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Aug. 26, 2008

For the Green Wave volleyball team, the mission of the 2008 season is clear:

"My expectations for this season are very straight forward," head coach Liz Kritza said. "`Be the first Tulane Volleyball team to claim a spot in the NCAA Tournament.'"

The Green Wave, who were the highest-rated team in the ratings percentage index not to make the 2007 field, are poised to make such a leap in 2008. "I firmly believe we were qualified to do so last year. And we have only improved, so it is a very realistic goal," Kritza added.

She has reason for confidence: All 13 student-athletes return for 2008, including three All-America honorees and five All-Conference USA first or second team selections, from a team that is coming off one of its most successful seasons to date. Under the guidance of Kritza, the 2007 C-USA and AVCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year, the Green Wave finished last season at 28-6 overall, and finished 30th in the final AVCA Coaches' Poll.

The Green Wave, the C-USA preseason favorites in a vote of the conference's coaches, received votes in the AVCA Preseason poll.

"We are in the unique position of returning all 13 student-athletes from last season," Kritza said. "For that reason, we're extremely excited about this upcoming campaign. We know the expectations for us are high this year and this group has worked hard in the off season to meet and surpass those expectations. As always, our goal is to continually grow as a team and as a program. We have to improve upon last season and that only happens through consistent hard work and focusing on the right things. This group is poised to leave its mark on NCAA volleyball, and is determined to prove that we belong in the NCAA Tournament."

"As a coach, this is a very good position to be in, because you have players who know your system, team dynamics, and most importantly what the expectations are," Kritza continued. "As individual players, this group has improved a great deal in relatively short amount of time. Beyond developing physically and skills wise, they have encountered many challenges that have enabled them to mature emotionally as well. We have a very good team dynamic, which is incredibly important to any organizations success and I attribute that to the diversity that we amongst the group. We have players from varying geographic regions, from all over the world and the way that these young women have learned to appreciate and work with each other's differences is a true secret of our success, and something that will prove to be highly valuable for them individually as their continue on after college to future successes."

Seven seniors make up the 13 returnees who will lead the 2008 squad, including All-American hitters Sara Radosevic and Bridget Wells. Middle blockers Jen Linder and Lauren Boatwright, defensive specialists Ashley Bernards and Liz McGehee and setter Luna Rebrovic are all back for their final campaigns.

Offensively, the Green Wave should continue their juggernaut form of the 2007 season, in which the Green Wave led Conference USA and finished in the top 20 in all of Division I in kills, assists and hitting percentage. Tulane finished ninth in the nation in assists per game (15.78), 11th in kills per game (16.99) and 20th in hitting percentage (.268). The Wave set single-season school records in each category, as well as total kills and assists.

Leading the offense is Radosevic, an outside hitter from Zagreb, Croatia, who earned her third-straight AVCA All-America honorable mention award last season, as well as First Team All-Region, First Team All-Conference USA, and Louisiana Player of the Year honors. She moved up to second on the Wave's all-time kills list (1,469) with 586 kills last season. With her career 5.23 KPG, she could reach Alicia Robertson's (1991-94) career mark (1,963) in 95 more games. She also became Tulane's single-season aces leader and led Tulane with a career-high tying 34 kills in the Wave's season-ending win at LSU.

"Sara has been a mainstay in this program since her freshman year, and she continues to play a pivotal role in this programs success," Kritza said. "We are looking for her to finish off her college playing career with her best season yet."

Radosevic became Tulane's single-season aces leader, and moved up to second on the Wave's all-time kills list (1,469). She led Tulane with a career-high tying 34 kills in the win at LSU. With her career 5.23 KPG, she could reach Alicia Robertson's (1991-94) career mark (1,963) in 95 more games.

Wells, an opposite side hitter from Raleigh, N.C., also earned AVCA All-America honorable mention and First Team AVCA All-Midwest Region honors. The First Team All-Conference USA selection turned in a breakout performance in her junior season, improving her hitting percentage by almost .200 points to finish in the top 10 in Conference USA at .323.

