch was named MVP en route to 1st-team all-league honors.
The lone sophomore newcomer, Alijah Gunsaulus returns to her native southern California after a year at the University of New Mexico, leaving a Lobo program after she started 21 of 33 matches with at least 13 matches in double figure digs and 10 efforts with at least 10 kills as an honor roll student, including 20 against Boise State for a total of 6 double-doubles on the year.
Junior defensive specialist and Hawthorne native Sara Robles and true freshman Jilianne Pineda round out the quintet, with Robles' experience at Bishop Montgomery HS and West LA College along with Pineda's league title at power Long Beach Poly both bringing talent and experience to this year's squad.
FOR THE FOURs
For fourth-year seniors Elizabeth Krieger and Abbey Prusa, the November 16 match in the Torodome hosting Cal State Stanislaus figures to be a bit more emotional as it will be the final regular season match ever that Krieger and Prusa play in Carson.
And after a roller coaster four-year run, who could blame them?
The duo has seen it all in their four years, coming from heralded prep programs used to winning consistently to just four wins as freshmen. A summer and new coach in Adeva later, the then sophomores bought into Adeva's system, but growing pains and a seemingly entire new roster tallied just one win in 2011 before last season's turnaround that more than doubled the wins from the previous two seasons, and quintupled the amount of league victories.
"As freshman, Abbey and Liz set out to change this program, and despite their efforts, I would have to say their first two years were a disappointment," Adeva says as a matter-of-fact.
"But their persistence paid off last year when they set a school record for the most conference wins in a season, and in addition to continuing to contribute to both our offensive and defensive systems, they will be counted on to continue their enthusiasm and leadership."
Building on last year's momentum with a large contingent of returners who've tasted victory, the 2013 season holds as much promise as there ever was for Toro volleyball, with Krieger and Prusa leading the charge.
FINAL THOUGHTS
With the Toros no longer the league doormat or coming under the radar, Adeva and her staff have a new set of challenges to face after going 7-4 in the first half of league play last year, and 3-8 in the second half after opposing teams expected a battle from the Cardinal and Gold.
"We have high expectations, but we are going to take it one match at a time, one practice at a time," Adeva begins.
"We are skilled, experienced and focused this year, and the veterans understand what it takes to win conference," she continues. "We need to be able to stay composed for the duration of the season, which is a difficult thing to do, but I feel we have the ability to do it."
This is a thought both Krieger and Prusa also share after going through the first three years of their career, labeling this season as the "Road to December" in mid-August.
Cautiously optimistic, Adeva knows the team can't get ahead of itself as part of arguably the strongest league in Division II, but also realizes the possibilities that lie ahead for this team.
"The goal is living with all of this year, and trying to stay in the present," she says.
"But we would like to make history for Cal State Dominguez Hills."
