Women's Volleyball



2007 Season Preview

 

 

 

With eight players returning, including two who were named to the All-WHAC squad last season, the future looks promising for the 2007 squad.  In 2006, the Golden Eagles won five tournaments, including both held at home, and had win streaks of 10 and 11 games. Coach Steve Burmaster's squad finished second in the WHAC regular season race, second in the WHAC post-season tournament, and second in the NAIA Region VIII Tournament, one game short of qualifying for the Nationals.  "We finished 39-9," Burmaster said. "So all-in-all it was a great season, and laid a great foundation for 2007.

Marcie Blacquiere, a sophomore setter (second team) and Holly Cousins, a sophomore outside hitter (freshmen team) were the All-WHAC performers for 2006. Other returning starters include Tori Egerer, a senior right side hitter, who is team captain, and Jessica Sedley, a sophomore outside hitter.

"Marcie had a stellar season," Burmaster said. "After just one season she has already established herself in the Cornerstone record books, first in assists per game and the 6th most assists ever in a season. 

"Holly also landed in the record books with a Top Ten performance in career kills, and has the potential to establish a new all-time record. She is also a great digger and passer." 

There are eight new players who will add additional depth to an already talented squad, including four transfers.  Rebecca Baker is an outside hitter from Arkansas Tech . Katie McKee is a middle blocker from Findlay University and Morgan Pennington is an outside hitter Ferris State University . 

"Rebecca was a starter for two seasons at Arkansas Tech," Burmaster said. "She should provide a lot of firepower on the left side. She is also a strong server and excellent digger. Katie was a freshman starter at Findlay and led the team in blocks."


"Morgan led her high school team to the Regionals each year and played club volleyball at Ferris before deciding to transfer to the "Christian community" she desired. 

The four incoming freshmen are:  Heather Carlson, outside hitter from Northpointe Christian, Melissa Huck, middle blocker from Fowlerville, Kelly Peterson, setter from Oakland Christian, and Alicia TerHaar, middle blocker from South Christian High School . 

This years schedule proves challenging and includes seven different tournaments including the “Early Bird Invitational” at UM Dearborn that always attracts some of the best teams in the Midwest ! Once again, CU will be hosting the Cornerstone Classic invitational over Labor Day weekend, which will include 12 teams and the Golden Eagle Invitational which will feature 7 teams.  The Golden Eagles will also participate in 3 tournaments in the Chicago land area (St. Xavier/Illinois Tech, Judson, and St. Francis) and are going to be visiting Wisconsin (Tory Egerer’s home state) for the first time at the Viterbo “Oktoberfest” Tournament in LaCrosse.  All of these tournaments will help the team prepare for the WHAC Conference matches as well as the WHAC Tournament and the NAIA Regional Tournament. The Golden Eagles will need to get past conference powerhouse Madonna who has won or shared the conference championship with Cornerstone the past nine years in a row.