Whitworth volleyball head coach Steve Rupe hopes the infusion of talent from the largest recruiting class of his career will reverse the trend of two straight sub-.500 seasons for the Pirates. Eleven freshmen, many of whom are good enough to play immediately in the program, will suit up for the Pirates who must replace three starters from 2007 when the team finished 11-14 overall and 6-10 in the Northwest Conference.

“Our defense will continue to be a strength for us and we have established ourselves as a tough team to put a ball away against,” said Rupe, who is 142-92 in nine years leading the Pirates. “But I feel we will be better offensively as well.”

While there is a definite youth-movement on the team with so many incoming freshmen, a core group of seniors will provide key leadership for the team in 2008. Jill Solbrack (Sr., Colfax, Wash.) will be a team captain and will continue to start at the rightside hitter spot. Nikki Bardwell (Sr., Colville, Wash.) returns to start at outside hitter, while Holly Tomlin (Sr., Seattle, Wash.) will start at one of the middle positions. Bethany Castilleja (Sr., Kennewick, Wash.), who came on strong to start at libero by the middle of last season, will continue that role in 2008.

One of the keys to the 2008 season will be setter. Four freshmen come into the season battling for the starting role. Rupe is most familiar with Bree Riddle (Fr., Freeman, Wash.) and Jordon Hoffnagle (Fr., Spokane, Wash.). But Kasey Holland (Fr., Bozeman, Mont.) and Haley Owen (Fr., Deer Lodge, Mont.) are in the mix as well.

Unlike setter, Whitworth is very deep in experienced rightside hitters. In addition to Solbrack, Tracy Schwada (Jr., Whitefish, Mont.) and Allison Sordahl (Jr., Anchorage, Alaska) have game experience on the right side and in the middle.

Bardwell, who averaged 2.43 kills per game last year, will hold down one of the outsider hitter positions. The other is up for grabs. Morgan Veleke (Jr., Kennewick, Wash.) tied for the team lead in games played at Columbia Basin College last season, helping the Hawks finish 44-3 in NWAACC play.

Randi Stephens (So., Bozeman, Mont.) is the final returnee for the Pirates and she brings the experience of appearing in 23 matches at middle hitter last season.

Kaimi Rocha (Fr., Maui, Hawaii) and Ka’ipo Rocha (Fr., Maui, Hawaii) are very highly regarded twin sisters who will push for starting time immediately. Kaimi is more of a contender on the outside, while Ka’ipo could start in the middle.

While Castilleja should hold down the majority of duties at libero this season, Allison Giusti (Fr., Spokane, Wash.) and Katie Morris (Fr., Salem, Ore.) will battle for back up time.

Alex Bolduc (Fr., Maui, Hawaii), Ariana Obert (Fr., Deer Park, Wash.) and Kathy Taylor (Fr., Kent, Wash.) round out Whitworth’s outstanding incoming class. All three will battle for playing time and will provide solid back up along the front line.

“I think our players this season will be able to push the pace and tempo of the game,” said Rupe. “We will be considerably faster this year and should be better suited to run a quicker offense.”

Whitworth will open the season over Labor Day weekend in New York City at the NYU Labor Day Invite. The Pirates will host their own invitational the following week and will travel to Thousand Oaks, California to play in the Cal-Lu-Fornia Classic to round out non-conference play.

The Northwest Conference schedule will continue to be challenging. Pacific Lutheran and Puget Sound lead a deep field that includes perennial contender Linfield and up-and-comers in Whitman and Pacific.

Rupe is confident that the Pirates can compete in the NWC.

“If we can control the ball and hit above .250 consistently, I feel we will be in the hunt for the title in October,” he said.