opposites. olympics roster spots. who will karch...

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�� COLLEGE PREP: A WORKOUT TO EASE THE TRANSITION FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE

KHALIA LANIERKHALIA LANIERHeadlines the Girls’ Fab 50

❸ OPPOSITES. ❷ OLYMPICS ROSTER SPOTS.WHO WILL KARCH CHOOSE?

GET TO KNOW ITALY’S MARTA MENEGATTI

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VOLLEYBALL MAGAZINEFEATURES

Summer 2016

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20 BUILD YOUR BASE Five basic moves all high school athletes should master before graduation. By Tony Duckwall

24 X FACTOR High school senior Khalia Lanier brings it to every competition—for Team USA, Arizona Storm, and Xavier Prep High School—and soon she’ll take her talents to USC. By Mike Miazga

28 THE 2016 GIRLS’ FAB 50 AND 25 UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH This year’s group of top high school seniors and outstanding underclassmen. Compiled by Mike Miazga

34 THE CONCUSSION CONVERSATION Athletes in all sports—not just football—are at risk for traumatic brain injuries, and the volleyball community is starting to take notice. By Lisa Wade McCormick

40 KARCH’S BIG DILEMMA The U.S. Women’s National Team features three elite opposites, but the Olympic roster only has room for two. By Jack Hamann

44 MAKE WAY FOR MARTA Italian beach volleyball player Marta Menegatti hopes to make her second Olympic appearance in Rio. By Dan D’Arpe

4 FROM OUR COURT

4 CONTRIBUTORS

6 SERVE IT UP

12 THE QUICK

47 REPLAY

48 MATCH POINT

DEPARTMENTS

ON THE COVER

COVER IMAGE BY ED CHAN

Volume 27, Issue 2

MARCH/APRIL 2016

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Jeffrey C. WolkSusan FitzgeraldCourtney CarterHeidi StrongJustin VuonoMichael O'LearyLaura FinamoreNora FrewPeggy MaguireAmanda JoyceTina McDermottHeidie HoganCathy PearsonMichael MaCassandra PettitJaron CoteJennifer Hanrahan

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Gary Sato, Tim Simmons, Sinjin Smith

Dan D’Arpe, Mike Dodd, Tony Duckwall, Jack Hamann, Lisa Wade McCormick, Mike Miazga

Ed Chan, Megan Stearman, Sherry Harper Wong

@vbmagazine

facebook.com/volleyballmag

volleyballmag.com

Megan Kaplon, Editor

DAN D’ARPEDan D’Arpe is writer who covers a variety of subjects. A graduate of Western Connecticut State University, D’Arpe’s hobbies include writing, photography, and hiking. He enjoys watch-ing hockey, football, and, of course, volleyball. For this issue, he interviewed Italian beach volleyball player Marta Menegatti (page 44).

TONY DUCKWALLTony Duckwall is the co-owner of EDGE Sports Performance in Louisville, Kentucky, and the athletic performance director at KIVA Volleyball. Duckwall’s athletes have signed at 120 different universities and won 59 national championships in 17 sports. The volleyball athletes he has trained have placed on the youth and junior national teams and the Under Armour All-American Team. edge-trained.com

CONCUSSIONS: NOT ONLY IN FOOTBALL

AS I WRITE THIS, the professional football season has just wrapped with the Denver Broncos taking home the Super Bowl crown. Although I watched the spectacle on TV along with millions of others, I have a hard time not thinking about the dark cloud con-cussions and their long-term consequences have cast over this contact-heavy, risky sport. But football isn’t the only activity in which concussions can occur. In volleyball, players sustain concussions when balls hit them in the face and when they collide with team-mates and hit the floor. In this issue, contributor Lisa Wade McCormick explores the im-pact of concussions on volleyball players, coaches, and teams and offers advice on the best way to handle the situation when a traumatic brain injury does occur. “The Concussion Conversation” (page 34) is a must-read for athletes, parents, and coaches facing a world of increased awareness of concussion risks and consequences.

On a lighter note, we’re thrilled to introduce our cover girl, Khalia Lanier, the top recruit in the Class of 2016 and headliner of this year’s Girls’ Fab 50 list. Lanier heads to USC after she graduates from Xavier Prep in Phoenix, Arizona, this spring, and if the praise her teammates and coaches have heaped on her is any indication, this 6-foot-2 outside hitter will immediately stand out in NCAA competition.

Another young talent, Italian beach volleyball player Marta Menegatti, also graces this issue’s pages. The 25 year old hopes to make her second Olympic appearance this August in Rio, and first-time Volleyball mag contributor Dan D’Arpe’s interview with her on page 44 offers a rare glimpse into the life of a professional beach volleyball player from outside the U.S.

Developing young talent yourself? Make sure to check out the “Build Your Base” fitness feature by KIVA’s athletic performance director Tony Duckwall on page 20. He highlights the five basic movements that set youth athletes up for success in college and beyond.

It’s a jam-packed issue, and we had a blast putting it together for you. Hope you enjoy it and are able to put some of the advice in these pages to work on the court.

Behind the scenes of our cover photo shoot.


HANDS UP, ELBOWS OUTAthletes of all ages work on their setting form in Myanmar. This photo won the FIVB Development Committee’s Volleyball Your Way contest, which recognized efforts to promote beach and indoor volleyball around the worldSource FIVB

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BACK AND BETTER THAN EVERBen Patch, the 2013 Freshman of the Year, has returned to the BYU roster after taking a two-year hiatus to complete his LDS mission. During those two years Patch grew an inch taller and added some height to his vertical, and at press time he ranked fifth in the nation with 4.44 kills per set, leading the 10-2 Cougars with 142 kills.Photo by Ed Chan

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SANDCRABBSBrothers Trevor and Taylor Crabb photo-graphed in their home state of Hawaii where they spent the winter training for the 2016 beach volleyball season. Trevor, 26, and Taylor, 24, teamed up last summer taking two third-place finishes on the AVP and winning the NORCECA St. Lucia tournament.Photo by Sherry Harper Wong

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QUALIFIED

WORLD/ASIAN OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENTMAY 14 – JUNE 22 | TOKYO

WORLD QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT SOMETIME BETWEEN MAY 14 – JUNE 5 | LOCATION TBD

Argentina

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

Brazil China Russia Serbia USA Cameroon

Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Netherlands, Peru, Thailand

Four teams qualify—the top three teams and top Asian team. If an Asian team

ranks within the top three, the next highest-ranking team will also qualify.

Columbia, Egypt, Kenya, Puerto Rico Top team qualifies.〕

Wom

en’s Indoor Field

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the QuickRIO OLYMPICS:WHO’S IN AND WHO STILL STANDS A CHANCE?

QUALIFIED

WORLD/ASIAN OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENTMAY 28 – JUNE 5 | TOKYO

WORLD OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT JUNE 4-6 | MEXICO CITY

Argentina

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

Brazil Cuba Egypt Italy Russia USA

Australia, Canada, China, France, Iran, Japan, Poland, Venezuela Four teams qualify—the top three teams and top Asian team. If an Asian team

ranks within the top three, the next highest-ranking team will also qualify.

Algeria, Chile, Mexico, TunisiaTop team qualifies.〔Men’s Indoor Field


RULES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS CHALLENGE REVIEWThe Big Ten and Big 12 conferences experimented with the video review challenge of referee calls in the 2015 season, and now the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Rules Committee has recommended that challenge review become a permanent rule for any school or conference that chooses to implement it.

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel will now consider the rules committee’s recommendation and make the final decision in a conference call on February 25. If challenge review gets the greenlight from the oversight panel, the Division I, II, and III Women’s Volleyball Committees would have to decide how to implement the challenge review rule into the three NCAA women’s volleyball championships.

The rule would allow three challenges per team per match. Coaches would be able to challenge net faults, touch on the ball, ball in or out, and foot faults on the serve.

“OLD 45’S”Chromeo

“YOU MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE”Hall & Oates

“TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT”Eddie Money

“THE FIGHTER”Gym Class Heroes feat. Ryan Tedder

“LATCH”Disclosure feat. Sam Smith

“CAN'T HOLD US”Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton

“PONY”Ginuwine

“YOU GOT IT (THE RIGHT STUFF)”New Kids on the Block

“FLOAT ON”Modest Mouse

“REMEMBER THE NAME”Fort Minor

GUEST PICKS: KATIE HOLLOWAYOccasionally I like to ask one of our sport’s top athletes to share the songs that motivate him or her in the gym or at practice. This time, I reached out to my friend and USA Volleyball star Katie Holloway. Before you check out her playlist, however, there are a few things you should know about Katie.

