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That’s why her expectations for junior right-side hitter Brianne Stankus can be summed up easily.
“We just want her to keep rolling,” Perkins said.
Stankus last season was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honorable mention team, plus the All-WIAC first team after averaging 3.26 kills per game, including 24 matches with double-digit kills, and led the Eagles with 43 aces.
UW-L opens its season today with two matches in the UW-La Crosse Invitational at Mitchell Hall.
Stankus, who led the team in kills (3.65 per game) as a freshman in 2006, will again play a key role for the Eagles as they try to get to the NCAA Division III regionals for the second year in a row.
“She’s having a great (preseason) and we hope she continues what she’s been doing for two years,” Perkins said.
The 5-foot-10 Stankus knows Perkins has plenty of confidence in her, while also understanding that not every set can, or should, come her way in a match.
“The more we can move the ball around, the better it is for everyone,” Stankus said. “There will be a higher percentage of kills every time.”
Seniors Amber Schoonover and Elizabeth Carlisle return as outside hitters, and seniors Nina Walch and Jenna Starck are back in the middle.
“Brianne is an integral part of our offense, but we need to be balanced,”Perkins said. “We have four hitters back with experience and we need them to do their jobs. We can’t expect Brianne to hit every ball and be successful.”
But when Stankus does get a chance to finish, the Eagles are in good hands.
“She’s such a consistent hitter, that’s a key for us,” Perkins said. “When we get the ball to her, she’s going to find a way to get the kill or make it tough for the other team to handle. She’s so smart about hitting.”
Sometimes, Stankus prefers brawn over brains.
“I feel like I’ve been able to see shots and usually get the ball there,” Stankus said. “But that line shot, if it’s there, I’m going to crank it. That’s my favorite.”
Perkins is taking a look at three setters who will feed Stankus and the other hitters. Senior Emily Carroll will start today’s opener, and freshmen Kasey Corcoran and Liz Schlobohm will work into the rotation.
“Emily has grown into the role and the two freshmen, we need to get them more time,” Perkins said. “They have great hands, great skills and right now, it’s just the learning curve.”
The Eagles finished fourth in the WIAC last season and earned an at-large bid to the regional tournament, the program’s 11th overall and first since 2004. They lost to Calvin (Mich.) in the first round, ending up 24-10 overall.
“I felt like we had that match and somehow we let it slip away,” Stankus said. “That’s not going to happen this year. Right off the bat, we’ve been working hard. There’s no question we’re going to be (back at the regional) and we should be there and advance farther than we did last year.”
CHANGES MADE: NCAA volleyball has changed the winning score from 30 to 25 points in games this season. Matches will still be best of five, with a 15-point fifth game. Game substitutions have been reduced from 15 to 12.
“It will be very important to be ready to play and score points right away,” Perkins said of the scoring change. “There’s less time to check out an opponent. If you get behind 6-0, it’s going to be almost impossible to catch up.”
