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Veteran crew of Cougars at net
ICC volleyball team hopes all-everything Cao leads the way back to nationals
August 19, 2009
By BRENT GLASGOW
Reprinted with permission of the Journal Star
“We were thrilled to be one of the final four in our division, but we had higher hopes of bringing home some hardware,” said 20-year ICC coach Sue Sinclair, whose team opens at home Aug. 28 against Lindenwood-Belleville. “Only the top three go home with a trophy, so I know in the minds of our sophomores, they want to get back and maybe come home with something.”
Eight sophomores return this season. The group is led by Yiting Cao, who became a fan favorite last season with shots that rained down like cannonballs. Cao was first team all-region, all-nationals and National Junior College Athletic Association all-American. Sinclair believes she is also the only freshman in program history to earn American Volleyball Coaches Association second team all-American honors.
“Doing that as a freshman was pretty awesome,” Sinclair said. “Everyone certainly took notice of what her impact was.”
While Cao was naturally comfortable on the court, the hard-hitting Chinese transplant has adjusted well to American life over the past year.
“She is a phenomenal young lady who has embraced our culture and has a tremendous sense of humor,” Sinclair said of Cao, who will likely decide between her many Division I suitors during this season. “She has done a wonderful job.”
Limestone product Katie Thomason returns at outside hitter, and has the most playing experience next to Cao.
“She contributes in all aspects of the game,” Sinclair said. “She has excellent ball control, is a dynamic jumper and can really be a threat at the net.”
Twins Kelsy and Betsy Heiser (Olympia High), Tessa Barra (Washington), Callie Koziel (Metamora), Ashley Meyrick (Lincoln) and Manuela Salazar (Brazil) also return and will be key cogs.
Hannah Deterding enters the mix after transferring from Eastern Illinois, where she was the starting setter last season. Fellow sophomore Megan Kirby has freshman eligibility. The former Urbana standout attended ICC last year but didn't join the program until this spring.
This year's freshman class — Leah Shaw (Princeton), Chelsy Stumbaugh (IVC), and Chelsey Probst and Haley Woods of Newton Community — is small in number but big on effort.
"The freshmen are stepping it up," Sinclair said. "With as many sophomores as we have, they have to play catch-up pretty quick, and I think they've done an excellent job with that."
Because of the sophomore-heavy roster, Sinclair believes this squad is ahead of last year's rate of progress. She also thinks the team may be the most competitive she has had in two decades at the school.
"You always think all athletes are competitive, but they're competitive at everything, whether it's on the court, running to the car, picking something up, whatever," Sinclair said. "Because of that, I really think they'll figure out how to win, and that will be fun to see."
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