Katie lettered in basketball and volleyball in high school and played basketball at Cal State Northridge where she was named to the Big West Freshman Team and twice named Big West Sixth Woman of the Year. Did I mention she did all of this with a prosthetic leg? She’s the only woman to compete with a prosthetic limb in the history of NCAA Division I basketball. After graduating, Katie joined the U.S. Women’s National Sitting Volleyball Team, and today she’s a two-time Paralympic silver medalist, two-time ParaVolley World Championships silver medalist, and two-time USAV Female Sitting Athlete of the Year.

Here’s a playlist of music that motivates Katie on and off the court. Even though I did, I encourage you not to judge her for her New Kids on the Block choice. @DJRoueche

04.2016: the Quick

FIRST-EVER NCAA BEACH VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPGulf Shores, Alabama, will host the inaugural NCAA beach volleyball national championship. The city, which has been the location of the AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championship since 2012, will also host the 2017 championship, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham will serve as the host institution for both years.

In the first NCAA-sanctioned national championship, eight teams of five pairs will compete in a double elimination bracket. The NCAA has not announced any intention to host a pairs tournament. Wilson, which also sponsors the AVP, will provide the balls for the national championship.

The Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (previously known as the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association) has rebranded to incorporate beach volleyball and will include UAB, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Florida State, Georgia State, LSU, South Carolina, and Tulane. The CCSA, Pac-12, WCC, and Big West will host their first-ever conference championships this year, while the ASUN will mark its second conference championship. No automatic bids to the national championship are being presented to conference winners at this time.

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The NCAA’s Sports Sponsorship webpage

lists 58 institutions sponsoring beach

volleyball: four in Division III, seven in Division II,

and 47 in Division I.


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04.2016: the Quick

A panel of current and former Pac-12 men’s volleyball coaches voted to determine the 16-player All-Century men’s volleyball roster to honor the 100th birthday of the conference. UCLA dominated the list, placing nine players on the roster, including Karch Kiraly, who was named Pac-12 Player of the Century. The current U.S. Women’s National Team head coach was a four-time All-American and led UCLA to three national championships. UCLA’s Al Scates earned the Coach of the Century designation, boasting a 1,239-290 record in his 50 years at the helm of the Bruin program.

Stanford’s Erik Shoji represents as the youngest player on the ros-ter, while Ernie Suwara, who played for the 1964 U.S. Olympic team, is the oldest. Stanford, USC, and UCLA are the only Pac-12 schools that sponsor a men’s volleyball program.

PAC-12 ALL-CENTURY MEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM � Dusty Dvorak (USC 1977-80) � Scott Fortune (Stanford 1985-87, 89) � Bryan Ivie (USC 1988-91) � Celso Kalache (USC 1973-75, 77) � Karch Kiraly (UCLA 1979-82) � Mike Lambert (Stanford 1993-95, 97) � Ricci Luyties (UCLA 1981-84) � Stein Metzger (UCLA 1993-96) � Paul Nihipali (UCLA 1994-97) � Jeff Nygaard (UCLA 1992-95) � Doug Partie (UCLA 1981-84) � Pat Powers (USC 1978-80) � Erik Shoji (Stanford 2009-12) � Ernie Suwara (UCLA 1965-67) � Brandon Taliaferro (UCLA 1997-2000) � Asbjorn Volstad (UCLA 1984-87)

PAC-12 HONORS CONFERENCE’S ALL-TIME BEST PLAYERS

REID PRIDDY RETURNS TO INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONTeam USA outside hitter Reid Priddy, who was sidelined with an ACL tear in 2014, has returned to professional competition. In late January, Priddy signed with Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova in the Italian SuperLega. Current U.S. Men’s National Team setter Micah Christenson also plays for Lube.

From left: Sinjin Smith, Karch Kiraly, Erik Shoji.


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04.2016: the Quick

Q What are the intangible qualities that attract you to a recruit besides her

physical abilities on the court? What can young players do to improve their chances of being recruited?

AQualities that set certain recruits apart for us here at the University of

San Diego are competitive energy, body language, communication skills, and a passion for playing. I think these are things that every coach values, but each coach might word them a bit differently to fit their individual style. No matter who you’re talking to, these characteristics are essential in the make-up of a high-level recruit.

For me, it often comes down to intan-gibles when recruiting one particular athlete over another. When the difference in two recruits’ on-court play is small, we’ll rely on character to make the decision. Many times when we return from a tournament or a campus tour, our coaching staff discusses these attributes at length. Finding athletes with these qualities is certainly not an exact science—just as recruiting physical gifts is

not black and white, either. However, expe-rienced coaches put a lot of stock in these intangible traits, and they have a good idea of how they fit in the big picture.

The first thing I would recommend a recruit do is contact colleges early so they can start a dialogue. I realize many high school athletes may not enjoy speaking with college coaches about recruitment, but communication is so important in this process, and it gets easier with practice.

From an athletic standpoint, my best piece of advice is to be open to change. There are many different styles and philoso-phies of teaching volleyball, and I always recommend staying open to feedback from every club, high school, and camp coach you interact with.

All you have to do is watch the Olympics to see that offense and defense are not universally taught the same way. I admire players who are willing to fail in the short term when learning a new skill to improve in the long run. It is so reward-ing to see that breakthrough moment when a player can finally fit a new skill into her game.

Ask the Pro:

Brent Hilliard played opposite for Long Beach State, leading his team to the national championship in 1991 and earning NCAA Player of the Year honors in 1992. The four-time All-American played professionally in Europe and helped Team USA win bronze at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 before begin-ning his collegiate coaching career as the head coach of Cuyamaca Junior College in 1999. Now the University of San Diego associate head coach, Hilliard boasts 15 years with the Torero women’s volleyball program, a stint that has included six consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.

BRENT HILLIARD

➼ Have a question for a volleyball pro? Send it to [email protected].

DALY SANTANA GOES PROMinnesota’s star outside hitter and reign-ing Big Ten Player of the Year Daly Santana kicked off her professional career by signing with the San Juan Capitalinas. The Puerto Rico native returned home after leading Minnesota to the national semifinals in her senior season and then competing for the Puerto Rican national team in the NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament in Lincoln, Nebraska, in early January. Santana made her Capitalinas debut on January 28, in a match against Las Indias de Mayaguez.

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SPLIT SQUATDue to repetitive movements, most athletes have one leg that is stronger than the other. Split squats fix that strength imbalance and strengthen the hip muscles, stabilizing the pelvis against rotational forces. This combo aids performance and protects the knees. Split squats are also the basic pattern that must be mastered before do-ing the Olympic split jerk, a high-level lift used by some collegiate strength coaches. Add external load with a barbell on the front or back of the shoulders or with a plate held above the head.

1 Stand with your feet hip-width distance apart, toes straight. With your core tight, take a big step forward with your right foot. Keeping shoulders and hips squared straight ahead, drop down to a deep lunge position and pause. Both knees should be at 90 degree angles.

2 Keeping your knees in alignment with your ankles, feet straight, and weight through your front heel, push into the ground to straighten both legs. Shoulder and hips should remain square and feet should not have moved. Repeat to the end of the rep count and then perform with the opposite foot forward.

FULL SQUATFull squats activate more muscles and develop coordination bet-ter than any other exercise. When done for a full range of motion, squats strengthen the entire lower body, improve hip mobility, and increase knee-tendon strength, which helps reduce injuries.

Remember to keep your knees over your ankles and ankles over the center of your foot at all times. An external load can be added to the squat with a barbell on the back of the shoulders (back squat), a barbell on the front of shoulders (front squat), or a kettlebell or dumbbell in the hands at chest height (goblet squat).

1 Stand with your feet hip-width distance apart and toes rela-tively straight. Tighten your core by pulling your bellybutton in and relaxing your shoulders down and back. Keeping your weight on your heels, squat down as low as your range of mo-tion will allow.

2 Pause at the bottom to control forces on the knee, and then push into the ground with your feet to rise back up to a full standing position. Repeat.

BUILD YOUR BASEDEVELOP BASIC STRENGTH AND PRACTICE KEY MOVEMENTS TO PREPARE ATHLETES FOR SUCCESS

By Tony Duckwall • Photos by Megan Stearman

With so much information about strength de-velopment available for athletes and coaches, it is important to know what really matters when designing a strength program for ju-niors players. These pointers will help athletes build the strength necessary to excel in college without putting them at risk for injury.

REMEMBER, STRENGTH TRAINING IS A SKILL.Too often, coaches and athletes see setting, serving, blocking, and hitting as skills to be developed and strength training as something you just kind of do. This ideology could not be further from the truth. Athletic strength training is complex. It is a combination of joint mobility, joint stability, balance, body awareness, focus, muscular coordination, and exertion.

