Hawks back on the field, court

Friday, Aug. 22, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by GARY SMITH Chantal Hebron, a Thomas Stone graduate, was an All-Region member a year ago. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story   CSM volleyball Head coach: Michelle Ruble (18th season) Last year: 34-9, 10-1 Maryland JUCO (NJCAA Region XX runner-up, second in conference) Athletes to watch: OH Chantal Hebron (So., Thomas Stone, All-Region), MB Ashley Wolfe (Fr., Patuxent), MB Liberty McLean (So., Westlake) Key personnel losses: L Missy Chapman (Patuxent, All-Region), S Amy Schreiber (Northern, All Region), OH Alyssa Randles (McDonough, All-Region) Strengths: With four returners from the 2007 season, Ruble and the Hawks will have an array of offensive weapons throughout every position. Ruble is very excited about the freshman core that could add more versatility and depth to the offensive attack. The Hawks bring a strong work ethic and mental toughness, which will be key in their contention for the Maryland JUCO title. Weaknesses: The Hawks will have a lot of height on the front line, but will lack passing and quickness. Coach’s comments: ‘‘The pain of that last loss in the regional final vs. Hagerstown [in Maryland JUCO] is something we don’t want to feel again. Working hard and progressing as a team will make us stronger”. Key matches: Aug. 22-23 at Central Ohio tournament, Aug. 30-31 at Howard tournament,Sept. 19-20 at Pasco-Hernando tournament, Oct. 11-12 at Hagerstown tournament, Nov. 1-2 at Region XX tournament (Hagerstown)Schedule Aug. 22-23 at Central Ohio tournament, TBA Aug. 30-31 at Howard tournament, TBA Sept. 3 vs. Frederick, 7 p.m. Sept. 5 at Essex, 6 p.m. Sept. 8 vs. Garrett, 6 p.m. Sept. 12-13 CSM Volleyball tournament, TBA Sept. 16 vs. Harford, 6 p.m. Sept. 19-20 at Pasco-Hernando tournament, TBA Sept. 24 vs. Anne Arundel, 6 p.m. Sept. 29 at Baltimore, 6 p.m. Oct. 1 at Allegany, 6 p.m. Oct. 3 vs. Chesapeake, 6 p.m. Oct. 6 at Cecil, 6 p.m. Oct. 9 at Howard, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11-12 at Hagerstown tournament, TBA Oct. 14 vs. Hagerstown, 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at Catonsville, 8 p.m. Oct. 20 vs. Rockville, 6 p.m. Oct. 24 at Chesapeake, 6 p.m. Nov. 1-2 at Region XX tournament (Hagerstown), TBA Nov. 20-22 at National tournament (Wisconsin Dells, Wis.), TBA

With young talent and a balanced attack, the Hawks hope to surprise many in the Maryland JUCO and Region XX as the season moves along.

Ruble has put her team through extensive training during the summer and is motivated in making a NJCAA national appearance in November. She feels that the competitiveness and work ethic from last year will make the Hawks hungrier in getting back to the regional finals.

‘‘Everything is going to be dictated by controlling the ball on defense as we receive,” Ruble said, ‘‘so once we establish that part of the game, the offense will come.”

Ruble added: ‘‘We did a lot of plyometrics training and just been having a lot of double practices to advance the team’s skills for the season.”

With the loss of seven freshmen from the 2007 team, Ruble and the Hawks will focus on five talented ladies from the recruitment class of 2008 that will bring more balance to a dangerous lineup.

‘‘This year we will play a lot of strong teams, so we are going to have to fight thorough the bad times with less timeouts,” Ruble said. ‘‘But, in the preseason games, they have been doing a nice job of staying strong in that process.”

‘‘Our work ethic has been great so far in the preseason, the team is not happy unless they feel like they have performed well,” Ruble added. ‘‘Mental toughness is something I have been stressing to the team and it will separate us from our opponents this year.”

Ruble’s big three have been working hard and are determined in being a top contender in the region this season.

Chantal Miles, Liberty McLean, and Ashley Wolfe will be the spark to a strong offensive attack for the Hawks.

Miles, a first-team All-Region selection in 2007, will be a major impact on both sides of the net with her astounding power. Wolfe has a lot of potential as a freshman in producing instant offense. McLean will be a defensive presence for the Hawks.

‘‘Liberty came along way from last year in her quickness and blocking at the net,” Ruble said. ‘‘She and Wolfe are powerful offensively in cutting around blocks. Chantal is one of most powerful outside hitters that I have coached and she is working on her level of consistency, which proves to be better than last year.”

‘‘The main thing for the season is taking it one game at a time,” added Ruble on the season outlook.

Sophomore standout Chantal Hebron, a Thomas Stone graduate who was also an All-Region member a year ago, will focus on team chemistry and build on the success from last year.

‘‘To get back to where we were last year it’s going to take hard work and dedication in practice,” Hebron said. ‘‘One of our team goals for this season is to win the regional championship, but we are going to gradually build and get better as the season progresses.”