"Undoubtedly our most improved player, Bridget has become a staple in our offense and is still continuing to hone her defensive skill," Kritza added. "We will look for her to use not only her point scoring ability, but also her defensive ability to drive this team to success." Junior Ksenija Vlaskovic, will join those pair upfront for the Wave offense. The outside hitter from Pozarevac, Serbia, earned her second-straight All Conference USA award in 2007, after finishing sixth in C-USA in kills per game with 4.41, joining Radosevic among the single-season leaders in kills at Tulane. She earned AVCA All-District Honorable Mention Honors after being named the AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year last year.

"Ksenija's physical ability sets her a part from others, especially in her quickness offensively," said her head coach. "We will look to Ksenija to be an outstanding point producer for this team."

Sophomore outside hitter Amaris Genemaras will add depth up front for the Wave after a solid freshman campaign in which she chipped in 1.06 kills and 1.41 digs per game.

"Amaris had a successful freshman campaign, and will provide solid depth at hitter for us again this year," Kritza said. "She is an accomplished student-athlete already and we look forward to her continued development."

Added to the mix in 2008 is freshman Visnja Djurdjevic, an outside from Zitiste, Serbia. With Junior National Team, as well as first division club team experience, she should provide the Wave with yet another offensive weapon.

"Visnja comes to us with great international experience. She has played more volleyball at a higher level than most freshmen and has been trained very well by the most respected coach in Serbia. She will transition nicely to the college game and we look for her to help raise the level of volleyball we can play as a team."

Managing the offense for Tulane will be a tandem of setters which combined to lead C-USA in assists last season. Rebrovic, from Zagreb, Croatia, led Tulane with a 917 assists last season, an average of 8.04 per game.

"We expect Luna to be a leader going into her final campaign, after orchestrating our offense for the last three seasons. She has improved tremendously in her technical execution of skills, her match-time decision making, and her serve is one of the most consistent and effective on the squad. This should be her breakout year."

Just behind her statistically was junior Rachel Lindelow, who averaged 7.22 assists per game for a total of 852 assists. While individual honors often elude them in Tulane's two-setter platoon system, both rank in the top 10 in career assists for the Wave.

"She is a diligent worker and has begun to realize her potential and is coming into her own as a solid volleyball player who can play a multitude of positions. She is one of the most competitive players I have seen and her desire to succeed will carry this team a long way," Kritsa said. "Luna and Rachel are the most under-recognized players in this conference. They do an incredible job of running the most productive offensive system in the conference."

Joining that duo will be freshman Jordaliz Mercado, a 5-9 setter/hitter from Caguas, Puerto Rico. She arrives on campus fresh off an appearance with the Puerto Rico National Team at the NORCECA Championships, where the squad placed fourth in the tournament for all of North and Central America.

"She is an athletic, fiery player with quick hands and a good level of playing experience. With further training and game experience, she will develop quickly into an excellent setter."

Defensively, the Wave are anchored in the back by 2007 C-USA Libero of the Year Jenn Miller, another AVCA All-America honorable mention selection. The junior from San Pedro, Calif., finished second in C-USA in digs per game with 5.30 last season and also earned Second Team All-Conference USA honors as she once again set a new single-season record for digs in a season. After becoming the first Tulane player in history with 500 digs in 2007 (with 507), she became the first Wave player to hit 600, with 609 in 2007. She sits fifth all-time at Tulane in digs with 1,116.

"Only half way through her collegiate career, Miller has amassed recognition and records galore, all of which she is very deserving. In her role as libero, solid technical skill execution and focus are paramount, and Jenn possesses both of those qualities."

Bernards the two-time Tulane Scholar-Athlete of the Year from McMinnville, Ore., is back for her senior season after earning her Bachelor's of Science in Finance in just three years. She will work towards a master's degree in accounting.