Treating strength workouts as practices turns the weight room into a learning environ-ment where athletes develop concepts, see the in-game applications of increased strength, ask questions, deal with small failures, and make progress. A practice-level focus on excellence of

execution allows athletes to develop the physical competency that creates proper joint movement, muscular force line production, and body aware-ness. These are crucial attributes that enhance performance in the weight room and on the court while reducing the risk of injury.

EVERYTHING STARTS WITH THE BASICS.Eager athletes and well-meaning coaches often make the mistake of getting too complicated, doing too much, and progress-ing too fast in the weight room. Even if your athletes would love to play volleyball for the University of Nebraska someday, trying to mimic its strength program with 15 and 16 year olds will not get you there.

Instead, high school athletes should focus on developing the five basic strength patterns that build the foundation for current successes and will be the cornerstone for integration into collegiate athletics. The five basic strength patterns are the full squat, split squat, hinge, upper body push, and upper body pull.

WATCH KIVA ATHLETES DEMONSTRATE THESE

MOVEMENTS AT VOLLEYBALLMAG.COM.

22 | VOLLEYBALLMAG.COM | March/April 2016 VOLLEYBALLMAG.COM | 23

UPPER BODY PULLJust like the upper body push, upper body pulls can be performed in a horizontal or vertical plane. For volleyball players, we prefer the vertical pull, in this case, pull-ups. Pull-ups are great for developing upper body strength and shoulder extension. Most young female athletes will need to use an assistance band to perform pull-ups, but the goal should be to use thinner and thinner bands until the athlete is able to perform bodyweight pull-ups unassisted.

1 Grasp a pull-up bar with a shoulder-width grip, palms facing away. Hang to a full extension of the elbow joint.

2 In a controlled manner, with your elbows making a straight line from your wrist to shoulders, pull your body up until your chin is over the bar. Lower back to a full extension and repeat.

TRAINING PROGRAM DETAILS

â Before using external loads, master the mechanics of each movement with no added weight.

â Once the movement has been mastered with bodyweight, perform 3 sets of 10-12 reps with a moderate external load in a controlled manner. Take one second to raise the weight and two to three to lower. Rest approximately one minute between sets.

â To build offseason strength, perform 3-5 sets of each exercise for 5-8 reps with two minutes rest between. When eight reps becomes easy for all sets, gently increase load.

â To build preseason power, perform 5 sets of 3-5 reps, raising the weight in a safe but explosive manner and lowering for a two count. Rest is approximately two minutes between sets.

â The total body can be trained in this manner in 45 minutes or less, making this program effective and time-efficient.

â Training should be done on 2-3 nonconsecutive days a week.

â This program can be used by athletes as young as 9, focusing on bodyweight proficiency to establish a base of fitness and muscular coordination.

HINGEThe hinge is more commonly called the deadlift. This exercise increases ground-force production in a way that simulates jumping. It also develops the posterior chain (backside muscles) and corrects any front-to-back strength imbalances caused by seasonal play. Deadlifts even correct posture and balance hamstring-to-quadriceps strength, which is a key part of any ACL-protection strategy. The hinge develops the strength foundation athletes need to explosively perform Olympic lifts, such as the power clean or snatch, once they enter college.

1 Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Bend down and grasp the bar with hands slightly wider than shoulder-width. Position the bar close to your shins. Fully extend your elbows, stick your chest out, and look straight ahead.

2 Simultaneously extend your hips and straighten your legs to stand up. Keep your back straight and the bar close to your body. Squeeze your glutes to complete the movement. Reverse the movement, pulling your hips back to return the bar to the ground.

UPPER BODY PUSHThe upper body push can be horizontal, like a push-up, or vertical. For developing volleyball athletes, I prefer vertical pushing. The standing shoulder press develops a strong shoulder structure when the arms are extended overhead, which strengthens the blocking muscles and injury-proofs the shoulders.

This movement also sets the groundwork for learning the jerk part of the clean and jerk, which is a mainstay in a lot of collegiate strength programs.

To avoid shoulder pain, shrug your shoulders at the top of the movement. Pressing the bar over your head, locking your elbows, and shrugging your shoulders towards the ceiling prevent shoulder impingement.

1 Proper overhead press form starts by standing with the bar on the front of your shoulders. Hands should be slightly wider than collarbones, and elbows should be raised.

2 Press the bar over your head until your elbows are locked and even with your ears. Don’t use your legs—keep them straight. Lower the bar to your shoulders and repeat.


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ARIZONA STORM CLUB STANDOUT Khalia Lanier’s father knows a thing or two about high-level athletics.

Bob Lanier is an NBA Hall of Famer who enjoyed an outstanding career with the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks, both of which have since retired his number.

But for Khalia Lanier, one of her father’s favorite sayings has stuck with her through the years: Put the “extra” in “ordinary” and you get “extraordinary.”

“I’ve learned from my dad’s experience,” she said. “The words he has to offer mean a lot to me. He’s helped me with this journey. I’ve always tried to take his advice and learn from it.”

To say the least, Lanier has taken her father’s words to heart and has done a rather good job of putting the extra in ordinary.

Lanier has impressive resumes at the high school, club, and international levels as an outside hitter. In the fall, she’s headed to USC to continue her career as the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2016 according to Volleyball ’s annual Girls’ Fab 50 poll, which asks an esteemed panel of Division I college coaches to rank the top recruits in the class. Lanier, also the 2015-2016 Gatorade National Player of the Year, edged Kansas juniors standout

and Volleyball High School Player of the Year Audriana Fitzmorris for this year’s top honor.

“She makes everybody around her so much better,” said Arizona Storm club direc-tor Terri Spann, who coaches Lanier at the 18s level. “Khalia is so athletic. She can do whatever you put in front of her. She’s an amazing athlete.”

And she’s not a bad volleyball player, either. The 6'2" Lanier, who touches 10'6", gets it done all over the court. “Khalia is an explosive hitter who jumps out of the gym. But one of her best strengths is ball control,” Spann noted.

Lanier, who has been playing the sport for five years, said a big adjustment for her in recent times has been with her confidence level. “I used to think about errors and now I’m starting to get over that,” she said. “Terri has these things she calls the ‘7 Cs,’ which are things such as confidence, competitiveness, and compatibility. I focus on as many of those as I can. I’ve been working on the mental aspect of the game and trying to strategize about who is on the other side of the net. I’ve also been working on taking on more of a leadership role, whether it’s high school, club, or Team USA. I’m working on everything. Everything can always be improved upon.”

FACTORBy Mike Miazga

ARIZONA JUNIORS STANDOUT KHALIA LANIER IS TAKING HER DAD’S ADVICE AND PUTTING THE “EXTRA” IN “EXTRAORDINARY”

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the same core group of players. Instead, Lanier and the likes of longtime team-mates Oleksak, Justine Spann, Lauren Stivrins, Hannah Combs, Willow Johnson, Kameryn Hill, and Alyssa Chisholm will try to win their third GJNC gold medal since their 15s season.

“We’re extremely motivated this year,” Lanier said. “We all have the same common goal. We all want to redeem ourselves out

there for losing nationals last year. It’s such a great group of girls on and off the court. We love playing with each other, and we have such great chemistry, and that is what is go-ing to set us apart.”

Lanier’s long-term goals include playing in the Olympics one day. Whatever route she decides to go, however, there’s little doubt she will have success down the road.

“The sky is the limit for her,” Xavier

College Prep coach Lamar-Renee Bryant said. “If she wants to be an Olympian, she has all the tools to do so. She’s going to have a great career at USC, and it’s going to be a lot of fun watching her. Khalia is a true gem. She’s a six-rotation outside hitter who is a dynamic attacker from the front row and the back row. She can handle the ball and play good defense. She’s one of those one-in-a-million players.”

Today, Spann sees a completely dif-ferent player. “[Khalia] used to question herself and say she didn’t know if she could hit around a big block,” Spann said. “I would say, ‘You know, you always can hit over it.’ Now she can hit over and around the block and also can hit the ball anywhere she wants on the court. She’s not just a volleyball player. She’s an athlete who plays volleyball.”

Arizona Storm teammate and setter Katie Oleksak (a Colorado State signee) noted Lanier brings another all-important aspect to the table—a great personality.

“She’s our jokester,” Oleksak said. “She’s funny and outgoing and fun to be around in the gym. Khalia always lightens the mood.”

Spann agreed. “Khalia is an amazing athlete, but her personality constantly shines on the court. She’s a lot of fun to be around, and she puts everybody in a good mood. That helps team chemistry. We’ve been part of some successful volleyball teams, and Khalia has helped us because she’s an amaz-ing volleyball player and she keeps this group of girls very relaxed and makes sure we’re having fun.”

A more relaxed and interactive team, Lanier noted, usually means favorable results in the win-loss column. “I know I definitely can be intense and get frustrated with my-self,” she said. “It’s so much easier when you are loose and having fun out there.”

