The Whitworth Volleyball team is ready to rebound from a disappointing 2006 season after finishing 7-20 overall and 6-10 in the Northwest Conference. The Pirates open practice for the 2007 season ready to return to the success of the previous five years, when the team posted a cumulative record of 96-36 and won three Northwest Conference titles. Head Coach Steve Rupe believes that a combination of returning veterans and incoming talent will lead to the rebound.

“We will be better offensively,” said Rupe, who is 131-78 in his 9th season leading the Pirates. “We will be stronger in the middle, which will take pressure off of the outside.”

Another key will be consistency at setter. Holly Ridings (Sr., Spokane, Wash.) took over the role midway through last season after the Pirates failed to find consistency at the position early in the year. Ridings had not played setter since high school, but quickly developed as the Whitworth starter and averaged 9.8 assists per game over the final 15 matches. Should it become necessary, Jill Solbrack (Jr., Colfax, Wash.) will fill the role of back-up setter.

Solbrack will also start at one outside hitter position. Nikki Bardwell (Jr., Colville, Wash.) returns to start at the other outside hitter spot. She averaged 2.6 kills and 2.1 digs per game last fall.

The middle hitter and right side hitter positions are up for grabs. Amy Newton (Sr., Upland, Calif.) and Tracy Schwada (So., Whitefish, Mont.) have experience in the program. Sarah Rusch (Jr., Walla Walla, Wash.) is a highly regarded transfer from Walla Walla Community College, while Allison Sordahl (So., Anchorage, Alaska) played in seven matches as a freshman at Whitman College last year. Courtney Hutchins (Fr., Selah, Wash.) and Randi Stephens (Fr., Bozeman, Mont.) are a pair of first year players that could push for immediate playing time.

“We will determine our two starting middles and our opposite from that group of six players,” said Rupe. “I will see how things play out over the next two weeks of practice.”

Cassie Moore (Sr., DS, Spokane, Wash.) returns to her role as the Pirates’ libero, where she earned Second Team All-Northwest Conference honors last fall after averaging 5.43 digs per game.

Ridings and Moore will serve as team captains this fall and Rupe likes their contributions so far.

“Our leaders are building strong cohesiveness this year and that will only help us as we get into the heart of the season,” Rupe said.

More than anything, Rupe believes that the players are ready to restore the pride that the program has carried over the past several seasons.

“The players’ spirits are high,” he said. “The women are excited to get going and prove that last year was out of the ordinary.”

Whitworth will open the season the weekend of August 31 and September 1 at the Las Vegas Blast tournament, where the team will compete against four NCAA Division III programs from around the country.

After hosting an invitational the following week, the Pirates will open Northwest Conference play on September 14th against Pacific University.

Whitworth is rated fifth in the 2007 Northwest Conference preseason coaches poll.