GAFFNEY, S.C.—The Limestone College volleyball team finished strong in the 2007 season with a 20-16 overall record and a 16-4 record in league play. The Saints finished in second place in the Conference Carolinas regular season standings, were runners-up in the conference tournament, and recorded thirteen shut-out victories to finish the fall ranked ninth in the Atlantic Region. The volleyball team's record reflects a valiant showing against its toughest schedule to date, which included twelve regionally-ranked opponents. The team also recorded its second consecutive 20-win season.
The Saints impressive season was guided by fourth-year Head Coach Tim Loesch. After a 1-8 start, the Saints united as a team and put all the pieces together to go 19-7 for the remainder of the season.
“I am very proud of the team for continuing to work hard on our goals and not giving up after a slow start. In fact, for the remainder of the season I felt that the team worked together to play the best volleyball in the history of Limestone College,” said Coach Loesch.
Along the way, several players were recognized for their great contributions to the Saints. Sophomore outside hitter Melissa Thomas (Easley, SC) began the 2007 season by being named to the All-Tournament Team at the Jaguar Classic tournament hosted by Augusta State University in the season’s opening weekend. Thomas was also named First-Team All-Conference Carolinas as she was a dominate force, averaging 4.42 kills per game, good for second in the conference and third in hitting percentage (.364). Thomas was named conference player of the week twice and reached a career milestone as she surpassed her 1000th kill in just two seasons with the Saints. Thomas also posted a career high 30 kills in the Saints win over Barton College earlier this season, which placed her in the 2007 Division II American Volleyball Coaches Association’s (AVCA) “30 Kill Club.” After posting her 13th double-double of the season, Thomas was named to the Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team as she led the Saints to the championship match. During the conference tournament, Thomas smashed 62 kills for the offense and added 48 digs and 20 total blocks in just 3 matches. Thomas ended the season with 1,071 career kills as she took the all-time leader position at Limestone with two years left to compete.
Hubbard, a junior college transfer, leaves the Saints after just two seasons holding the record for career block assists at 212. Hubbard also broke the school record for blocks in a single match with 12 versus St. Andrews in 2006. Hubbard’s career stats place her at fourth in aces with 78, fifth in total blocks with 54, and eighth in kills with 490. Hubbard, along with Thomas, was named to the all-tournament team after a strong performance which helped the Saints into the championship match of the Conference Carolinas tournament.
Junior middle-hitter Samantha Flannery (Acworth, GA), along with Thomas, was named to the Jaguar Classic All-Tournament team in early August. Flannery moved up the ranks in career numbers ending this season fifth in career kills with 581, second in career block solos with 86, second in block assists with 208, and second in total blocks with 294.
In week two of the season, freshman setter Laura Kerrison (Charleston, SC) was named Conference Carolinas Player of the Week after she broke a school record for service aces in a single match when she recorded 11 aces in a three game shut-out over Shaw University. Kerrison also became just the fourth Limestone volleyball player to record a triple-double during a match. She is currently second in career assists after just one season totaling 1,038.
Sophomore defensive specialist, Chelsea Anthony (Pickens, SC) also surpassed a career milestone this season recording her 1000th dig in the quarter-final round of the conference tournament with a win over St. Andrews. Anthony ended the season with 1,048 digs which places her second in career digs. Anthony picked up a career-high 36 digs in the September win over Coker College, adding her to “30 Dig Club” for the AVCA. Anthony is also currently third in career aces with 92.
Courtney Taotoai (Norwalk, CA), also a sophomore defensive specialist, was listed on the AVCA “30 Dig Club” twice this season. Taotoai picked up 33 digs versus Shippensburg and 31 against Millersville in the second weekend of the season at the Raider Classic in Pennsylvania. Taotoai moved into fourth place in the career digs race ending the season with 863.
Loesch will lose three graduating seniors this year and will look to a veteran roster to come out strong next season. Ashley Hubbard (Temple, TX), Michele Cash (Chesnee, SC) and Ashley Blackwelder (Fuquay-Varina, NC) will be greatly missed.
Coach Loesch commented on the season, “A huge part of our success was setting our team goals as high as realistically possible. To dream BIG – it was exciting that this year’s team set their sights higher than any we’ve had before. The next thing we strove for was to get the entire team to commit to these goals by believing in themselves and their teammates. This took a little time this season, but I am so proud of all the young women on our squad for pulling together to play as a confident and determined unit.
“The final aspect that we focused on was achieving these goals and dreams, not just believing or trying,” Loesch continued. “Our team did this, beating many good teams and being very competitive in our losses. This season’s team has cemented Limestone Volleyball as a force to be reckoned with in our conference and region. I am very, very proud of all of the 2008 players for continuing our tradition of excellence and setting the stage for the future.”
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