A major eye-opener for Lanier has been her experience in the USA Volleyball High Performance pipeline. She most recently played for the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team that competed in the FIVB Women’s U18 World Championship in Peru in August of last year. With Lanier’s help, that team ad-vanced to the gold-medal match.

“It’s been very beneficial,” Lanier said of her USAV experience. “It definitely was humbling at first seeing people in your age range do the same things you do and have the same skill set or higher. It’s been nice learning from other countries and from girls who play your same position.”

GYNT head coach Jim Stone, who is the former women’s coach at Ohio State, labeled Lanier one of the top-performing

outside hitters in the world championships by the end of the tournament. Stone said two things stood out about Lanier in that particular environment.

“First, she is a consummate team player,” he said. “She would focus on anything that would impact the team in a positive way. This might be working on her own game, problem-solving, talking with teammates and coaches, or making suggestions. What would be in the best interests of the team was always at the forefront of her thoughts.

“The second thing is that when in a com-petitive situation, she would battle. Khalia has a very strong competitive streak in her. The competition was not just the score-board. When passing, she would battle the server. When hitting, she would battle the block. She would compete very hard to win the individual battles inside a point.”

Lanier has enjoyed plenty of success over the last four years at Xavier College Prep High School in Phoenix (where she has a 4.21 GPA) and with her Arizona Storm club. This past fall, Lanier, who won a state title at Xavier as a sophomore, was part of a 34-7 team that made it to the state final. She’s won a pair of USAV Junior Nationals titles as well.

After this club season ends, Lanier will turn her attention to her collegiate career at USC. But it’s not going to be all volleyball for Lanier in Los Angeles.

“I have a different view on everything,” said Lanier, who is considering majoring in something in the medical field (orthopedic surgery has crossed her mind as a possible ca-reer path). “I’m going to college not for it to be all volleyball. I chose USC over my other options because it was the best fit for me academically without volleyball being a part of it. I’m excited to play for USC. During

my official visit, I was able to hang out with some of the players and got a really good feel for the school.”

But first, Lanier would like to end her club career on a high note. Last summer, Arizona Storm came within one victory of the 17s title, which would have meant they’d be playing this year for a chance to win four USA Open division titles in a row in successive age divisions with

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CAITLYN COOPERHEIGHT: 5'10"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Ridge Point (Missouri City, Texas)CLUB: Absolute Volleyball Academy of TexasCOLLEGE: Kentucky IMANI DAVISHEIGHT: 6'3"POSITION: MBHIGH SCHOOL: All Saints Episcopal (Fort Worth, Texas)CLUB: Texas AdvantageCOLLEGE: USC M. E. DODGEHEIGHT: 5'10"POSITION: L/OHHIGH SCHOOL: East Troy (Wis.)CLUB: Milwaukee StingCOLLEGE: Wisconsin LEAH EDMONDHEIGHT: 6'2"POSITION: MB/OHHIGH SCHOOL: P. L. Dunbar (Lexington, Ky.)CLUB: Lexington UnitedCOLLEGE: Kentucky AUDRIANA FITZMORRISHEIGHT: 6'6"POSITION: MBHIGH SCHOOL: St. James (Lenexa, Kan.)CLUB: InvasionCOLLEGE: Stanford MADELEINE GATESHEIGHT: 6'3"POSITION: MBHIGH SCHOOL: La Jolla (Calif.)CLUB: CoastCOLLEGE: UCLA

JENNA GRAY HEIGHT: 6'1"POSITION: SHIGH SCHOOL: St. James (Lenexa, Kan.)CLUB: InvasionCOLLEGE: Stanford MORGYN GREERHEIGHT: 6'3"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Dripping Springs (Texas)CLUB: Austin Jrs.COLLEGE: Florida ALLIE GREGORYHEIGHT: 5'7"POSITION: LHIGH SCHOOL: Assumption (Louisville, Ky.)CLUB: KIVACOLLEGE: Florida NATALIE HABENHEIGHT: 5'9"POSITION: LHIGH SCHOOL: Edina (Minn.)CLUB: Northern LightsCOLLEGE: Purdue

MOLLY HAGGERTYHEIGHT: 6'1"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: St. Francis (Wheaton, Ill.)CLUB: Sports PerformanceCOLLEGE: Wisconsin

ALEXIS HARTHEIGHT: 6'0"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Truman (Independence, Mo.)CLUB: InvasionCOLLEGE: Minnesota MORGAN HENTZHEIGHT: 5'8"POSITION: OH/LHIGH SCHOOL: Notre Dame Academy (Park Hills, Ky.)CLUB: Northern KentuckyCOLLEGE: Stanford CHEYENNE HUSKEYHEIGHT: 6'2"POSITION: SHIGH SCHOOL: Columbus (Texas)CLUB: Houston SkylineCOLLEGE: Florida

TOP 5 PLAYERS IN THE CLASS

1 Khalia Lanier2 Audriana Fitzmorris3 Lauren Stirvins4 Orie Agbaji5 Regan Pittman

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ORIE AGBAJI HEIGHT: 6'3"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Oak Park (Kansas City, Mo.)CLUB: Club NorthCOLLEGE: Texas

HUNTER ATHERTONHEIGHT: 6'0"POSITION: OH/SHIGH SCHOOL: Coffman (Dublin, Ohio)CLUB: MintonetteCOLLEGE: Nebraska

BROOKE BAILEY HEIGHT: 6'3"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Jackson (Massillon, Ohio)CLUB: Academy Volleyball ClevelandCOLLEGE: Ohio State

ALLIE BARBERHEIGHT: 6'5"POSITION: MBHIGH SCHOOL: Cedarburg (Wis.)CLUB: Milwaukee StingCOLLEGE: Marquette TAYLOR BORUPHEIGHT: 6'3"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Loudoun County (Leesburg, Va.)CLUB: Metro VBCCOLLEGE: North Carolina ABIGAIL BUCKINGHAMHEIGHT: 6'1"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Churchill (San Antonio, Texas)CLUB: San Antonio MagicCOLLEGE: Texas

JADA BURSEHEIGHT: 6'1"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: DeSoto (Texas)CLUB: Texas AdvantageCOLLEGE: Kansas HOLLY CARLTONHEIGHT: 6'5"POSITION: S/OHHIGH SCHOOL: Potomac Falls (Va.)CLUB: Metro VBCCOLLEGE: North Carolina TIFFANY CLARKHEIGHT: 5'11"POSITION: LHIGH SCHOOL: Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.)CLUB: Sports PerformanceCOLLEGE: Michigan

Compiled by Mike Miazga and voted on by an esteemed panel of Division I women’s coaches

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TORREY VAN WINDENHEIGHT: 6'3"POSITION: MB/Opp.HIGH SCHOOL: Vintage (Napa, Calif.)CLUB: Five StarzCOLLEGE: UCLA MACKENZI WELSHHEIGHT: 6'0"POSITION: SHIGH SCHOOL: Plainfield East (Plainfield, Ill.)CLUB: Sports PerformanceCOLLEGE: Michigan BLAIR WESTERLUNDHEIGHT: 6'3"POSITION: MBHIGH SCHOOL: Brentwood Christian (Austin, Texas)CLUB: Austin Jrs.COLLEGE: Texas

KENDALL WHITEHEIGHT: 5'5"POSITION: LHIGH SCHOOL: Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.)CLUB: MuncianaCOLLEGE: Penn State

JULIA SCOLESHEIGHT: 6'1"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: South Iredell (Statesville, N.C.)CLUB: Carolina Jrs.COLLEGE: North Carolina MIA SOKOLOWSKIHEIGHT: 6'4"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Tucson Magnet (Tucson, Ariz.)CLUB: ZonaCOLLEGE: Florida LAUREN STIVRINSHEIGHT: 6'4"POSITION: MBHIGH SCHOOL: Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.)CLUB: Arizona StormCOLLEGE: Nebraska RONIKA STONEHEIGHT: 6'3"POSITION: MBHIGH SCHOOL: Valley Christian (San Jose, Calif.)CLUB: VisionCOLLEGE: Oregon

KATHRYN PLUMMERHEIGHT: 6'6"POSITION: S/Opp.HIGH SCHOOL: Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)CLUB: TstreetCOLLEGE: Stanford JACKIE QUADEHEIGHT: 6'1"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Carroll (Fort Wayne, Ind.)CLUB: MuncianaCOLLEGE: Illinois JOLIE RASMUSSENHEIGHT: 6'2"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Canyon Crest Academy (San Diego, Calif.)CLUB: CoastCOLLEGE: Oregon AUTUMN ROUNSAVILLEHEIGHT: 5'5"POSITION: LHIGH SCHOOL: Dripping Springs (Texas)CLUB: Austin PerformanceCOLLEGE: Texas

