VOLLEYBALL QUALIFIES FOR POSTSEASON Bump. Set. Spike. For the 11 members of Harding Un iversity's women's volleyball team, these words were more than juSt shon descriptions of the game's strategy, they were a part of life. "We have spent a lot of time this season working on drills, and I am sure that we will do even more next season," McKensey Kemmerer, junior, said. After finishing this season with an overall record of26 wins and 10 losses under the direc- . rion ofCoach Keith Giboney, Kemmerer seemed satisfied with the season. "We made many great improvements this season," Kemmerer said. "We had a lot of fun, and we really came together to meet our goals as a team." Specifically, Kemmerer noted the team's preseason ambition to make it into the conference playoffs and maintain an overall rank among the tOp three teams in the Lone Star Conference (LSC). "Even though we would have liked to make it further in the tOurnament, we were really proud ofour overall performance," she said. "We really pulled cogether and united as a team this year. The leadership of the seniors helped a lot with that." Although the team had only two seniors, Misty Fant and Laura Lejarzar. their experience helped lead the team into the conference. According CO Giboney, other team leaders included Heather Newman, freshman, who made a total of 651 sets; Erika Pierson, sophomore, who executed ·306 kills; and Delana Keilers, junior, who made 236 successful blocks. Keilers and Pierson were named Fi rst Tearn All-Lone Star Conference. For Giboney, the team's success was surprising as itwas his first year coachingat the collegiate level. He came CO the team after coaching women's high school volleyball for several years at Lubbock Christian High School and Dallas Christian, which earned four state volleyball championships collectively under his direction. Although he enjoyed his success at the high school level, Giboney said he was ready co work with university players because of the higher level of play and the l;Ieavier game schedule. Yet, for Rebecca Dililstrom, junior, and Ashley Burnes, freshman. Giboney's first year ofcoaching was more of a homecoming than an introduction. Both played volleyball for Giboney while students at Dallas Christian. "J,:: has been really great getting co work with them aga in," Giboney said. "It has been won- "IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL SPENDING TIME WITH COACH GIBONEY AND HIS FAMILY. HE IS A GREAT CHRISTIAN LEADER." derful spending time -MCKENSEY with Coach Giboney KEMMERER, JUNIOR and his fami ly," Kemmerer said. "He is a great Christian leader." Dahlstrom echoed Kemmerer's senrimenr. "The year went really well. We all adjusted quickly to the change of coaches," she said. "I expect him [Giboney] to make even morechanges next year." Kemmerer said she looks forward to working with Giboney and the returning players next season. - Elizabeth Smith Resting between serves, Heather Newman, freshman, saves her energy. Newman led Harding with 651 sets during the 1999 season, an average of more than five per game. Volleyball 195
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