- J. Andrew Lockwood -
Senior Editor / Columnist
james.andrew.lockwood@gmail.com
It was the regular season sixth-year head coach Noelle Rooke was hoping for. Make that 2008 Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year, Noelle Rooke. A 18-11 (13-7 A-Sun) mark in 2008 signaled an end to Mercer’s recent losing ways on the court and the start of something special. With a dominant junior class in 2009 with two years of playing experience, the Bears could find themselves contending for the Atlantic Sun title come November.
“Our goal is to improve upon the strides we made last year and get to the top of the conference,” Rooke commented on MercerBears.com. She added, “There isn’t room to falter this year. We’ve got to have strong play from start to finish.”
Despite an early 1st round exit to ETSU, a team they had defeated twice during the regular season, the Mercer women should feel quite confident heading into the 2009 conference slate. Led by lone senior setter Chelsea Gebben, Mercer has a formidable front row of blockers and hitters with crucial playing experience during the past two seasons.
The big key to success in 2009 will be how the team replaces graduates Karen Dorris, Claire Tucker, and Kelly Jansen. Dorris (3.20 kills per game) and Jansen (522 assists in 2008) have been offensive catalysts for the Bears for the past four seasons and won’t be easily replaced. Tucker replaced one of Mercer’s greats Liz Kane, in 2007 and re-wrote the record book herself, becoming the school’s all-time leader in digs with 1083 over four years. Although their departures leave big shoes to fill, Mercer’s roster may be as deep as it’s ever been.
Insert any one of the talented outside hitters on Bears’ roster and you’ll have a formidable offense. Juniors Krista Hurley (1.91 kpg) and Erica Vrvilo (1.54 kpg) make plays at the net on offense and defense. Sophomore Amiee Frutchey made her splash onto the scene in 2008, starting 24 of the 28 matches across from Dorris. Gebben (461 assists), who shared setting duties with Jansen last season, will most likely be named the starting setter by the time the team takes on Austin Peay to tip of the season in Atlanta. However, the libero position may be the biggest question mark on the roster. Coach Rooke has been keeping mum on the situation, as well as the incoming freshman class. A plethora of players could fill that position by the time the first game tips off.
Securing the middle of the front row will be junior Libby Hanch, a 6’2” product out of Ft. Collins, Colorado. On the right side of the net, expect another sensational sophomore, Anna Coursey, to get the starting nod. Additionally, Rachel Urbelis could see some time at the outside hitter position as well after playing brilliantly in several matches a year ago. Rooke also has several unproven players that provide additionally depth for the team. Nickie Halbert will most likely see an increase in her playing time at setter this year as Charlotte Harris and Ashley Skidmore look to contribute from the bench as well.
After several key non-conference wins a year ago against Auburn, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, and Presbyterian, the Bears will test the likes of Austin Peay, Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Florida A&M early in the season. Add in the Bear Brawl, the tournament the Bears will host in early September, and Mercer will also see quality competition in Troy, Furman, and Bethune-Cookman.
Rooke continues the trend of scheduling tough schools early in the season, commenting, “After training so hard in the offseason it will be exciting to see our team hit the floor against strong competition right off the bat. Once again, we have the opportunity to see some talented teams from other leagues in the Bear Brawl. We want to come away with another Bear Brawl title and carry that momentum into our conference schedule.
Although the Bears will have their fill of quality competition to open the season, they’ll be able to slide into A-Sun play against two schools that won a combined eleven conference games a year ago. Kennesaw State (6-24, 5-15) and USC-Upstate (11-22, 4-16) will host the Bears before Campbell (7-23, 5-16) and ETSU (12-20, 8-13) visit Macon. Mercer will then face a tough stretch of home and away games that feature A-Sun Champion Belmont (25-8, 16-4), Lipscomb (21-11, 17-3), Florida Gulf Coast (20-8, 18-2), and Jacksonville (20-10, 15-6). Sprinkled in between conference matchups are two matches against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Champion FAMU and Georgia State in October.
While the Bears made significant strides last year on offense, large questions loom on the back row heading into the opener. In a league that markedly improved in two years, the Bears could be title contenders or find themselves in the midst of a long season. Notably, the Atlantic Sun Championship will be held in Fort Meyers this year rather than their home floor. In order to win the A-Sun, the Bears must prove they can win on the road this year.
Date Opponent Location Time/Result Details
Georgia Tech Tournament
8/28/2009 Austin Peay Atlanta, Ga. 4:30 p.m. Details
8/29/2009 Georgia Atlanta, Ga. 10:30 a.m. Details
8/29/2009 Georgia Tech Atlanta, Ga. 7:00 p.m. Details
Bear Brawl
9/4/2009 Troy Macon, Ga. 1:00 p.m. Details
9/4/2009 Furman Macon, Ga. 7:00 p.m. Details
9/5/2009 Bethune-Cookman Macon, Ga. 3:00 p.m. Details
9/8/2009 * Kennesaw State Kennesaw, Ga. 7:00 p.m. Details
9/11/2009 * USC Upstate Spartanburg, S.C. 7:00 p.m. Details
9/15/2009 FAMU Tallahassee, Fla. 7:00 p.m. Details
9/18/2009 * Campbell Macon, Ga. 7:00 p.m. Details
9/19/2009 * ETSU Macon, Ga. 3:00 p.m. Details
9/25/2009 * Lipscomb Nashville, Tenn. 7:30 p.m. Details
9/26/2009 * Belmont Nashville, Tenn. 3:00 p.m. Details
10/2/2009 * Jacksonville Macon, Ga. 7:00 p.m. Details
10/3/2009 * North Florida Macon, Ga. 3:00 p.m. Details
10/6/2009 FAMU Macon, Ga. 7:00 p.m. Details
10/8/2009 * Florida Gulf Coast Fort Myers, Fla. 7:00 p.m. Details
10/10/2009 * Stetson DeLand, Fla. 1:00 p.m. Details
10/13/2009 * Kennesaw State Macon, Ga. 7:00 p.m. Details
10/16/2009 * Belmont Macon, Ga. 7:00 p.m. Details
10/17/2009 * Lipscomb Macon, Ga. 3:00 p.m. Details
10/20/2009 * Georgia State Macon, Ga. 6:00 p.m. Details
10/23/2009 * ETSU Johnson City, Tenn. 7:00 p.m. Details
10/24/2009 * Campbell Buies Creek, N.C. 5:00 p.m. Details
10/31/2009 * USC Upstate Macon, Ga. 3:00 p.m. Details
11/6/2009 * Stetson Macon, Ga. 7:00 p.m. Details
11/7/2009 * Florida Gulf Coast Macon, Ga. 3:00 p.m. Details
11/13/2009 * North Florida Jacksonville, Fla. 7:00 p.m. Details
11/14/2009 * Jacksonville Jacksonville, Fla. 5:00 p.m. Details
Atlantic Sun Championship
11/19/2009 Atlantic Sun Championship Fort Myers, Fla. TBA Details
11/20/2009 Atlantic Sun Championship Fort Myers, Fla. TBA Details
11/21/2009 Atlantic Sun Championship Fort Myers, Fla. TBA Details
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