Count Matt Schoultz as a believer in the old adage that less is more.
The Lawrence University volleyball coach saw his roster trimmed to 12 players this season through four graduation losses and three others who chose not to return.
“Keeping everyone more involved is a lot easier,” said Schoultz, who is in his eighth season at Lawrence. “We were at 18 the last couple of years. Trying to keep all 18 on the same page and involved was challenging at times.
“Everyone is getting a lot more touches and practicing a lot more. Our practices are a lot more efficient.”
In addition to a better practice regimen, team chemistry has also improved with fewer players on the squad. Schoultz credits his five seniors, setters Diane McLeod and Kate Rosenbalm, libero Kathleen Rowland and hitters Taylor Tomaszewski and Lily Heun.
“Our seniors are doing a really good job of being leaders,” Schoultz said. “It helps having a setter (McLeod) who’s a leader. She’s been through it and is running our offense really well.”
The Vikings are off to a 3-3 start and that includes three matches against top-25 caliber teams in UW-Whitewater, UW-Oshkosh and Carthage.
“The first weekend was very challenging. We played some very good teams,” Schoultz said. “To be .500 at this point with some of the teams we’ve played puts us right where we expected to be.”
The Vikings are having success due to the mix of outstanding play from the seniors and the group of young players on the squad.
“Most of our offense is back from last year and our setter (McLeod) and libero (Rowland) are back. We had some holes to fill, and we’ve had some others step up, especially the sophomore group,” Schoultz said. “A lot of them got a lot of playing time last year. They’re definitely picking up where they left off last year and building on that.”
That was evident in this week’s Midwest Conference player of the week awards. Sophomore outside hitter Terese Swords was named the offensive player of the week after hitting .380 in Lawrence’s two matches, both wins, last week. Rowland was named the defensive player of the week after picking up 51 digs and recording season highs in both digs (29) and service aces (5) in the Vikings’ wins over Wisconsin Lutheran and MSOE.
Sophomore Megan Conley is currently leading the team at 2.33 kills per set and is second at 0.52 blocks per set. Swords is second on the squad at 2.29 kills per set, and junior Betsy Sorensen is third at 1.65. Sorensen also leads the team at 0.60 blocks per set. Sophomore Andrea Wilkinson and junior Kayla Storm are also averaging nearly a kill per set.
“If we stay healthy, this group is really hard-working, and they have the right attitudes. I think this group could really surprise some people in the conference,” said Schoultz, whose team was picked to finish ninth in the MWC. “I could see our team finishing a lot higher if we continue the work ethic we have.”
Closing in
Rowland is closing in on Lawrence’s career digs record, which Jenny Burris set at 1,908 from 2000-03. Rowland has 1,732 digs and is just 177 shy of breaking Burris’ mark.
Moving up
Lawrence quarterback Luke Barthelmess tossed a touchdown pass in the season opener at Cornell last Saturday and now has 49 for his career. He needs one more touchdown pass to tie Eric Aspenson (2003-05, 2007) for second place on the career list. Lawrence Hall of Famer and All-American Jim Petran is the career leader with 59.
Youth movement
The Lawrence men’s soccer team lost six senior starters to graduation and another starter to injury so the Vikings have been forced into a bit of a youth movement this fall.
Lawrence is starting five freshmen and junior Erik Soderlund, who is in his first season with the soccer team. The last time Lawrence started five freshmen was 2003, and that team finished 9-6-2 and took fourth place in the conference. The 2003 team started a run of three consecutive appearances by the Vikings in the MWC Tournament.
Editor’s Note: Inside LU Athletics is a notes package written by Lawrence University Director of Athletic Media Relations Joe Vanden Acker. It will feature teams and individual players, recap weekly awards or highlights and take a look at what’s ahead for the Vikings.