AZUSA, Calif. -- Experience. Depth. Competition.

Three words seldom used to describe Azusa Pacific volleyball since Chris Keife took over the Cougar program in 2004 now represent the strengths of a 2007 squad that is ranked No. 8 in the NAIA preseason coaches poll and seeks to build on the program’s first-ever back-to-back NAIA Tournament appearances. Keife’s first recruits to Azusa Pacific are now seniors, and 9 of the 14 players on the Cougar roster have national tournament experience, including 6 who have led Azusa Pacific to back-to-back NAIA Tournaments.

Youth. Talent. Potential.

Three elements that provide hope and promise for the future continue to be distinctive characteristics of this year’s Cougars. The 2006 squad featured just 1 senior, and only 2 players will wrap up their Azusa Pacific careers in 2007. In fact, a strengthened roster still points to a bright future with 8 freshmen and sophomores who could all contribute to the current success on the national level.

Add it all up and you’ve got the makings of a campaign that could catapult Azusa Pacific to the next level in the highly competitive Golden State Athletic Conference, the NAIA’s strongest volleyball conference. Three of the top 4 teams in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll hail from the GSAC, and the conference has sent representatives to the NAIA championship match in each of the past 4 seasons.

A consistently high level of play is a must for Azusa Pacific if it hopes to continue its upward progression towards national title contention. For 3 straight seasons, Azusa Pacific has finished in the top 4 of the GSAC standings along with 2006 NAIA runner-up Fresno Pacific, 2004 and 2005 NAIA champion California Baptist and 2004 and 2006 NAIA semifinalist Concordia. During those 3 seasons, the Cougars are a combined 3-20 against the aforementioned programs, including an 0-8 mark in 2006. Improving upon that mark is already a tall order, but the quality of the rest of the conference continues to improve. Preseason No. 11-ranked Biola and No. 16 Point Loma Nazarene have significantly improved and will most certainly challenge the Cougars for a top spot in the GSAC standings.

Returning Players

Four of the Cougars’ top 5 kill leaders are back, led by sophomore Jill Baker, an All-GSAC and NAIA All-American honorable mention outside hitter as a 2006 freshman. Baker registered a team-high 584 kills, just 22 short of the single-season program record (606 by Lenee Hill in 1991), and she set the program mark for single-season attack attempts with 1,719. In addition, Baker was a reliable defender, finishing third on the team with 399 digs and registering 54 blocks.

Senior outside hitter Brianne Huff and junior right side hitter Megan Burch both finished with over 300 kills in 2006, and they are joined by junior middle blocker Kelsey Knudsen, who posted team-highs in total blocks (95) and hitting percentage (.289) while registering 212 kills last season.

Setting the tone for the Cougar offense are the reliable hands of junior Allison Kincheloe, a 2005 All-GSAC setter who is on pace to break the Azusa Pacific career assists record midway through this season. Kincheloe holds the Cougars’ single-season assists mark, and she enters the season needing 1,093 more assists reach Mahea Burgess’ career mark of 4,569 assists. Kincheloe is a solid all-around player who ranked among the team’s top 4 in aces (39), blocks (56) and digs (412) as a 2006 sophomore.

Other veteran returnees include senior Alison Pattison, a defensive specialist who started in the back row in 30 of the Cougars’ 35 matches in 2006 and figures to compete for Azusa Pacific’s vacant libero role, and fellow defensive specialist Laura Stiles. Pattison ranks fourth on the program’s career digs chart with 1,228, and she may end up chasing down Stephanie Benitez’s career mark of 1,795. Stiles played in 32 of the Cougars’ 35 matches in 2006, finishing with 158 digs, and she should continue to provide a solid veteran presence along the back row.

Sophomores Briana Sardo and Chelsea Ching should also see expanded roles after limited action in their 2006 rookie campaigns. Sardo, a 5-foot-10 middle blocker, showed significant improvement during spring workouts, and Ching is a 5-foot-11 versatile athlete who can provide depth both at middle blocker and as a right side hitter.

Newcomers

Despite the experience and leadership of the returnees, Keife has brought in 5 new players who make the 2007 Cougars much deeper than each of the national tournament teams the past 2 seasons. The opening fall practices have featured intense competition for starting spots and other key roles at a level unmatched in Keife’s first 3 seasons at Azusa Pacific.

Headlining the list of newcomers is 6-foot-3 sophomore middle blocker Tara Chambers, a transfer from 2006 NCAA Tournament participant Long Beach State. Chambers can step into the starting role left by 3-time All-GSAC middle blocker Chelsea Morgan and make an immediate impact. She is joined by 4 incoming freshmen, including 6-foot freshman Chelsea Daley, a right side and outside hitter who could push for a starting spot. Daley was an All-Marmonte League first team pick at Moorpark High, and she led her Point West Mizuno club team to back-to-back national championships in 17-under and 18-under tournaments the past 2 summers.

Outside hitter Leanne Stennett, a 5-foot-10 freshman from Encinitas, Calif., is another key addition to the Azusa Pacific offense. Stennett was the 2006 Coastal North League MVP and earned All-CIF first team honors after leading San Dieguito Academy to a 27-7 campaign and the league championship.

Nicole Wandler provides much-needed depth behind Kincheloe at setter, as the 5-foot-9 freshman from Woodland, Calif., was the 2006 Central Valley Christian League MVP after leading Woodland Christian High to a 4-year record of 128-22. Five-foot-8 defensive specialist Julia Wehsener is another potential starter and expected contributor along the back row. Wehsener, also a native of Encinitas, helped lead La Costa Canyon High to back-to-back CIF Division I San Diego section titles and a third-place finish as a 2006 senior.

Schedule

In addition to a grueling 20-match conference slate, Azusa Pacific has put together 11 challenging non-conference contests to complete the regular season schedule, including 8 NAIA opponents ranked in the top 10 of their respective regions. In addition, the Cougars will visit NCAA Division III power University of La Verne.

The season opens with 4 matches at the Sunbird Invitational hosted by Fresno Pacific Aug. 24-25. The following week Azusa Pacific travels to New York for a single match against Daemen (N.Y.) College on Aug. 29 followed by an appearance at a Labor Day weekend tournament hosted by Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, N.Y.

Upon the Cougars’ return to California, they immediately return to Fresno to take on No. 2-ranked Fresno Pacific, the first of 3 straight road contests to kick off GSAC play. Azusa Pacific hosts No. 4 Concordia in the home opener on Sept. 15, followed by a Sept. 20 home date with No. 3 California Baptist. The first round of GSAC play concludes with back-to-back road contests at Point Loma Nazarene and Biola, followed by a home match-up with Vanguard on Oct. 6. The Cougars have struggled with Vanguard over the past 3 seasons, going 2-4 against the Lions including a season split in 2006.

The second round of conference play brings Azusa Pacific home for 6 of the final 10 conference contests, including 3 straight in a 6-day stretch in early November, when The Master’s, Point Loma Nazarene and Biola all visit the Felix Event Center before the regular-season finale just 2 days later at Vanguard.