Ronika Stone

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KATIE MYERSHEIGHT: 6'8"POSITION: OH/MBHIGH SCHOOL: Westerville (Ohio)CLUB: MintonetteCOLLEGE: Maryland KATIE OLEKSAKHEIGHT: 5'9"POSITION: SHIGH SCHOOL: Sunnyslope (Phoenix, Ariz.)CLUB: Arizona StormCOLLEGE: Colorado State REGAN PITTMANHEIGHT: 6'5"POSITION: MBHIGH SCHOOL: St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.)CLUB: KC PowerCOLLEGE: Minnesota

KAYLIN KORTEHEIGHT: 6'1"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Morris (Ill.)CLUB: 1st AllianceCOLLEGE: Illinois RACHAEL KRAMERHEIGHT: 6'8"POSITION: MBHIGH SCHOOL: Desert Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.)CLUB: AspireCOLLEGE: Florida KHALIA LANIERHEIGHT: 6'2"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.)CLUB: Arizona StormCOLLEGE: USC MELANIE MCHENRYHEIGHT: 6'2"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Speedway (Ind.)CLUB: Circle CityCOLLEGE: Louisville

BRITTANY MCLEANHEIGHT: 6'1"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Rosemount (Minn.)CLUB: Northern LightsCOLLEGE: Minnesota GIA MILANAHEIGHT: 6'2"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Romeo (Mich.)CLUB: Oakland EliteCOLLEGE: Maryland KYLIE MILLERHEIGHT: 5'11"POSITION: SHIGH SCHOOL: Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.)CLUB: Forza1COLLEGE: UCLA MCKENNA MILLERHEIGHT: 6'1"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Murrieta Valley (Lancaster, Calif.)CLUB: Forza1COLLEGE: BYU

NORENE IOSIAHEIGHT: 5'10"POSITION: SHIGH SCHOOL: Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.)CLUB: Mizuno Long BeachCOLLEGE: Hawaii WILLOW JOHNSONHEIGHT: 6'3"POSITION: Opp.HIGH SCHOOL: Notre Dame (Phoenix, Ariz.)CLUB: Arizona StormCOLLEGE: Oregon MICHAELA KEEFEHEIGHT: 6'2"POSITION: OHHIGH SCHOOL: Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.)CLUB: SunshineCOLLEGE: Stanford

DARRIELLE KINGHEIGHT: 6'3"POSITION: MBHIGH SCHOOL: DeSoto (Texas)CLUB: Texas AdvantageCOLLEGE: Florida

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NAME | Height | Position | Year | High School | Club | College

PRESLIE ANDERSON | 6'3" | MB | Jr. | Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) | Aspire | Cal

BROOKE BOTKIN | 6'2" | OH/S | Jr. | Pearland (Texas) | Absolute Volleyball Academy of Texas | USC

BRIONNE BUTLER | 6'2" | MB/OH | Jr. | Boling (Texas) | Houston Jrs. | Texas

MEGAN COONEY | 6'4" | OH/MB | Jr. | Shawnee Heights (Tecumseh, Kan.) | KC Power | Illinois

LAUREN FORTE | 6'4" | MB | Jr. | Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) | Aspire | Cal

PAIGE HAMMONS | 6'2" | OH | Jr. | Sacred Heart (Louisville, Ky.) | KIVA | Florida

SYDNEY HILLEY | 6'0" | S/OH | Jr. | Champlin Park (Champlin, Minn.) | MN Select | Wisconsin

KAITLYN HORD | 6'3" | MB | Soph. | Henry Clay (Lexington, Ky.) | Lexington United | Undecided

MADISON LILLEY | 5'11" | S | Jr. | Blue Valley West (Overland Park, Kan.) | KC Power | Kentucky

GRACE LOBERG | 6'2" | OH | Jr. | Geneva (Ill.) | Club Fusion | Wisconsin

JASMYN MARTIN | 6'3" | OH | Jr. | Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) | MN Select | Minnesota

CAMI MAY | 6'3" | MB | Jr. | Cinco Ranch (Katy, Texas) | Houston Jrs. | Penn State

MACKENZIE MAY | 6'3" | OH | Jr. | Wahlert Catholic (Dubuque, Iowa) | Adrenaline Volleyball Academy | UCLA

CHESNEY MCCLELLAN | 6'4" | MB | Jr. | Bearden (Knoxville, Tenn.) | K2 | Nebraska

JENNIFER MOSSER | 5'11" | OH | Jr. | Lakeville South (Lakeville, Minn.) | MN Select | UCLA

MEREDITH NORRIS | 6'3" | OH | Jr. | Corunna (Mich.) | Michigan Elite | Michigan State

BRIE ORR | 5'9" | S/OH | Jr. | Eagan (Minn.) | Northern Lights | Iowa

DANA RETTKE | 6'7" | MB | Jr. | Riverside Brookfield (Riverside, Ill.) | 1st Alliance | Wisconsin

STEPHANIE SAMEDY | 6'2" | OH/MB | Jr. | East Ridge (Clermont, Fla.) | Top Select | Minnesota

LAUREN SANDERS | 6'5" | MB | Jr. | Glacier Peak (Snohomish, Wash.) | Washington Volleyball Academy | Washington

ASHLEY SHOOK | 6'1" | S | Jr. | Plainfield Central (Plainfield, Ill.) | Sports Performance | Texas

LEXI SUN | 6'2" | OH | Jr. | Santa Fe Christian (Solana Beach, Calif.) | Coast | Texas

AYANNA SWAN | 6'2" | OH | Jr. | Mills E. Godwin (Richmond, Va.) | Richmond Volleyball Club | Ohio State

JAZZ SWEET | 6'3" | Opp. | Jr. | Shawnee Heights (Tecumseh, Kan.) | Topeka Impact | Nebraska

MARIAH WHALEN | 6'1" | OH/MB | Jr. | Newman Catholic (Wausau, Wis.) | Wisconsin Volleyball Academy | Wisconsin

252016

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

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Four players.

Four concussions.One tough season.“It never crossed my

mind that I’d have a season with four concussions,” said Damian Elder, head

coach of the women’s volleyball team at Mercer University. “I think in three prior seasons we had two concussions. You expect one a season … but four concussions are unheard of.”

Not anymore. Not for the Mercer Bear’s volleyball

team of Macon, Georgia, which became “hyper-vigilant” about these traumatic brain injuries after more than one-third of its players suffered concussions during the 2015 season.

“We erred on the side of caution,” said Elder, who is adamant that everyone in the volleyball community understand the dan-gers posed by these injuries and the protocols to follow when a player has a concussion. “If a player got hit near the chest, shoulder, or head, I was like, ‘You’re out.’ ”

Volleyball talked to other coaches, players, and concussion experts nationwide who share Elder’s concerns about these brain-changing injuries.

Although volleyball has a low incident rate of concussions—about 455 annually by collegiate players—these forceful blows that cause the brain to bounce around in the skull can have severe consequences in the short and long term.

“When [concussions] occur, they can indeed have serious ramifications,” said Dr. William Briner, chair of USA Volleyball’s Sports Medicine and Performance Commission, “and they may be harder for female athletes to recover from. So it’s im-portant to recognize them.”

Veteran high school volleyball coach Liz Bohl agreed. “Concussions are very serious and should be treated as serious injuries,” said the varsity coach at Bloomer High School in Wisconsin. “[Coaches] have a responsibility to be aware of these injuries. We’re talking about someone’s brain.”

Those risks struck a personal and wor-risome cord with the members of Mercer’s

coaching staff, who racked their brains to find out why their players suf-fered an unprecedented number of concussions this season.

“I asked if we had one drill that was more dangerous than another,” said Amos Mansfield, Mercer’s director of sports medi-cine. “Did we run two lines of players spiking and killing the ball? Did players have to dodge other balls while they were playing?”

Elder said no—none of his play-ers had suffered concussions during practice drills.

“And none [of the concus-sions] came from the ground or running into a player, pole, or table,” said Elder, who didn’t want to identify his injured players for privacy reasons. “All were caused by ball contact to the head.”

The first concussion happened during a match on August 29 when an outside hitter went up for a block and the ball smacked into her head.

“She almost immediately had significant symptoms,” Elder said. “She was nauseous and threw up.”

The next day, another Mercer player suffered a concussion. This time, the ball ricocheted into the libero’s head after a dig. “She’s our second best player, and she gets injured in the very next match,” Elder said.

But Mercer’s rash of bad luck wasn’t over yet.

In September, the team’s setter suffered a concussion when she went for a dig dur-ing a scrimmage and the ball nailed her in the head.

