Crystal Cole begins her senior season with the Pirates Friday in Des Moines.

PARKVILLE, Mo. - Park University women’s volleyball begins its second season under head coach Rick Mischka in August with improvement – both on the court and in the win column – on the minds of the 13 players on the 2010 squad’s roster.
 
The Pirates won seven matches in 2009, competing with a small roster and a new-to-Park coaching staff. The 2010 edition of the Park women’s volleyball program has had a little more time to come together, and according to Mischka, it has already paid dividends in preseason camp.
 
“Before the preseason even started, many of the recruits had been on campus to play and stay with our returners,” Mischka said. “Over the summer, our players were able to stay in touch and continued to get to know each other, and they all showed up with one thing on their minds – to work hard and play for each other. That’s what makes every player become better, and thing continue to be very positive as we get started this season.”
 
The Pirates return eight players to the court in 2010, including honorable mention all-conference performer Gabriela Garcia, who led the team in assists per set last season but will move to the right side for the 2010 campaign. Park also brings back a pair of seniors – Crystal Cole and Bethany Buehler – who were Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes in 2010.
 
“We returned a solid core,” Mischka said. “Gabi (Garcia) making the move to the right side will be good for us, and the two seniors have stepped up their roles from a year ago. We’ve also got consistency in Kristen Beck, Rafaella Chaves and Rachel Stagg, who will stay in their positions from last year, along with experience on the back row in Ashley Reinert.”
 
Reinert led the team in defense during 2009, averaging nearly 2.5 digs per set while piling up 192 from the back row last season. The Pirates also return Mariana Vogado, who made great strides last season, posting 149 kills while also collecting 31 service aces.
 
“The biggest factor early on for us has been Mariana,” Mischka said. “She worked exceptionally hard in the off season after showing improvement last year, and she’s come to us in 2010 with a new fire and a new level of athleticism. She’s also showing more confidence and I believe that she will be a major leader for us both on and off the court. She has the personality and leads by example.”
 
That leadership center will be asked to take command of five newcomers, a group that includes five freshmen and four junior college standouts. The Pirates will get help in the middle from Ashley Robinson, who transferred from Antelope Valley College in California, while Shannon Slatter, also a product of the Golden State, will come in and compete for setting time in 2010.
 
Allie Nichols, who played at Kansas City Kansas Community College, is listed as an outside hitter, while Rochester Community Technical College’s Vanessa Lawrenz gives the Pirates an option on the back row, defensively.
 
“This group really puts us in a good position for both this year and the future,” Mischka said. “We’re building a solid core, and now we have multiple players who can do the job for us at each position. We have the right group in terms of personality and experience, and there is a sense of direction and purpose. We’ll still see struggles, as we’re still rebuilding, but we’re in a better position to deal with the struggles this season.”
 
The team’s lone freshman, Jordyn Anderson, from Rib Lake, Wisc., brings a 6-foot-2 frame with offensive firepower and should compete for time in the middle from the beginning in 2010.
 
“All five newcomers have the potential to see the floor in 2010,” Mischka said. “We are heavy in junior college recruits, and two of them (Slatter and Robinson) have experience at the NCAA level. They’re both already fighting for playing time, and Vanessa Lawrenz is working hard to lock up the libero position. Allie (Nichols) is dynamic and explosive, and she’s putting herself in a position to see court time as well. Jordyn (Anderson) is an all-state athlete with a huge block and a powerful arm. She also has the intensity to want to win every point, which is something we need. She has a chance to have a decorated career at Park.”
 
In addition to transition for the 13 roster spots, Mischka will also continue to transition in 2010, marking his second season as a head coach for two programs, also coaching the Park men’s volleyball squad.
 
“I’ve become very comfortable coaching both programs and I enjoy coaching both teams,” Mischka said. “They both have different aspects that I really like. The women are very eager to learn and improve and have bought in to the direction I want to take them. As always, the guys are strong and passionate. I am better prepared and organized for this year, which will allow us to focus and continue to improve our work ethic.”

The Pirates will begin the 2010 season Friday afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa, taking on four teams in the 2010 Grand View University Invitational. The Pirates open tournament play Friday at 2 p.m. against Missouri Valley College, followed by a match against Evangel University at 8 p.m. Saturday, Park will play tournament host Grand View at noon, followed by a match with former MCAC rival College of Saint Mary at 4 p.m.