2013 Prospectus & Record Book

The 2013 High Point University volleyball team is in search of its second Big South Conference championship under head coach Jason Oliver. The Panthers return five players who played in at least 30 matches last season and add five newcomers to the roster to build on last year's 20-win campaign.

"I am very optimistic about this season," Oliver said. "This team has the right character, the right focus and the right kind of work ethic to compete for a championship. They have bought in to our vision for the program and every member of the team is working toward a common goal."

High Point was picked to finish third in the Big South Conference Poll, behind two-time defending champion Liberty and Coastal Carolina. Junior Kristin Heldt and sophomore Annemarie Chin were both named to the Preseason All-Big South team.

Along with Heldt and Chin, HPU returns starters Chelsea Davis, Michelle Chakirelis and Maddie Simpson from a team that went 20-11 last year. The 2012 team set program records in attack percentage (.224), solo blocks (84) and blocks per set (2.19).

OUTSIDE HITTERS
Juniors Kristin Heldt and Chelsea Davis started nearly every game over their first two seasons and will be expected to anchor HPU's outside attack in 2013. Heldt was a second-team All-Big South honoree last year and ranked seventh in the league in kills per set (2.80). Heldt improved her defense in the offseason and will play six rotations this year for the first time in her High Point career. Davis posted 11 double-doubles in 2013, averaging 2.93 kills and 2.86 digs per set. Her 2.93 kills per set ranked sixth in the Big South last year.

"Kristin and Chelsea both had great offseasons," Oliver said. "Kristin put a lot of emphasis on improving her ball control and is going to take on more responsibility as a six-rotation player. Chelsea showed a lot of dedication in the weight room and she is as physical and confident as she has ever been."

Freshman Megan Kennedy will add depth to the outside while learning from the experienced upperclassmen. A native of Coppell, Texas, Kennedy helped Coppell High School to the Texas 5A State Championship in 2011 while earning All-District honors.

"She could step in right now and start in the back row," Oliver said. "She has great ball control and is already excelling at serve receive. That is a huge aspect of the game to have this early in her college career. It will be great to have depth on the outside and be able to showcase different players and comfortably make substitutions."

Junior Chelsea Blanford and freshman Crystal Widom are battling to fill the starting spot on the right side, vacated by the graduation of Courtney Johnk. Blanford appeared in 23 matches with 44 kills over the last two years. Widom played her senior season at Wakefield High School in Raleigh, N.C., helping the team to the final four of the North Carolina State Championship.

"Time will tell on the right side," Oliver said. "Whichever one of the two can solidify the block on the right will win the position. They are both playing with a ton of energy. Chelsea is starting to settle in to the position. At times it was hard for her to stay focused knowing Courtney Johnk was ahead of her at the position but the benefit is that she knows our system and knows exactly what to do. Now it is about taking all that information and performing it. Crystal learns very quickly and has a high volleyball IQ. I have been very impressed with how much she has improved throughout preseason."

MIDDLE BLOCKERS
The three middle blockers on HPU's roster bring varying levels of collegiate experience. Senior Michelle Chakirelis leads the group as a three-year starter who ranks fifth on HPU's career solo blocks list with 33. She has a career .203 attack percentage with 1.61 kills and .63 blocks per set. Redshirt-freshman Savannah Angel also returns for HPU after spending last season practicing and traveling with the team.

Junior Katie Vincent joins HPU after two seasons at Snow College in Utah. She tallied 316 kills and 142 blocks in her two years with the Badgers and was named All-Conference in 2012.

"Obviously Michelle is the leader of that group," Oliver said. "She is a leader for our entire program. She sets the standard in practice and everyone looks to her to establish our intensity. She is like an extra coach on the floor. Savannah has gotten consistently better for the last year. She has days where she out performs her age and days when you know she is a freshman but the latter are getting farther and farther apart.

"Katie Vincent has been such a huge, positive addition to our team. She is a wonderful teammate but she also works really hard and strives to do everything the right way. She hits well off of one foot, which is a type of attacker we have never had here."

SETTERS
Senior Maddie Simpson is back for her final season and already has two years of experience as the starter. Simpson helped HPU to the 2010 Big South Championship and is quickly climbing up the HPU career assists list. She has 2,466 assists entering the 2013 season which ranks third all-time for the Panthers. The career record is 3,982 held by Kristina Taylor (2005-08).

Freshman Val Jeffery joins the Panthers from Pickerington, Ohio where she was the first two-time All-State selection ever at Pickerington High School. She played five years with the Columbus Volleyball Club, the No. 1-ranked team in Ohio in 2010 and 2012. She was also selected to the Team USA Volleyball High Performance Training Program.

"You can see the abilities they both have," Oliver said. "Maddie has an edge in the mental side of the game. She really understands what needs to happen on the floor but she needs to keep improving her consistency as she has from her first day here. Val's natural talent and athleticism is evident but she has to work on the mental side of the game. There are periods of practice where they both look like all-conference players and it helps both of them. Val gets to see what kind of decision are made by a senior who has won a championship and Maddie gets pushed by the technique and physicality that Val brings."

DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS/LIBEROS
High Point returns sophomore Annemarie Chin and Wavie Chin who played in all 31 matches in 2012. Annemarie Chin won the starting libero role last year and averaged 3.68 digs per set. She also served up 14 aces. Wavie Chin averaged 1.71 and was on of the best players High Point had on serve receive, committing just 16 errors in 392 attempts.

"Annemarie has taken it to another level this season," Oliver said. "She needs to be more of an influence on the game which will come after a year of experience. She digs balls no one has any right getting to. The biggest surprise this year has been Wavie battling for the libero spot. She has been really controlled in her first touch and playing well in every back row position. I think we have two of the best defensive players in the Big South."

Junior Molly Hirrlinger and freshman Greta Griswold add depth to the back row. Hirrlinger joined the team last year and appeared in two matches. Griswold comes to HPU from Laurinburg, N.C. where she was an All-Conference athlete in volleyball and soccer.

"Molly and Greta have been great this preseason," Oliver said. "Either could come in and serve at any time and add a lot to the team. Molly has worked a lot on her platform and defensive positioning. Greta is a great addition to the team. She makes great adjustments and soaks up everything you tell her. I love having them both in the program."

High Point kicks off the season on Aug. 30 at the Gamecock Invitational hosted by South Carolina. HPU will face Florida International at 1 p.m. and South Carolina State at 4 p.m. On Saturday, Aug. 31 HPU will play tournament-host South Carolina at 3 p.m.

"This is one of the most cohesive groups I have ever coached," Oliver said. "It is great to see 14 girls all working toward the same goal and having fun doing it. When the players in the locker room want to win even more than I do as the head coach you know you have something special."