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2006 Season Preview

Mustangs Getting Respect in Their New Home

Courtesy Mike Sievers , Las Cruces Sun-News

Western New Mexico University's volleyball team captains consider their ranking as one of the best teams in their new conference as a sign of respect, but they would rather their solid performance come as a surprise.

The team was ranked No. 2 in the West Division of the Rocky Mountain Athletic conference in this year's preseason coaches poll, a little more than a week before their opening tournament in Hawaii, which begins on Aug. 24. Mesa State College, which defeated WNMU in the first round of the NCAA regional last season, was picked No. 1.

"It would be nice to be ranked lower so people would be surprised and we would be the team that sneaks up from behind," said junior setter Courtney Heiser.

A good portion of the starters returned from last year's team, which was entirely made up of freshmen, sophomores and juniors. Some of the players said Mesa State beat the Mustangs in the tournament last year because they had a defensive advantage.

"I think we're starting to step it up defensively compared to last year," said senior outside hitter Liz Narkon.

Senior outside hitter Jennifer Snowbarger received the honors of being named to the preseason all-RMAC team in the same poll. However, she said that did not mean a whole lot to her.

"I'm more excited about the team being in second," Snowbarger said.

Heiser and Narkon suggested the honor might mean that opponents would study Snowbarger's skills closely when preparing for a match against the Mustangs.

"She's going to be a marked player," Narkon said.

Head coach Jim Callender said he appreciated the fact that other coaches in the RMAC respected WNMU after their run in the NCAA tournament last year.

"I don't go much by polls," Callender said.

The Mustangs are returning 11 players and have brought in four new ones. Four seniors will try to make their mark on the court this year.

"We probably should have several players to watch," Callender said.

Callender said Snowbarger is a three-year starter who made the all-NCAA tournament team during the last season. He said Heiser and Narkon are also strong players who should help lead the team to victory during the upcoming season.

"I think we have quite a few people we can turn to with helping out the team this year," Callender said.

Callender said the RMAC is a strong division that will be tough to enter, as five of the eight teams who competed in the NCAA regional tournament last year were from the conference.