Published: August 26, 2005 01:02 pm
By Shane Frederick
Free Press Staff Writer
MANKATO —
Dennis Amundson watched the end of the Minnesota State volleyball team’s practice from the concourse above the Bresnan Arena floor Tuesday morning. Specifically, he had an eye on the lone senior on the court.
The first-year coach smiled as Tiffany Graham hammered home a point from the left side of the court and followed that up with another cross-court kill.
“She couldn’t have done that last year,” Amundson said.
A year ago, Graham played in the middle for then-coach Doug Tully and led MSU with 127 blocks. When the rotation took Graham to the back row, she was usually taken out of the game for a defensive specialist.
Amundson wants to expand Graham’s role this year.
“I don’t know where to play her,” he said. “All I know is we need her on the court.”
Amundson said he doesn’t want the recent trend of over-specialization of players to hamstring Graham or the rest of his new team.
“Tiff’s worked hard at becoming a real volleyball player, not just a specialist,” Amundson said. “(Players) get so specialized when they’re young. My first job is to turn them all into volleyball players.”
Graham said she welcomes the added responsibilities, even if they come at the end of her college career.
“Better late than never,” she said.
A 6-foot native of Woodbury, Graham is the only senior and one of seven upperclassmen on a Mavericks’ roster that includes 10 freshmen, not to mention the new coach and his staff.
“It’s my last year; I want to win,” said Graham, an All-North Central Conference and second-team All-North Central Region pick last season. “Not at the expense of the team, though. The whole goal is to play for and with my teammates.”
Besides Graham, other returning players include All-NCC honorable mention selection Cassie Wolpern. The junior from Belle Plaine led the Mavericks with 361 kills a year ago.
Also back are sophomores Megan Stroud and Stef Sandstrom, both of whom played in all 101 games last year. Stroud had 121 kills and 99 blocks a year ago.
After that, experience is thin from a team that went 10-17 overall and 3-9 in conference play.
And that’s why Graham’s so important to keep on the court, Amundson said.
“She’s a great kid,” the coach said. “She held this team together through the coaching changeover,” Amundson said. “She’s done more than anyone could ever ask for.”
Amundson said he got a good first impression of Graham during his interview for the Mavericks job.
“She looked at me and said, ‘I just want to win,’” he recalled.
The Mavericks will open the season Friday and Saturday by hosting the AmericInn Back to School Bash at Taylor Center. Besides the Mavericks, Saginaw Valley State, Bemidji State and Michigan Tech will be participating.
Matches begin at noon each day. Minnesota State will play at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.
