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Leading the team with 505 kills for the season, sophomore Rachel Rourke (center) was named, along with freshman Jill Sawatsky (left) an All Pac-10 honorable mention selection.

Progress shown during 2007

Although consistent play was missing at times, OSU volleyball moved up in tough conference

By: Casey Grogan

Posted: 11/29/07

Consistency was hard to come by for the OSU volleyball team, as the team started of their 2007 season with a five-game win over Colorado State before finishing the year with a five-game loss to lowly Washington State.

Throughout the season, head coach Taras Liskevych compared the team to a car not running on all its cylinders. The Beavers (10-20 overall, 3-15 Pac-10) were going with pistons pumping as they battled No. 6 Washington last week in a match described by Liskevych as the best he has seen in his three years traveling to Seattle. The wheels fell off the wagon as Oregon State traveled east to Pullman, and were squeaked out by WSU.

Last season, the Beavers were winless in Pac-10 play, and the young squad was prepared to put those woes behind them for the new campaign. Starting the season, it appeared that this squad was truly a new Oregon State volleyball team taking the court when they knocked off now-No. 21 Colorado State at a tournament in Hawaii.

"I would say our very first game against Colorado State was our best match," senior Kristin Murray said. "That game we were the most competitive and playing as a team."

As their Hawaiian adventure continued, the Beavers snatched up one of their biggest wins in recent years as they swept then-No. 10 Hawaii at home. After a hiccup in a tournament in Idaho, OSU traveled to Sacramento State for their third tournament.

In an arena known as the Hornet's Nest due to the hostile environment, Oregon State walked through the three-game tournament, losing only three games on their way to a four-match win streak. The women lost two heartbreakers at the ASIC Invitational just prior to opening Pac-10 play.

"Early we had some great wins," Liskevych said. "We may have gotten some big expectations. If we picked up those two matches in Idaho, and the two against Loyola and Pacific, we may have had a shot at the NCAA tournament. That was a key point in the season, and could have built momentum to more Pac-10 wins."

As players progressed in the preseason, junior Ashley Evans was learning on the job a new position as she moved from setter to libero. Joining her on the court starting for OSU was setter K.C. Walsh, a junior transfer from Loyola Marymount. Walsh got off to a very strong start, and despite losing her starting job midway through the season, led the team with 791 assists.

The Beavers started the Pac-10 season with a victory over Washington State, giving them a one-up on last season's squad. The early victory was not enough to spark OSU as they surrendered losses in 18 straight games before shocking then-No. 4 UCLA in five games.

"We had our ups and downs like every team does," Evans said. "We are in the best conference in the nation. Every night we were battling top ten teams, not top 25 but top 10."

After the UCLA match, Walsh surrendered the starting setter position to Camilla Ah-Hoy. The sophomore from Hawaii stepped into the role, finally healthy from an ACL injury earlier in her career, and excelled, passing out 468 assists.

"I think every year I have been here there has been a major change like that," Murray said. "In the beginning, K.C. did an awesome job just like at the end Camilla did an awesome job."

For the second straight season, sophomore outside hitter Rachel Rourke led the Beavers in kills with 505. She earned honorable mention all-conference despite opponents being ready for the Australian. On the front line, Rourke was joined by freshman honorable mention all-conference outside hitter Jill Sawatzky. She finished her first year with 332 kills and was successful on defense as Pac-10 schools picked on her inexperience.

"I am glad I got to start every match, and I think I earned it," Sawatzky said. "I knew I was going to get picked on, I am the freshman."

Evans led the OSU defense in the backcourt, and her 459 digs places her atop the single season and top 10 list for juniors at OSU. The total for Evans also ranks her as No. 3 all-time for digs as a Beaver regardless of class.

Liskevych is ready to lead the Beavers into the offseason as the volleyball team prepares for the spring season.

"We need a renewed commitment from our players" Liskevych said. "We are going to work hard in the winter, spring and summer. I look at the season as a glass half full. We had positives, but also have a long way to go."