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?A concussion is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, stretching and damaging the brain cells and creating chemical changes in the brain.SOURCE: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

Approximately

455 concussions are reported

annually in collegiate women’s volleyball.

The concussion rate among women’s

collegiate volleyball players is

3.57 per 10,000 athletic

exposures (games and practices combined).

The Concussion ConversationAlthough most of the buzz about traumatic brain injuries in athletics revolves around football, volleyball athletes are also at risk

BY LISA WADE MCCORMICK

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1. immediately removed from play;2. evaluated by a trainer or medical

professional; and3. removed from play for the day if the

concussion is confirmed.“Our policy is that athletes [with concus-

sions] see a physician within 24 hours of the incident,” said Mercer Director of Medicine Mansfield. “We also talk to the players and their roommates about concussion signs and symptoms. ”

When players are symptom-free, they can start the return-to-play protocols. But

Mansfield and his staff never rush athletes with concussions to get back in the game.

“We know athletes don’t want to sit out,” Mansfield said. “But concussions are injuries that take time to heal. If we don’t give players time to heal, they’re likely to have more concussions and more severe issues.”

Some volleyball players who have a history of concussions now include protective head-gear in their safety protocols.

Players like Wisconsin high school junior Krystina Seibel, who has suffered three concussions in basketball and one in vol-leyball since eighth grade. Krystina said the headgear gives her an added sense of security.

“Before I had this [headgear], I was hesitant; I was scared that I’d get another concussion,” said the 5'7" Bloomer High School libero and setter. “But this made me feel safer. I wasn’t scared anymore. It gave me the feeling of having an extra cushion on my head.”

Krystina and her parents readily admit the Gamebreaker headgear won’t prevent the scrappy multi-sport athlete from having another concussion.

“But it helps absorb the impact,” said Kevin Seibel, Krystina’s father.

Bohl, who is Krystina’s high school coach, supports the junior’s decision to wear the headgear. She also understands the light-weight helmet won’t stop her player from suffering another traumatic blow to the brain.

“But it makes her feel safer,” Bohl said. “She’s a player who sacrifices her body for sports, and this [headgear] was a good fit for her. She wasn’t so hyper-aware of the pos-sibility of getting another concussion.”

The NCAA, however, doesn’t allow play-ers to wear protective headgear.

“There is no evidence that this use of such headgear actually prevents concus-sions,” said NCAA spokesman Christopher Radford. “Furthermore, there is some evidence to suggest that when allowed to wear headgear, athletes will become more aggressive in their play, which actually increases their risk of injury.”

He added: “There are no available safety standards to guide the manufacturing and performance of helmets that may be used in

CONCUSSION SIGNS OBSERVED BY COACHES/TRAINERS ❚ Can’t recall events prior to or after a

hit or fall

❚ Appears dazed or stunned

❚ Forgets an instruction, is confused about an assignment or position, or is unsure of the game, score, or opponent

❚ Moves clumsily

❚ Answers questions slowly

❚ Loses consciousness (even briefly)

❚ Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes

CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS REPORTED BY PLAYERS ❚ Headache or “pressure” in head

❚ Nausea or vomiting

❚ Balance problems, dizziness, or double/blurry vision

❚ Bothered by light or noise

❚ Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy

❚ Confusion or concentration or memory problems

❚ Just not “feeling right” or “feeling down”

CONCUSSION PROTOCOLS Coaches who suspect a player has a concussion should take the following steps.

❶ Remove the athlete from play.

❷ Ensure the player is evaluated by an appropriate health-care professional. If the player isn’t sent for immediate medical attention, a responsible adult must continually observe the athlete. Never leave a player with a suspected concussion alone.

❸ Inform the player’s parents or guardians about the possible concussion and give them information about the injury.

❹ Keep the player out of play the day of the injury and until a health-care professional with experience in evaluating concussions says the athlete is symptom-free and can start the return-to-play protocols.

The Bears now had three starters with concussions—and they were only three weeks into the season. “It was like [concus-sions] were picking off people crucial to our success,” Elder said.

The concussion curse struck Elder’s team one more time. During a practice in October, a ball drilled one of the middles in the head as she went for a block.

“By the fourth concussion, it was clear to me [which injuries] might turn into a concussion,” Elder said. “The way a player lands, their head movement and manner-isms. I’m definitely more educated [about concussions] and aware of the moments that they may happen.”

Has that increased concussion awareness changed his coaching philosophy?

“I’m not going to change the way I prac-tice, but I’m definitely going to be absolutely aware of every single ball that hits a player’s chin, shoulder, or head,” said Elder, whose team finished the season 10-19. “Even with a glancing blow, I’m going to stop practice and make sure our athletic trainer goes through the [concussion] checklist.

“The last thing I want to happen is for a player who may have a concussion to go through the rest of practice and put them-selves at risk.”

Elder said his players also have a heightened understanding of concussions and are more willing to self-report a pos-sible head injury.

“By our fourth concussion, everyone on the team was comfortable with someone who got hit saying: ‘I don’t want to take a chance’ and taking themselves out of a match.” Concussion awareness, however, starts early for all athletes at Mercer—not just those in the increasingly fast-paced sport of volley-ball, where balls are hit with tremendous force and intensity, players dive on the floor, and teammates often collide.

At the beginning of every season, this Division I school requires all varsity athletes to take a baseline concussion test that measures their verbal and visual memory, processing speed, and reaction time.

If a player suffers a blow to the head—or the coaches or staff notices any signs of a concussion—the athlete is:

Ball contact or surface contact caused more concussions in

women’s volleyball than player-to-player contact.

There is a higher rate

of concussions in women’s collegiate sports than men’s.

The overall injury rate was significantly

higher among collegiate volleyball players than

high school players. But the concussion rates were

about the same.

Wisconsin high school junior Krystina Seibel suffered four concussions playing volleyball and

basketball and now wears Gamebreaker headgear.


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the sport of volleyball. This is an additional impediment to their adoption.”

The NAIA doesn’t allow volleyball players to wear headgear, either.

USA Volleyball says players can wear “a foam helmet or headgear,” but that decision comes with a warning.

“The wearing of this type of protec-tive gear does not guarantee to prevent injury,” said Margie Mara, senior director of USA Volleyball.

Mike Juels, founder and CEO of Gamebreaker headgear, however, defends

his product and its use in volleyball.“Our headgear doesn’t prevent concus-

sions,” Mike Juels said. “No one can make that claim. It would be misleading.

“But we believe our product is reduc-ing the risk and severity of [concussions]. And we’ve never had anyone wearing our headgear while playing volleyball say they’ve suffered a concussion.”

Mercer’s head coach has already developed a strategy for next season to reduce the number of concussions among his players and protect them from the dangers posed by these injuries.

“I’m never going to allow any [player that gets hit] near the head to go unchecked or unnoticed,” Elder said.

He encourages other volleyball coaches at the high school and collegiate levels to follow his lead.

“I hope coaches lean toward care first—instead of play first,” he said. “I also hope everyone from administrators down under-stands that concussions are serious and they shouldn’t test the theory [with concussions] that nothing is wrong.

“We need to take concussions seriously.”

Concussion AdviceFor PLAYERS

➤ Know the symptoms.

➤ Self-report any signs.

➤ Don’t keep playing. You’re not doing your team any favors, and you’re putting your health at risk.

➤ Watch out for your teammates. Players who see a teammate struggling should immediately alert a coach or trainer.

For PARENTS ➤ Learn the symptoms.

➤ Take these injuries seriously.

➤ Have any signs of concussion immediately evaluated by a trainer or doctor.

➤ Don’t let children talk you out of seeking help. It’s not uncommon for children to say they’re fine—even when they aren’t.

For COACHES ➤ Learn to recognize the signs of a

concussion.

➤ Remove athletes from play if they show signs of a concussion.

➤ Give athletes time to rest and recover.

➤ Pay attention to the physical and emotional side of the athlete’s recovery. Concussions can be stressful for athletes. Their grades can fall, and they might need additional academic support.

More concussions

occur during competition than in practice.

The overall rate of concussions appears to be increasing, but some experts wonder

if that uptick is due to better reporting.

Krystina Seibel with her Bloomer High School teammates.


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KARCH’S BIG

DILEMMABefore the Rio Olympics in August,

women’s national team head coach Karch Kiraly will have to choose which of his

three all-star opposites stays home

By Jack Hamann


Teamed with Thompson in Lincoln, Lowe tallied a combined 22 kills and not a single hitting error in 34 attempts (.647) over less than 10 serving rotations.

Thompson tends to set her double-sub partner every chance she gets.

“You know that if Courtney says we’re doin’ it, we’re doin’ it,” said Fawcett. “That’s always such a big game-changer.”

