Neal Folger
nffolger@valdosta.edu

Coming off an improved 2005 season, the Lady Blazer volleyball team is focused and ready to continue the trend of improvement
in 2006.

“I’m excited about the possibilities for VSU volleyball,” Sia Poyer, head coach, said.“It’s a great school at a great location which always helps with recruiting. The plan is to bring in talent, and with the returning players, build a good foundation for the future.”
Poyer and his coaching staff were out on the recruiting trail in the off season and were very pleased with the new ladies who agreed to join the VSU volleyball family. Senior Grace George and junior Nancy Marin, both
transfers to VSU, excelled on their former university teams.

George, a native of Hawaii, was a twotime all-Lone Star Conference player for Eastern New Mexico, tallying 281 kills and 129 blocks. Marin, also a two-time all-conference performer, recorded 312 kills as she led Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif., to a
18-4 record and was named the team’s MVP in 2005.

Irene Hannan, Brittany Jackson and Stephanie Kirrstetter, all former high school prep stars, complete the signing class of 2006.

Joining the new Lady Blazers will be many familiar and talented faces. Outside hitter Laura Lee Atkinson, a second team all-GSC
selection last year, returns for her senior season. She led VSU with 482 kills, 4.08 kills a game, 1,218 attempts, 417 digs and 49 aces.

Junior setter Amy Lou Meisen-Vehrs also comes back after starting all 118 games last year, recording 155 assists, 157 kills and 37
service aces.

Poyer named both Atkinson and Meisen-Vehrs as co-captains, but is not completely dependent on those two ladies for team leadership.

“I’m counting on all my juniors and seniors to contribute,” Poyer said.

Poyer is also excited about the mesh of returning and new players after seeing them in practice the past few weeks.

“We have more offensive weapons and our blocking is much better,” Poyer said. “I think that we’re a much better ball control team.”

Picked to finish sixth in the GSC preseason poll, the Lady Blazer volleyball season kicks off Friday at the St. Mary’s Tournament in San Antonio, Tex. VSU takes on Alaska-Anchorage, Rollins College, the Colorado School of Mines and St. Mary’s University before returning home to play their home opener in The Complex next Thursday in the Ramada Limited Azalea Classic.