Volleyball picked fifth by KCAC Coaches
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

NORTH NEWTON – Kansas Wesleyan University was picked to finish fifth in the KCAC in volleyball as selected by the conference coaches at their pre-season meeting.

The Lady Coyotes are under the direction of first year coach Shawn Taylor, who replaced Gordon Reimer who left the position in January, but remains at Wesleyan as women’s basketball coach.

Taylor comes to KWU after spending the last three seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at Kansas State, where he worked primarily with middle hitters and blockers and worked with the development of freshmen players.

KWU finished the 2006 season 20-12 overall, 14-4 in KCAC play, tying for second place with Bethel. The season including a 12-match winning streak in which the Lady Coyotes went through the second half of KCAC play with a 9-0 record.

Wesleyan returns its top player from a season ago, Kolby Rhoades, who led the KCAC in kills per game at 4.12, en route to being named KCAC Player of the Year. She was also a four-time KCAC Player of the Week honoree.

Tabor just edged out Bethel for the top spot in the poll as the Bluejays tallied 75 points and six first place votes, while Bethel had 74 points and three first place votes in second place. Friends was picked third with 55, McPherson was second with and KWU rounded out the top five with 45 points. Bethany picked up the lone remaining first place vote, but was picked seventh, just ahead of Saint Mary.

The Lady Coyotes kick off the 2007 campaign on August 28 when they head to Parkville, Mo., to take on Park University. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Breckon Sports Center.

-- KWU SI --