“When you have a threat on the opposite,” said Thompson, “it just opens everything. When our opposites hit fast, it’s really tough for opposing middles to help on the block. And then the middle’s open, and I commit more on that. Then that opens up the left side.”

All three opposites praise Kiraly for his daily mantra: “Let it rip.” He wants his hitters to stay aggressive, even when a set or match is on the line. “I love that,” says Lowe. “I love that our team motto is not being scared in pressure situations. Be that clutch player. Know you can swing away and people will cover the block. It means you can stay in the flow, even when things get tight.”

“I’ve become more of an aggressive hitter,” said Fawcett. “With that comes a higher risk. I’ll make some errors, but I know the payoff in the long run. If it comes down and the game is on the line and you need someone to swing, I’m gonna swing.”

“I would rather have somebody who I know is gonna take the hardest, best shot at the ball than someone who’s gonna act nervous and and play it safe,” said Murphy. “Because, more likely, you’re gonna lose games by tipping and playing it safe. We play to win instead of playing not to lose.”

All three opposites know that one of them will be at home this August, watching the Olympics on TV. When Lowe first joined the team, she assumed the competition would be cutthroat, both on and off the court. “It may sound cliché, but that truly does not happen on this team,” she said. “People who are 100 percent competing for the same spot are friends, hanging out. Kelly’s always treated me with kindness,

no matter if she’s starting and I’m not, or vice versa. She’s the team sweetheart.

“[Nic and I], by the end of last summer, I feel like we’d bonded. She gives me really good feedback. If I’m in the game and she’s not, she’s showing me what I can do better.”

“We push each other,” said Fawcett. “We have absolutely the most respect for one an-other. We’re happy for each other. Obviously, we all want to go to the Olympics. But you’ve just got to play as hard as you can, knowing that choice is up to Karch.”

“At the end of the day,” said Murphy, “we want Team USA to be the best team in the world, regardless who is out there on the floor. If we can push each other to get better, and help the team in any way possible, that’s cool. Even if one of us isn’t on the roster, we know we played a part in the team’s success. That’s very important for our culture as a team. We all want to be out there, but that’s just not how it’s gonna be. So we have to find a way to work together and push each other. I think that we’ve done a really good job of that so far.”

From left: Kelly Murphy, Karsta Lowe, Nicole Fawcett.

KNICOLE FAWCETT KELLY MURPHY KARSTA LOWE

Birth Year 1986 1989 1993

Hometown Zanesfield, OH Wilmington, IL Rancho Santa Fe, CA

Height 6'4" 6'2" 6'4"

Dominant Hand right left left

College Penn State Florida UCLA

First Team All-American ’06, ’07, ’08 ’10, ’11 ’14

NCAA Championship ’07, ’08 N/A ’11

Joined National Team June 2009 April 2013 May 2015

Team USA Caps 129 80 34

Olympics N/A N/A N/A

World Championships ’14 ’14 N/A

World Cup ’15 N/A ’15

NORCECA ’16 (MVP), ’15 (MVP), ’13 ’13 (MVP) ’15

World Grand Prix ’09, ’10, ’13, ’15 ’13, ’14, ’15 ’15 (MVP)

Current Pro Club Novara, Italy Argeo, Japan Busto Arsizio, Italy

Kelly Murphy sat alone.It was just before noon. Murphy was in

Anaheim, where she and other volleyball athletes had just completed the first morning of the first training session of the four-year period known as the Rio de Janeiro Olympic quad. Although Murphy had been a three-time AVCA All-American at Florida and the former Gatorade National High School Player of the Year, she barely knew her fellow U.S. National Team hopefuls. A tad shy and a bit overwhelmed, Murphy retreated to the players’ lounge and ate lunch by herself.

“There was such a big group of new people,” she remembered. “The coaches were really focused on starting from the bottom and slowly teaching us how they wanted USA Volleyball to play.”

That methodical approach suited Murphy, whose shyness soon slipped away. The 6'2" left-handed opposite became a national team mainstay, leading the team in scoring dur-ing both the 2013 and 2014 international seasons. That second summer, she started on the first USA team ever to win the FIVB Women’s World Championship. With both opposites from the London Olympic roster (Destinee Hooker and Tayyiba Haneef-Park) no longer in the USA gym, Murphy’s path to Rio seemed clear.

But in 2015, at the start of the quad’s third summer, a new right-side hitter walked into the gym. Karsta Lowe, fresh out of UCLA, was two inches taller, two years younger, and, like Murphy, a strong southpaw. In her very first match wearing a USA uniform, Lowe was the leading scorer with 16 points in a 3-0 sweep of China. When USA won the 2015 World Grand Prix, Lowe was named the grueling month-long tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She was USA’s leading scorer in her rookie year, averag-ing 3.28 kills per set. Suddenly, Murphy’s Rio prospects were no longer a lock.

Last August, the 2015 World Cup in Japan offered the top two finishers the first two Olympic bids. Head coach Karch Kiraly left Murphy at home, teaming Lowe with veteran opposite Nicole Fawcett. USA finished third, going 5-0 in matches started by Fawcett (against generally lower-ranked competition), and 4-2 in matches started by Lowe (with losses to Serbia and Russia). Fawcett went on to start all five

matches of the 2015 NORCECA Continental Championship and all three matches of the 2016 NORCECA Olympic Qualifier. USA went undefeated in both tournaments, and Fawcett was named MVP each time.

Three world-class opposites. Two avail-able roster spots for Rio. One delicious dilemma for Kiraly and his staff.

“Our coaches say all the time that they have a tough job,” said Olympic veteran setter Courtney Thompson. “I think the oppo-site position, in particular, is making it really tough for them. You can make a case to take any two. You can make a case to start any one.”

“I would not want to be Karch,” said Lowe.Left-side pin hitters must serve, pass, hit,

block, and dig. Opposites, on the right, rarely need to pass or dig, and spend three rotations on the bench. “For opposites,” said Fawcett, “the main objective is to be a big hitter.”

For USA and other elite programs, that means being the go-to attacker even when the setter has to scramble for a bad pass. “We get a lot of out-of-system balls,” said Lowe. All three opposites have had matches in which they’ve averaged more than seven attempts per set. Last summer, Fawcett had 36 swings in four sets against the Dominican Republic. Lowe had 38 in four sets against Russia. In 2014, Murphy

took a combined 105 swings in back-to-back losses to Brazil.

With such a wealth of right-side talent, USA tries to use at least two opposites every set in a variation of the traditional 6-1 offense known as the double-sub. Kiraly pulls the starting op-posite when she rotates back for what would be her second serving rotation and inserts a substi-tute setter. At the same time, the starting setter is taken out for a replacement opposite. The substitute setter and opposite remain in for only three service rotations, giving USA nine straight rotations with three front-row hitters.

“Double-sub is one of the most difficult jobs on the court,” said Fawcett, “because you’re going in cold, and you have to make stuff happen immediately. You do your job and you sub out after those three rotations. End of discussion. Then you wait and do it again for the next set.”

Although Murphy, Lowe, and Fawcett all say they prefer to start, each is surpris-ingly enthusiastic when called upon to double sub, especially when Thompson is the setter. “[Courtney and I] have a special bond,” said Lowe, who served as the dou-ble sub with Thompson at the NORCECA Olympic Qualifier in Lincoln, Nebraska. “It was fun. You get pumped up for a short time, and you do everything you can.”

March/April 2016 | VOLLEYBALLMAG.COM | 45 WWhen one thinks of sports in Italy, various images come to mind: thousands of avid fans cheering their local soccer teams, skiers rushing down the Apennine Mountains at breakneck speeds, and surfers diving head-long into crisp, blue Mediterranean waters. A few years ago, beach volleyball would not have been included on such a list, but that is quickly changing. The sport has swept the country, due in large part to the efforts of two athletes on a mission. Marta Menegatti and her partner Viktoria Orsi Toth have domi-nated the international leaderboards, finding tremendous success on their path to the 2016 Olympics. Recently, Menegatti sat down to talk about the past year, her thoughts on the sport’s growth, and her hopes for the future.

VBM: What initially drew you to beach volleyball?

MM: Before playing as a beacher, I was an indoor volleyball player, which I started to play at 14 after leaving home to fully commit to practice. I practiced volleyball for 10 years before giving myself to the sand fully. I was still quite young when I was selected to play in the Trophy of the Regions, my first beach volley-

ball tournament. I earned silver and immedi-ately after was selected for the junior national team, and I started to play in the European and World Youth Championships every summer.

VBM: This year has been a resounding suc-cess for you and Viktoria. Gold in Sochi, dominance on the leaderboards, and forging a trail to Rio. What has the year meant to you?

