Home / Athletics / Volleyball / Season Preview

BPC Volleyball 2006 Season Preview

              The 2006 edition of the Brewton-Parker College Women’s Volleyball Team will display an exciting mix of youth and experience.

The Barons will be led by middle hitter and team captain, Junior Jenna Kessenich. An experienced blocker and intelligent hitter from Lawrenceville, Ga., Kessenich will be counted on to set the tone both offensively and defensively.

Fifth year senior and right-side hitter Jessica Ulin will bring a wealth of experience and stability to the front line. Ulin, an accomplished blocker from Pooler, Ga, can be an explosive offensive force.

“(Ulin) is always in the right spot defensively,” says head coach Jason Bryant. “She will be counted on tremendously.”

Seniors Elizabeth Hinely, Debbie Sooter and Kendra Brown will also add their past experience to this year's team. Setter Hinely of Savannah, Ga. brings a quick, high energy style of play to the team, while utility player Brown, of Oxford, Ala., adds stability and poise both on and off the floor. Defensive specialist and 2005 SSAC 1st Team All-Conference selection Sooter, of Nampa, Idaho, will be counted on to continue her assault on the record books as the all-time dig leader at Brewton-Parker. Sooter has been a starter every year.

"She makes some impossible plays," says Bryant of Sooter.

              In addition to Jenna Kessenich, junior setter Callie Bynum of Guntersville, Ala. will lead the team with her methodical and efficient setting style. Bynum and Hinely will both see significant playing time at the setter position.

              Sophomore outside hitters LaTreace Johnson and TaSheena Brown, both of Jonesboro, Ga., and Halley Tanner of Austell, Ga., will all see playing time. Johnson and Brown are both high-flying and extremely explosive offensively. They will be counted on to pick up the slack on offense left by All-Conference and All-Region performer Latika Thomas. Tanner can be a consistent hitter and looks to continue to improve. Sophomore right-side hitter Sara Kessenich, younger sister to team captain Jenna Kessenich, looks to see a lot of court time after her improved play at the end of last season and this preseason.

A new addition at the middle hitter position will be sophomore transfer Megan Johnson. Johnson, originally from Palm City, Fla., has exceptional quickness and really reads blocks and finds holes to score.

“She will be a great asset to the team because of her versatility,” says Bryant.

Red-shirt freshman Ashley Shiver and Ashley Byrd have worked very hard this off-season and are making progress to compete for playing time. Shiver of Baconton, Ga. has worked extensively on passing to fill a two year void of a confident substitute for passing. Byrd, of Savannah, will continue to develop as a player. Newcomer and lone freshman Keri Reece of Woodstock, Ga., brings an explosive attack, lethal service game and consistent passing to a team that prides itself on defense.

“Her passing is crucial with the departure of All-Conference performer Chrissy Murphy,” says Bryant. “Chrissy was the leader on the floor and someone will need to step up into that role.”

              “This year looks to be a very exciting year with the mix of ladies on this team,” Coach Bryant adds. “This group of seniors are the most successful in BPC history having advanced to regionals two of the last three years. The underclassmen are possibly the most talented and explosive to ever wear the Orange and Blue. This combination and hard work should lead to another successful campaign in the highly competitive Southern States Athletic Conference.”

Cheer the Barons on as they take the court against Albany State University Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. for their first home game of the season.

-BPC-