Volleyball looks to start fresh with new coach at UAA

From the University of Alaska Anchorage newspaper The Northern Light

By Mirinda Nick, Aug. 26, 2008

Media Credit: Courtesy WNCC [Click to enlarge]

With several new teammates and a new championship winning Nebraska-native coach, the 2008 season for the Seawolf volleyball team of 2008 has had a tasteful beginning.

Chris Green takes the head coaching position after nine years at Western Nebraska Community College in Scottsbluff, Neb. There he led the Cougars to 453-55 record, including a NJCAA Div. I national championship in 2007.

The addition of the new coach, Chris Green, has also brought the addition of freshmen and transfer athletes Stacy Miesner, Cortney Lundberg, Jackie Matthisen, and McKenzie Moss are each new to the team and to UAA.

"We have a long list of expectations for them," said Head Coach Chris Green, about the Lady Seawolves.

"Hopefully one of the reasons why they chose to come here is for the people that are here, the coaches, the community that they see when they come on their visit, and eventually the program will be successful enough that one of the reasons that they come is for our success in volleyball."

Green said that the team has a high sense of goals, and that they want to be competitive and do well within the conference.

The team had a disappointing 2006-07 season, notching only five wins. Previous head coach Michelle Earl resigned at the end of last season, finishing her three-year tenure with a 17-53 record, going 7-45 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

Green said that the team is facing tough competition within the conference. UAA is ranked in 8th in the GNAC for hitting percentage and blocks, and 9th for kills, assists and opponent hitting percentage.

"We definitely want the players to improve as the season goes along. We are not going to worry too much about wins and losses. We want to keep getting better as a team, and compete well; especially in the GNAC," Green said.

As students and teammates, the player will be watching their every move to meet the coach's anticipations.

"We outlined a lot of expectations on the first day," Green said. "As far as what we expect from them each and every day of practice, what we expect from them as students, our expectations for them as people in the community, and as young ladies in the community."

Green said he was enthusiastic about making the transition from Junior College to Div. II, and that he looks forward to what the season has to bring.

"We have a very tough preseason schedule and it is going to prepare us very well towards those high expectations that we have with GNAC," Green said.