With a successful 18-15 season in 2001, Texas Wesleyan volleyball looks to improve in 2002, and build upon the reputation that the program has established in the NAIA.

Making this season all the more special is the fact that 2002 marks the 20th anniversary of Wesleyan’s first appearance in the NAIA national championship match. Wesleyan lost that match, but the program took a giant step forward and would become a perennial contender for the NAIA national crown. Qualifying for 4 of the next 12 national tournaments, Wesleyan would again make it to the final match in 1990.

The 2002 Ram volleyball squad is extremely excited about the return to the NAIA and the opportunity it provides to finally claim that elusive national championship.

Says Head Coach Rick Johansen, “We are extremely excited about this year’s team. With only one senior, and most of the remaining team freshmen and sophomores, our future looks really good. We will have a lot of youth on this team, but we will make up for it with talent and work ethic. We have been impressed with how hard this team works.”

The Rams lost only two players from last season’s squad, both to graduation. Middle blocker Ann Seitz led the team in digs, service aces, and total blocks, and outside hitter Debi Zuffinetti, who remains with the team as a graduate assistant coach, was second on the 2001 team in kills, digs, assists, services aces and total blocks.

Returning for the Rams this year are senior outside hitters Leighann Krey (team leader in kills) and Lindsay Chandler, and a quartet of sophomores including setter Cortney Johansen (team leader in assists), middle blocker Tiffany Porterfield, and outside hitters Elexis Kabelliya and Beatrice High. The Rams also are expecting great things from transfer sophomores Nicky Davis and Jocelyn Gaudi, and incoming freshmen Valen Little, Rachel Loftin, Allyson Gaudi, and Susan Taylor.

The 2002 season begins with a tournament at Wayland Baptist University on August 30, and the home opener and first Red River Conference game is Thursday, September 5th against Texas College. The match begins at 7 PM in the Sid Richardson Gymnasium. Admission is free for everyone.