Williamsburg, VA - With all of the success that highlighted the 2001 season for the William and Mary volleyball team (22-6 record, its eighth CAA title and first NCAA Tournament appearance), the last two seasons have been a rebuilding effort to get back to that success. After a 7-22 season in 2002 and a 10-17 effort last season when both teams were stockpiled with young, inexperienced talent, the 2004 campaign dawns with a team that is extremely talented and has experience beyond its years. This year's junior class draws an uncanny similarity to the senior class of 2001 that led the Tribe to the CAA title * leadership, talent, a competitive fire and the final, crucial element * experience. The nucleus of the team remains intact, as only two seniors graduated, leaving 12 returnees.

As head coach Debbie Hill enters her 27th season she will hope to reap the benefits of seeing all of her one-time youngsters mature into battle-tested veterans. Her team will be composed of one senior, seven juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen.

"This is the deepest team I have ever had in my career here," summed up Hill.

The 12 returnees have experienced the night-in, night-out battles that the CAA has to offer. As a result, the upperclassmen now know what it takes to win and have set their goals on not only qualifying for the four-team CAA Tournament, but for winning the CAA Championship.

Amy Owens is the lone senior on this year's team, and she is a leader both on and off the floor. The lefthander will orchestrate the offense as a setter as well as being an offensive threat on the right side. She will enter the year as the squad's co-captain, along with junior middle blocker Carly Huffman. Owens has been rock-steady for three years, holding the team together during the last two lean years, one of the many reasons why she was voted co-captain by her teammates. Her ability to run the offense, as well as being a solid attacking threat, will be a key to the Tribe's fortunes in 2004.

Huffman was grouped into the junior class after a devastating knee injury five matches into the 2002 season ended her year, and led to her getting an extra year of eligibility with a medical redshirt. After an adjustment period in 2003 when she recorded 57 kills and 39 total blocks, the 6-1 middle blocker from Simi Valley, California is at full strength for the 2004 campaign. She had an excellent spring, one that showed glimpses of her 2001 CAA Rookie of the Year season. Huffman combines an intimidating force at the net with a strong and powerful offensive attacking threat that will make her one of the top players in the league.

Joining Huffman at the middle blocking position will be Caitlin Geraghty, a junior with a dominating presence at the net. The 6-3 Geraghty, from King's Park, New York is a powerful athlete with a tremendous work ethic and competitive drive. She finished second in the CAA last season in total blocks and many opposing offenses went away from her to avoid the possibility of an offensive miscue. With continued development, Hill sees the potential for her to be one of the top middle blockers in the CAA.

Another middle blocker who has gained valuable experience is Megan Eisenman, a junior with a quiet demeanor but an intense desire to succeed. Eisenman was moved to the outside hitter position as a freshman due to injuries but returned to middle blocker in 2003, where she flourished. Eisenman was second on the team and eighth in the league in blocks per game, finishing the year with 213 kills in 89 games. A leader by example, the staff feels she is ready to break out and have a dominant junior campaign.

In the outside and opposite hitting positions, Hill has plenty of depth and flexibility at her disposal. Sophomore Sarah Long was a pleasant surprise for the Tribe as a freshman, and was one of the top rookies in the league. Long was second on the team in kills per game (2.81), recording 261 in 93 games. She has the tools to be the team's top offensive weapon, and she is very coachable and willing to learn.

Junior Megan Hector took advantage of the spring season, and made tremendous strides in order to battle for more playing time in the fall. As one of the Tribe's most improved players from the fall, Hector has put herself in position to garner more playing time. Fellow junior Kate Woffindin also had a solid sophomore campaign in and backed the success up with a strong spring season. Woffindin will be a huge threat for the Tribe as an opposite hitter, and brings two years of experience to the position.

Mandy Mayo will provide depth on the outside for the third-straight year. Mayo is a tremendous athlete with a great leaping ability and a solid spring season saw her develop her all-around game and positions her to be one of the squad's primary outside threats this fall. She will be one of the team's top threats on the outside. Sophomore Natalie King split time as a setter and opposite hitter last season, and her athleticism allowed her to perform both positions well. A player with enormous potential, King will battle Owens for playing time at the setting position, and will be a valuable weapon as an attacker.

Rounding out the hitting corps is sophomore Christi Moot, who Hill says is the hardest working player she has coached at William and Mary in her storied career. Moot displayed flashes of brilliance in her limited playing time as a freshman, recording nine kills on 16 total attacks. Despite a limited high-level volleyball background, Moot is a tremendous athlete who will only get better with time.

Defensively, Hill has two very talented and capable athletes who will serve as the libero or the defensive specialist. Junior Erin Simmons and sophomore Kathleen Hawley both give Hill tremendous depth defensively. Hawley broke school records for most digs in a five-game match and a three-game match. Her fiery nature and competitive desire are her main strengths. Simmons also had a strong season, as she is a competitive and intense player. Simmons set the bar for the libero position two years ago, the first year the position was a part of the women's game. After a strong spring season, Hawley will continue to battle Simmons for the starting libero spot.

Hill and her staff have brought in two talented freshmen, Kelley Kaplan and Megan McInnes. Kaplan hails from Granada Hills, California, where she was the Los Angeles City Player of the Year as a senior. Her outstanding athleticism will help her push the upperclassmen for playing time in the outside hitting position.

McInnes has been earmarked the middle blocker of the future. A 6-2 athlete from just outside Philadelphia, McInnes possesses a strong vertical leap and good athleticism.

After two down seasons, the Tribe is ready to take the next step and get the program back to CAA prominence. In recent years, the athletes have been in place, just not the experience. Now they have both.

The goals have been set and the bar has been raised.