Season In Review: 2016 CMS Volleyball
BACK TO BACK!
SCIAC CHAMPS AGAIN! - ATHENAS REACH #2 NATIONAL RANKING!
Dear Athenas Volleyball Alumnae and Supporters:
The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas volleyball team continued to set team records in 2016 with another 20-plus win season, going 23-4 en route to a second consecutive Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) championship. This matches the team's back-to-back championships of 1992 and 1993. CMS also attained its highest-ever ranking by sitting at the number two spot in the national poll four weeks in a row.
As a result of its conference championship and strong play throughout the season, the Athenas once again were invited to the NCAA Western Regional championships.
After a two-year wait, 2016 also brought the opening of Roberts Pavilion – the new home of CMS Athletics. The Athenas wasted no time in making themselves right at home, winning 12 of 13 matches played in the new arena. In fact, CMS began the season with a record-setting 18-match winning streak.
The 2016 roster was one of the more experienced CMS rosters in several years. There were 10 seniors and juniors who had reached the West Regionals throughout their careers. The squad then was balanced out with nine sophomores and first-year players. This combination of experience and fresh energy played well together as CMS moved back to the conference championship circle.
Nicole Kerkhof (SR, CMC, Palos Verdes) was a four-year letter winner and all conference player. She was team co-captain her last two years and set the school record for kills in a career.
Natalie Creekmur (SR, CMC, Rancho Cucamonga) was the regular defensive specialist brought in to play the back row. She was one of the team's most consistent passers and servers. Her four-year loyalty to the program proved to be beneficial all around as her strong play in the back row resulted in the fourth highest digs total on the team.
Clara Madsen (JR, CMC, Santa Barbara) was one of the team's two setters as part of the 6-2 offense. Shelbi Stein (JR, CMC, Laguna Beach) once again played opposite teaming with Margaux Arntson (JR, CMC, Puyallup, WA) for the one-two punch on the right side for the 2016 season.
Mariah Rigg (JR, CMC, Honolulu, HI) filled the middle as one of two starting middle blockers for CMS. Sarah Bruml (JR, Scripps, San Mateo) was the other starting middle blocker until a mid-season injury sidelined her.
Crystal Anderson (JR, CMC, Sammamish, WA) once again started as the second outside hitter. Mikena Werner (JR, Scripps, Irvine) maintained her dominance at the libero position after moving there as a sophomore. Jenny Smith (JR, HMC, Redmond, WA) gave CMS additional firepower, both as an outside hitter and on the right side.
Hannah Grobisen (SO, CMC, Rancho Santa Fe) found a role at middle blocker after Sarah Bruml went down and stepped in nicely in the starting role. Kimmy Tuttle (SO, CMC, El Dorado Hills) substituted in both as an outside hitter and on the right side while Megan Fuelling (SO, Scripps, La Verne) added more depth at the middle blocker position for CMS.
Phoebe Madsen (FR, CMC, Santa Barbara) was the team's second setter in the 6-2 offense. Other newcomers Sarah Tritschler (FR, CMC, Los Altos) and Lina Aluzri (FR, CMC, Newport Beach) were defensive specialists. Amanda Walker (FR, Scripps, Newport Beach), Isabelle Taylor (FR, CMC, Darien, CT), and Emma Williams (FR, Scripps, Kirkland, WA) found their niche as opposites.
The 2016 season opened as usual with CMS co-hosting the Pacific Coast Classic. The Athenas swept the weekend tournament with wins over Union (NY) in three sets, and University of Minnesota-Morris in four sets on Friday and then with wins over 2015 NCAA play-off teams Hendrix (AR) in three sets and Trinity (TX) in four sets on Saturday.
The following weekend, CMS returned to the tournament circuit and traveled to Cal Lutheran to play in the Cal Lu Fornia Invitational. This weekend brought four more matches against 2015 NCAA play-off teams. It was another sweep for the Athenas with 3-set wins over East Texas Baptist and Washington University of St. Louis and 4-set wins over Emory and Wheaton (IL).
