Volleyball 8/25/2017 2:20:00 PM

Stars look to repeat as league champion

OCU tests itself early with ranked opponents in non-conference play

Oklahoma City University boasts of several veterans of last year's team that enjoyed a breakthrough season.
OCU has been installed as the preseason favorite to take the Sooner Athletic Conference volleyball championship entering 2017. The Stars come off sweeping the SAC regular-season and tournament titles for the first time last season.
In 2016, Oklahoma City captured its first wins in the NAIA Championships, had its highest national ranking ever (11th) and notched its first undefeated league record. The Stars posted their first 30-win season since 2008.
Jason Muñoz makes his debut as OCU coach when the Stars meet No. 1-ranked defending national champion Hastings (Neb.) at 3 p.m. Friday in the Bill Marshall Classic in Hastings, Neb.
"Our expectation is to repeat as conference champions," Muñoz said. "That's everybody's goal. We have a great group of seniors who want to go out as conference champions. I expect the seniors to step up and do good things. They're all going to play."
The Stars feature six all-conference performers among their returnees including last season's SAC setter of the year, Sanja Vojnovic, and league freshman of the year, Marijana Bjelobrk.
Vojnovic, a senior from Bajeljena, Bosnia, collected second-team all-American honors, first-team all-region and all-conference accolades and five SAC setter of the week nods. She ranked second among the NAIA with 11.40 assists per set to go with 1.43 digs, 0.38 aces and 0.31 blocks a set.
"She has a great understanding of the offense," Muñoz said of Vojnovic. "She keeps her sets hittable while maintaining a fast pace and up-tempo sets. She gets great touches on the block."
Bjelobrk, a sophomore from Belgrade, Serbia, nabbed honorable-mention all-American acclaim, first-team all-region and all-SAC honors and two SAC attacker of the week awards. Bjelobrk supplied the Stars with 2.69 kills, 1.30 digs and 0.54 blocks a set last year.
"She is an excellent attacker," Muñoz said. "Her game has continued to grow. She puts up a good block. Her passing and defense has really come along and gotten better."
Dani Chase anchors the defense as the team's libero. Chase, a senior from Yukon, Okla., made second-team all-SAC while producing 4.19 digs and 0.23 aces a set.
"She is a very skilled all-around player," Muñoz said. "She understands the game really well. She brings a great court awareness."
A more in-depth look at the Stars:

Middle blocker

Holly Randall patrols the middle part of the net for the Stars. Randall, a 6-foot-3 senior from Edmond, Okla., snagged honorable-mention all-conference accolades while posting 1.46 kills and 0.72 blocks a set along with a .321 hitting percentage.
"I'm expecting Holly to grow a lot this year and have a big part on the offense," Muñoz said. "She's gotten better and better. She can be a go-to player for us. Her toolbox has grown. She has great length on the block. I expect her to continue to grow on the block."
Jazmyn Boyd-Clark, a junior from Troutdale, Ore., joins Randall as a middle blocker. She transfers to OCU from Clark (Wash.).
Muñoz said of Clark, "She has been thrown into the fire in the middle. She does some good things."

Outside hitter/right-side hitter

Stefani Nell contributes to the Stars' success in several areas. Nell, a senior from Tulsa, Okla., reeled in honorable-mention all-conference while recording 1.69 kills, 2.44 digs and 0.16 blocks per set.
"She is a solid all-around player," Muñoz said. "She can get kills anywhere on the floor. That's a good asset to have on the team. I don't even have to think about her passing."
Caitlin Chamness, a senior from Littleton, Colo., owns a deadly serve that made her the NAIA's leader with 0.80 aces a set while dishing out 100 aces last season.
"She's getting comfortable with her serves," Muñoz said. "Her passing and defense have gotten better. I expect her to get back in her rhythm and be a big-time contributor for us."
Lacy Beeler will make her college volleyball debut after spending last year at the University of Oklahoma as a student. Beeler, a freshman from Jenks, Okla., became an Oklahoma Coaches Association all-stater during her prep career.
"She's knocking off the rust," Muñoz said. "She's adjusting to the pace of the game. Her defense is pretty good."
Harlie Creel, a junior from Palmer, Texas, recorded 1.93 kills and 2.00 digs for Cisco (Texas) last season.
"She's really grown a lot with her technical skills, passing and defending," said Muñoz. "As she gets more comfortable with our defensive system, I expect her to continue to grow her game."
Ella Lofton, a freshman from Cedar Park, Texas, was an all-district selection in high school.
Muñoz said, "She's getting more and more comfortable with the pace. Her attacking should come along. She gets her extra work in. She goes the little things to get better."

Libero/defensive specialist

Lindsey Grace and Kenzie McMullen chip in their veteran presence besides their ability to track down attacks. Grace, a senior from Edmond, Okla., returns after an injury kept her out of most of last year. She provided OCU with 1.83 digs per set in limited time.
"Her passing has come along nicely," Muñoz said. "She's been passing extremely well. Her range on defense is really growing. She covers a large area."
McMullen, a senior from Edmond, Okla., added 1.20 digs and 0.27 aces per set last season.
"She is an excellent server who can set a second ball," Muñoz said. "That's a nice thing to have, that experience that can step onto the court and help the team."

Setter

Taylor Horton, a freshman from Edmond, Okla., offers her 5-11 height as a setter.
"She is starting to grasp how to run the offense," Muñoz said. "She is cleaning up her technique in making her sets more hittable."
Michelle Krenowicz, a sophomore from Frisco, Texas, will not only provide backup at setter, but also at defensive specialist.
"She is a versatile player who sets for us," Muñoz said. "She is a good defender. I feel comfortable putting her in the back row. She step in and get the job done."

OCU will square off with four top 10-ranked teams and another team receiving votes in its first two weekends of play. The Stars open the season just outside the top 25 garnering votes.
"We have a tough, tough preseason schedule," Muñoz said. "We have a lot of work to do. We need to get our offense in order. We're going to have to continue to clean up our system. We need to continue to get better on the block. That would go a long way."

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Players Mentioned

#11 Marijana Bjelobrk: RSH; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#8 Caitlin Chamness: RSH; 5' 11"; Senior

#9 Dani Chase: DS/Libero; 5' 8"; Senior

#2 Lindsey Grace: DS/Libero; 5' 7"; Senior

#1 Michelle Krenowicz: S; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#3 Kenzie McMullen: DS/Libero; 5' 7"; Senior

#7 Stefani Nell: OH; 5' 9"; Senior

#18 Holly Randall: MB; 6' 3"; Senior

#16 Sanja Vojnovic: S; 6' 1"; Senior

#4 Ella Lofton: OH; 5' 8"; Freshman

#6 Harlie Creel: OH; 5' 9"; Junior

#12 Lacy Beeler: OH; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#11 Marijana Bjelobrk
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: RSH

#8 Caitlin Chamness
: 5' 11"; Senior
: RSH

#9 Dani Chase
: 5' 8"; Senior
: DS/Libero

#2 Lindsey Grace
: 5' 7"; Senior
: DS/Libero

#1 Michelle Krenowicz
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: S

#3 Kenzie McMullen
: 5' 7"; Senior
: DS/Libero

#7 Stefani Nell
: 5' 9"; Senior
: OH

#18 Holly Randall
: 6' 3"; Senior
: MB

#16 Sanja Vojnovic
: 6' 1"; Senior
: S

#4 Ella Lofton
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: OH

#6 Harlie Creel
: 5' 9"; Junior
: OH

#12 Lacy Beeler
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: OH