Women’s volleyball: Young Lions look to sneak up on GSAC

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - The 2000 Vanguard University women’s volleyball team

has the same look as last year’s women’s basketball program. Seniors need

not apply.

The Lions return three sophomores from last year’s team and are

saturated with freshmen.

“Needless to say, we’re a young group,” first-year Coach Tim Johnson

said. “But I’m excited because we are so young. I have the feeling we’re

still going to be very competitive and this year will only help our

program build for the next few years.”

The Lions have their top two offensive standouts from last year’s

12-20 squad, sophomores Megan Godfrey and Carly Birkhauser.

Godfrey led the Lions with 449 kills, while Birkhauser was second with

274.

Sophomore Jeslin Olson is the third returner from last year’s team.

She had 170 kills as a spot starter.

“The great thing is that the veteran players are making all the new

players feel very comfortable, which helps a lot,” Johnson said.

“Sometimes the new players start to feel homesick or are wondering if

they made the right decision to come here and so far I haven’t seen any

of that.”

Among some of the newcomers looking to make an immediate impact,

Johnson has been very pleased with the play of Debby Baeder, Jennifer

Johnson, Lindsay Kaiser and Valerie Kubisak.

“One of our strengths is that we’re a very athletic group,” Johnson

said. “As long as we continue on our ball control, passing, defense and

sideouts, I think we’ll be able to compete.”

So what does Johnson bring to the Lions’ table? “I feel that I’m a

fair coach to the players,” he said. “I’m very intense, but I don’t hold

grudges and I try to be a nice guy, most of the time.”

Despite all the new faces, Johnson and the rest of the Lions have set

some high goals for this season and beyond.

“We’ve made it a goal to make the playoffs this season,” he said. “At

least improve on our record from last season and continue to improve in

the years to come.”

VANGUARD UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Megan Godfrey So.

Jeslin Olson So.

Carly Birkhauser So.

Debby Baeder Fr.

Chrissy Davis Fr.

Jennifer Johnson Fr.

Lindsay Kaiser Fr.

Valerie Kubisak Fr.

Becki Little Fr.

Jamie Nelson Fr.

Heidi Rhodes Fr.

Michelle Tucker Fr.

Jessica Waltz Jr.

Head Coach - Tim Johnson