After enjoying the excitement of this elite tournament, CMS then settled into the tough SCIAC schedule, where three teams in the conference ended being ranked in the national top-19 nationally, including two teams in the top-5.
The first half of SCIAC play saw 3-set sweeps over Chapman, Occidental, La Verne, Caltech, and Pomona-Pitzer. Then, there were 4-set wins over Cal Lutheran, Whittier, and Redlands.
The start of the second round of the conference schedule saw two more 3-set wins over Chapman and Occidental. The season then came down to its final four matches and the Athenas were up to the challenge. Building up momentum each step of the way, CMS won 3-set matches over Pomona-Pitzer, Caltech, Whittier, and Redlands. It was with the final kill in the 25-14 third set win over Redlands that clinched another SCIAC title for the Athenas.
With the conference championship in hand, CMS was ready to return to the conference post-season tournament. This was the fourth-straight year the Athenas were in the tournament and the third-straight season of facing La Verne in the semifinal match. Playing at their new, the Roberts Pavilion, CMS came from behind after losing the first set in a nail-biter 27-29 to sweep the next three sets (25-23, 25-19, 25-16) and move into the tournament final match for the fourth straight year. CMS faced Cal Lutheran in the finals and Cal Lu defeated CMS 3-0 for the SCIAC Tournament title.
The team's strong play during the season, combined with its conference championship, boosted the Athenas to being ranked No. 2 in the country for four weeks. It also gave the Athenas an invitation into the NCAA Championships and the West Regional tournament.
In its opening match against Colorado College, another nationally ranked team, the Athenas won the first set 25-15 but could not overcome the Tigers in the next three sets. The season ended with a 23-4 record – the second most wins in CMS history. In addition, the team finished ranked third in the nation – its highest ever finish.
In addition, the Athenas set a record with their 85.2 percent winning percentage as the highest in team history. CMS also tied its own record from 2014 and 2015 with 14 SCIAC victories as the most wins in a conference season.
At the end of the always exciting SCIAC season, the all-conference teams were voted on. CMS was well represented with five All-SCIAC award winners. Right side Margaux Arntson was on the Sportsmanship Team. Setter Clara Madsen once again was named second team All-SCIAC. Nicole Kerkhof received her fourth consecutive All-SCIAC recognition and her time on the first team. She was joined by teammates Mikena Werner and Shelbi Stein on the elite first team. This was Werner's second straight first team selection and Stein's first.
There was more national recognition for the 2015 Athenas when the West Region awards were released shortly after the conference tournament. Kerkhof, Werner, and Stein were honored with All-West Region selections. This was the second-straight year Kerkhof was chosen. Werner also was named second team All-American, while Kerkhof and Stein were named honorable mention All American.
The team awards were handed out at the annual team banquet in early December. Libero Mikena Werner was named defensive player of the year while right side Shelbi Stein garnered offensive player of the year honors. Setter Phoebe Madsen was selected rookie of the year. Four-year letter winner Nicole Kerkhof closed out her CMS career with the team most valuable player award. Kerkhof leaves the Athenas with the most kills in CMS history with 1,385.
With only two seniors lost to graduation and 17 players returning along with a promising recruiting class, the picture is nothing but optimistic for CMS Volleyball. The 2017 season should be another exciting one for the Athenas. In addition to co-hosting the Pacific Coast Classic and playing once again in the Cal Lu Fornia Invitational, CMS returns to Atlanta to play in Emory's Elite Class with matches against Juniata and host Emory.
We close by again thanking you, our alumnae, for your continued support throughout the years. It always is appreciated to hear from you. In addition, we want to remind you that now you can follow the Athenas by going to our webpage. Most matches are being streamed live and all of the results from the season are posted online as soon as available throughout the campaign.
Looking forward to an exciting and successful 2017 season. For more information, please contact head coach Kurt Vlasich (kurt.vlasich@cms.claremont.edu)
Sincerely,
CMS Volleyball