If you look closely enough, you can start to see some leaves starting to change colors. While that marks the end of summer, it also marks the beginning of the NCAA volleyball season! With that in mind, here is your chance to find out about what is going on with Front Range's alumnae. Read on to see what awaits them and us. The temperatures may start to drop soon, but the action is just about to heat up!
Where is the best place to start? At the beginning, of course! The AVCA released its first Top 25 Coaches Poll of the season on Tuesday and, as usual, Front Range alumnae schools are easy to find on the list.
Former Front Range athletes can be found throughout the rankings. Front Range has three athletes (Erica Denney, Lindsey Licht, and Mikinzie Moydell) at the top two schools (Penn State and Nebraska). Also to be found in poll are Ariana Filho (#6 Minnesota), Kindra Carlson (#8 Washington), Kristy Jaeckel (#13 Florida), Evan Sanders (#17 Colorado State), Courtney Karst (#18 Arizona), Carrie Baird (#22 San Diego), and Rachel Gillcrist (#25 St. Mary's). Four more alumnae are on teams that received votes (Becci Burling, Duke; Jennah DeVries, New Mexico State; Erica Winkler, San Diego State; and Emily Adney, Wichita State)
Not only were the teams of these alumnae highlighted but several individuals were honored before the start of the season as well.
Jennah DeVries, who was named to the All-WAC preseason team, was featured in a Las Cruces Bulletin article recently. The article gives Jennah's perspective on the disappointing end to NMSU's season last year and their goals for this season. Read the complete article here.
Karina Garlington was named to the All-Big 12 preseason team. Karina, a senior at Kansas, earned the honor for the first time in her career.
Evan Sanders was chosen as the Mountain West Conference's Preseason All-Conference Setter. Evan spent part of this summer with the USA Women's National A2 team.
But why stop with the Front Range alumnae who are in college? Two former Front Range athletes who have completed their college careers have embarked on exciting life adventures and have invited us to share in their journeys with them.
Sarah Ammerman, a graduate of Texas A&M, has moved to Maribor, Slovenia as she continues her professional career in Europe after spending a season in Puerto Rico. Check out her blog here.
Schanell Niederworder, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, has joined the Peace Corps and will soon be off to Kazakhstan to spend two years as a volunteer. Her blog, "Where in the world is Schanell??", is a wonderful account of her perspective on this life journey.
Where is Front Range's newest member now? What could he possibly be up to now? How about in Hong Kong, helping the USA Women's National Team to a 5-2 record so far in the prestigious FIVB Grand Prix tournament.
After last night's 3-0 victory over Germany, the team put themselves in the driver's seat to advance into the Final Round of the event. If Team USA advances, that would mean that Stone would be able to add Ningbo, China to his summer travels to go with Poland, Thailand, and Hong Kong.
