New Hutchinson Community College volleyball coach Patrick Hall had a unique perspective in evaluating his five returning sophomores for the new season.

As the head coach at Barton Community College last season, Hall saw Shayne Haley, Ashlyn Westerman, Jade Nelson, Emily Oberlin and Kayla Karmazyn go through the freshman growing pains of September in a match at the Sports Arena, a Barton sweep. A little more than a month later, Hall saw Hutchinson dramatically rally from two sets down and nearly upset his conference and regional champion Cougars in Great Bend.

Now as Hutchinson’s new head volleyball coach, Hall wants his returning sophomores to use their late-season success in 2011 as a major building block for the 2012.

The season begins on Friday at the New Mexico Military Invitational in Roswell, N.M.

“I constantly remind them of that … how well they did at the (Region VI) Tournament and that match, which was very inspiring,” Hall said. “That was a past positive experience I want them to remember. That being said, they had to make changes. That’s the problem with having a new coach.”

Hired as the program’s 12th head coach in March, Hall brings a strong volleyball resume to the Lady Dragon program. The last two teams he coached – Pratt in 2010 and Barton last season – won Jayhawk West championships. He guided Pratt to the 2009 Region VI championship match and forced a second title match with Hutchinson that season.

Hall will have the five returning sophomores, two transfers and seven freshmen to work with this season.

The Lady Dragons were 16-23 last season, finishing in a tie for third in the Jayhawk West. HCC advanced to the Region VI Tournament loser’s bracket final. That tournament run was sparked by a 10-8 record to close the season after starting the 2011 season with a 6-15 record.

“I told the girls that our program has to be about taking incremental steps to get better,” Hall said. “It’s not about this quantum leap-type thing. It’s just (improving) each day. The idea is that we explore our potential on a daily basis and try to go step by step and make it happen at the end.

“We have had moments where we show our potential and other moments it’s quite chaotic out there. They are learning something every day. That’s what has to happen here, to see that one next thing that we did a little better today and make sure when we get into games that we don’t backslide.”

One luxury Hall in his first season at HCC will be two experienced setters to run the team – one who was here last season and one transfer.

When Hall describes sophomore setters Westerman and Scout Heizer, he sees his two setters as players with strong volleyball IQs.

“We are able to talk to both of them at a level that is definitely above talking to a freshman,” Hall said. “We can talk to them about aspects of the game you love to talk to setters about.

“Both of them make good in-play decisions. Even if they aren’t completing the set like we want, their decision making has rarely been an issue.”

Westerman (5-10, Liberal) averaged 1.34 assists in a versatile role for the Lady Dragons last season. She averaged 1.65 digs per set and was fourth on the team with 47 assists. Heizer (5-11, Salt Lake City) is a transfer from Arizona Western College who played on one of the top club teams in the nation. She averaged nearly seven set assists and almost one dig per set at AWC last season.

One aspect of the Lady Dragons in the preseason has been a strong serve receive and ability to pass. According to Hall, HCC had a very strong passing performance throughout its preseason scrimmages at Butler Community College on Aug. 18.

Liberos Taylor Karcher (5-5, freshman, Salina South), Samantha Lackey (5-3, freshman, San Antonio, Texas) and Helena Lukovic (5-7, Belgrade, Serbia via Natoma, KS) have been strong in the preseason and Hall hopes their play continues to be a strength heading into the season.

“We had match (at the Butler scrimmage) that was one of the highest-rated passing matches of a team I have ever coached,” Hall said. “I think we should be very strong defensively. No doubt defense is one of our strengths. I think we can pass.”

Once you get the pass and the set, then it’s the hitters’ turn to finish plays, an aspect that the 2011 Lady Dragons struggled with. HCC had a .158 hitting percentage last season.

Playing in the middle for most of her freshman season out of necessity, Haley (5-11, Katy, Texas) returns to her natural outside position in 2012. As a freshman, Haley hit .204 and averaged 1.81 kills, 0.88 blocks, 1.33 digs and 0.34 aces per set. She was named first-team All-Jayhawk West and first-team All-Region VI in 2011.

Hall will have depth on the left side with Haley, Oberlin, Karmazyn and freshman Teresa Wade (5-11, St. John). Oberlin (5-11, Ada, Mich.) hit .102 and averaged 1.07 kills per set last season. Karmazyn (5-11, Aurora, Colo.) battled injuries in her freshman season. She hit .126 and averaged 1.10 kills per set.

“Out outside position is very competitive,” Hall said. “We have four kids who can play. Each one has strengths and weaknesses and it’s going to be game-by-game right now. We have the luxury of playing somebody else when someone isn’t producing.”

Nelson (6-foot, Milwaukee, Wis.) is the only six-foot player on the 14-player roster this season. She will work on the right side with freshman Mariah Dickson (5-10, Lawrence Free State). Last season, Nelson hit .142 and averaged 1.43 kills and 0.36 blocks per set.

“Jade is playing very big right now,” Hall said. “She is blocking well and she is going to have a good year. Mariah is doing well, too. She is a very smart player.”

Hall will have a transfer and a pair of freshmen in the middle. Gabby Rushton (5-9, Fort Worth Texas) is a transfer from Trinity Valley Community College. Megan Heier (5-10, Grainfield, Kan.) and Carolina Alfonso (5-9, Brooklyn, N.Y.) are the first-year middles for HCC this season.

At Trinity Valley, Rushton hit .133 and averaged 1.25 kills and 0.46 blocks per set.

“Megan Heier has been doing a tremendous job,” Hall said. “Her learning curve has been almost vertical and she is producing well for us.

“For Gabby, she comes in playing college ball with different setters in a different system. Gabby is very physical and athletic and really put the heat on the ball. When we start making more connections and using her assets, good things will happen.”

As 2012 begins, Seward County is the highest-ranked Jayhawk Conference volleyball team in Division I, starting the season ranked No. 14. Both Barton and Hutchinson received votes in this year’s preseason NJCAA Division I volleyball poll.

Hutchinson opens the season on Friday with South Mountain Community College and tournament most New Mexico Military. On Saturday, the Lady Dragons face No. 11 Seminole State and close the tournament out with Odessa College.

The Lady Dragons open at home on Wednesday, Aug. 29 against Colby Community College at 6:30 p.m. That will open a stretch of three-straight home matches. Pratt comes to the Arena on Sept. 5 and Seward County comes to Hutchinson on Saturday, Sept. 8 in a big 2 p.m. battle.

HCC will again play host to its mid-season volleyball classic that will include Barton, Frank Phillips College, Jefferson College, New Mexico Military, Redlands, Seminole State and Missouri State-West Plains.

(By Steve Carpenter, HCC Sports Information Director)