"Ashley is the epitome of a student-athlete and a fiery defensive player as well," Kritza added. "She's a gifted young woman, who will compete with anyone and will outwork anyone"

Fellow defensive specialist Liz McGehee will once again add a defensive presence on the backline, a role she filled in 44 games last season, with four starts at libero. She chipped in 1.09 digs per contest, but averaged nearly seven per game in her four starts.

"Another extremely successful young woman, Liz adds the most unique dimension to this program: Her ability to push her teammates to be better and her leadership are just as important as the depth she provides," her head coach said. "She is the heart of this team."

Up front for Tulane, Linder leads a group of middle blockers, having picked up first team All-Louisiana honors after being named Second Team All-Conference USA. She led C-USA in hitting percentage for the second-straight year, connecting at a .401 clip. The senior from Austin, Texas, also earned Second Team All-Conference honors in 2006 after leading C-USA with a .437 hitting percentage. The Green Wave finished 11-1 in 2007 when Linder made four or more attempts per game, with the lone loss against a top-10 Wisconsin team.

"Jen Linder is the player the every successful team has: the hardest working and always striving for continual improvement," commented Kritza. "She may be undersized for her position but out-classes opponents with her athleticism, speed, and sheer determination to perform well. She is a very efficient attacker, leading the Conference in two-straight years in hitting percentage."

Boatwright, a senior from Monument, Colorado, battled injuries last season but still finished third on the team with 0.82 blocks per game while being limited to just 44 of 120 games.

"Lauren has contributed greatly to the Green Wave program in its climb up the national ranks with her character, competitiveness, experience and knowledge of the game."

With Boatwright's health in question to start the season, the Wave will look to Lindsey Shepard for additional work up front. The sophomore from Las Cruces, New Mexico, was second on the team with 0.86 blocks per game, while adding a .288 hitting percentage in 106 games.

"Lindsey brings a great deal to the table as an complete athlete and is using her opportunities on the court to hone her volleyball skills. She will have an exciting season as she gained valuable playing experience last year"

Stephanie Stromath, a redshirt sophomore from Manhattan Beach, California, adds depth to the Tulane front line after contributing 0.71 blocks per game last season.

"We look for Stephanie's continued improvement and contribution at both middle blocker and right-side. She is a composed, intelligent player who understands the nuances of this game," Kritza said.

A national schedule awaits the Wave, with 10 matches against teams which made the NCAA Tournament last season, including four of the top 15 in the final AVCA Coaches Poll from last season. Tulane opens the season in Provo, Utah, at the BYU Molten Classic on August 29-30, where they will face #12 BYU, Utah State and Missouri.

"Our non-conference schedule is incredibly tough and arguably the toughest ever to appear on the slate for Tulane volleyball," Kritza added. "I expect to see many of our opponents in the preseason AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll."

(Nebraska, Cal Poly, BYU, Middle Tennessee State)

"The level of volleyball that this group is capable of playing puts them amongst the top teams in this country. To play at that level consistently is going to be the big challenge for us, so the first phase of our season when we are out playing arguably the toughest schedule ever to appear on the slate for Tulane Volleyball, was designed to test that ability and to prepare us for the conference portion of our schedule. Conference USA is increasingly tougher this season and we need to be at the top of the conference charts going into the tournament mid November and put together a solid tournament performance, so we can earn that automatic bid in to the NCAAs."

Another item of clarity: motivation.

"The motivation for this season is a combination of proving that we belong in the NCAAs and completing a journey for this group of seven seniors who have come a long way since their arrival here on campus in August 2005. This group of seniors is the first recruiting class for this staff and in three years they have been instrumental in helping raise this program to national prominence, which is what they came here to do. This same group of seniors faced the most unusual and difficult season any college volleyball team has ever faced in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on our university and hometown. The response in each of the following years has shown that this group of players and coaches are resilient and determined to succeed, and they are approaching this season with a `finish what we started' motivation.

For the 2008 Tulane volleyball team, the goal for the program so clearly stated. And with the entire team returning, the Green Wave take to the court with few, if any, questions.