MM: Yes, 2015 was for Vicky and me a year of tremendous personal and professional achieve-ments. It was our second season together and also marked the return of my longtime (and always) coach, Lissandro Carvalho. All of us had a very clear focus: qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. We started out well, earning bronze in the first Grand Slam and making excellent progress in the Olympic Qualification. In the middle of the season, we had a drop in our performance, which, combined with some of my various injuries, prevented us from playing in the final leg of the European Championship. Although disappointing, we started out again with fresh strength and determination, medaling in the last three tournaments of the year and gather-ing some important points toward Rio.

VBM: What was it like to win your first gold medal at the 2015 Sochi Open in Russia?

MM: Gold in Sochi will no doubt remain a milestone—not only in the history of Italian beach volleyball, but also in the history of Marta and Viki. The emotion of winning gold has been huge. It was such an achievement and a way to find ourselves again after a very difficult and compli-cated period.

VBM: Every athlete has their mind on Rio right now. How do you stay grounded and avoid getting overwhelmed by all the antici-pation and excitement?

MM: Rio is still months away, although every day goes by quickly. The important thing for us, looking forward, is to [focus] our energies in the right direction—walk-ing step by step without thinking of all the expectations, especially the ones we have for ourselves. Those are the most dangerous.

VBM: Volleyball, and beach volleyball in particular, is prospering all around the globe. Here in the U.S., beach volley-

MAKE WAY

ITALIAN BEACH VOLLEYBALL STAR MARTA MENEGATTI GOT A TASTE OF GOLD AT THE 2015 SOCHI OPEN AND SHE’S HUNGRY FOR MORE IN 2016

forMartaBy Dan D’Arpe



Replay

You could say we chose this “Replay” article by Mike Dodd, which celebrates the extraor-dinary career of Karch Kiraly after he won his 140th title and displaced Sinjin Smith as the winningest player of all time, in honor of the Pac-12 naming Kiraly its Player of the Century (see page 16). But let’s be honest: It’s never a bad time for a Karch throwback. This glowing tribute from one of Kiraly’s peers, competitors, and former teammates gives a glimpse into the greatest player ever to set foot on the sand—who just happens to be the same guy who will fearlessly lead our women’s national team into battle at the Rio Olympics in August.

IF YOU LOOK BACK at the gold medals in the Olympics and think about all the guys who came up at the same time, we had may-be the greatest single generation of volleyball players of any country. Ever. And Karch is the crown prince of our generation.

The first thing I wonder is how many Open titles he gave up while leading our in-door team in the ’80s. To put this record in perspective, that has to be considered. Karch has 140, and he’s probably going to get more. But he left at least a hundred at the gate.

In my mind, there’s no doubt he’s by far the greatest beach player ever. I think he’s the greatest volleyball player to ever play, in-doors or beach. If you know the history—if you know what’s gone down—you just have that much more respect for him and what he’s accomplished.

How many wins would he have if he’d been at the beach full time? You can’t be sure, because Smith and Stokie were a darn good team and Hov and I were darn good, too. But he’d have a solid 50 more, that’s for sure.

I think one of the real benchmarks of greatness is when a player makes other players better. Early on, before he hooked up with Randy, Sinjin made a lot of very mediocre players look really good. I think I made players a little better, and so did Hov and Stokie. But no one has done that better than Karch.

That goes for indoor, too. Was Craig Buck better because of Karch Kiraly? No doubt about it. Nobody on those gold-medal teams

could stand here today and say they weren’t better because of his presence.

Another trademark of Karch is his ability to come through when it counts. I remember one of the Cuervo Gold Crowns. Karch and Kent were playing Brian Lewis and Mike Whitmarsh in the finals, and they really weren’t playing all that well. Whit and Lewy were unconscious, but Karch and Kent were just hanging tough. On one play, Lewy had a really nice set in transition. It was either for the match or for a 14-11 lead, I can’t re-member. Lewy just absolutely ripped it cross court. Against anybody else, that would have been it. But Karch got his hands up and made the dig. And it wasn’t so much the dig that was unbelievable. It was the timing of it. I just remember sitting there, watching him make that play and saying: “That’s Karch.” I mean, Lewy hit the ball so hard. But Karch made the play, and he and Kent went on to win the tournament.

Making plays like that is more mental than physical. Guys like Karch know when one play is going to decide a match. Jordan hits the shot. Magic leads the fast break. It’s that one play, that one transition that turns the tide.

Karch’s ability to focus is almost mind boggling. We call him the computer. A lot of times, he’d sit in the players’ tent for an hour without moving. Just in his chair, looking straight ahead. I can’t help but think that wasn’t much fun. I mean, he could have been out talking to people, running around, doing stuff. But that’s the way he has always been.

On the national team, when we were all about 23 or 24, we were a wild bunch of guys. I remember taking our first road trip. We flew on this big Japanese air-liner, and we partied the entire way. When we got to our very first team meeting the next morning, our coach, Doug Beal, gave us the player handbook, and we saw that we’d broken every single rule on the flight over.

For a couple of years, we all had a lot of fun. But then Karch said, “You know what? I can’t do this anymore.” I guess everybody realizes that at a certain point, even The Hov. But Karch realized it sooner than the rest of us.

The thing is, Karch thinks through every-thing he does, whether it’s cleaning the ga-rage or practicing volleyball. Knowing him as a player, I can only imagine what his files are like at home, how he does his bills—all those little things that he’s so precise about.

The only time Karch really shows his emotions is when he talks about Janna and the boys. At tournaments like King of the Beach, Karch and I just hang around the pool and play with our kids. His boys, Kristian and Kory, are wonderfully polite, and you can see the love and admiration they have for their dad.

I think this record is big for Karch because he deserves it. But it’s important to remember that back in the early days of beach volleyball, there were many fewer tournaments. Ron Von Hagen had 62 Open victories in an era when you played seven a summer. What’s greater? I think 62 at that time might be equivalent to 140 now.

I have 75 Open wins, and Matt Gage had 28. Who deserves a higher ranking in the annals of volleyball history? I have it, but it’s not necessarily fair.

But my hat goes off to Karch. It’s been a privilege to play in this era. It was fun for me to compete with and against him and fun to watch him play. It’s been 20 years that none of us will ever forget.

Focus Led Kiraly to GreatnessBy Mike Dodd

From October 1999

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ball was officially recognized at the collegiate level, and the sport is grow-ing in Italy as well. How does it feel to witness the sport’s growth in your own country and to be at the forefront of that expansion?

MM: Beach volley-ball has had impres-sive growth in [Italy], even compared with other European countries such as Germany, Holland, Switzerland, and Austria—all of which are further along than us in terms of investment in and popularity [of the sport]. Being one of the players who did so much to raise the awareness of this sport in Italy makes me proud and pushes me toward a relentless pursuit of improvement.

VBM: There are still many people that don’t view beach volleyball as a serious sport. How do you respond to that way of thinking?

MM: Beach volleyball is more than slim and athletic bodies on the sand. It is a heavy sport—both physically and mentally. It requires an incredible amount of adjustment—to the wind, rain, and extreme temperatures. Managing emo-tions and staying mentally cool are essential, as well as having confidence in your partner.

VBM: What is your partnership with Viktoria like?

MM: I met Viki in 2010 when I was playing on the World Tour with [Greta Cicolari] and

[Viktoria] joined the national team. We start-ed to play together in July 2013, and since then, we have really made crazy improve-ments, both as individuals and as a team.

VBM: When you step on the sand, what goes through your mind? At such moments, what does beach volleyball mean to you?

MM: Before playing, it’s like I transform my-self into a warrior. Every challenge for me is a battle. Perhaps the most fascinating thing is recognizing what weapons you have on a case by case situation, and realizing when you still haven’t got the right ammunition for the task. If you want to win the battle, you have to get excited, think, and invent to find the right solutions.

VBM: What goals do you have for the future?

MM: My goal is always the same: to pursue excellence in both body and mind. The result on the court is only a single conse-quence, because as my coach says, “If you perform a good preparation, you have fun in the execution.”

Meet MartaBIRTHDATE: August 16, 1990

HOMETOWN: Ariano Polesine, Rovigo

SPONSORS: Red Bull, Mikasa, smart

PARTNER: Viktoria Orsi Toth (since July 2013)

FIRST SENIOR FIVB EVENT: Barcelona Open 2009 (finished 13th)

BEST GRAND SLAM FINISH: Silver, Sao Paulo 2014

BEST OPEN FINISH: Gold, Sochi 2015

BEST OLYMPIC FINISH: Fifth, London 2012 (with Greta Cicolari)

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VBM MATCH POINT

DOWN THE LINEBYU outside hitter Jake Langlois challenges the block set by Long Beach State’s Josh Tuaniga and Taylor Gregory. Langlois had 16 kills in the Cougars’ four-set defeat of the 49ers on January 22.Photo by Ed Chan

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