9/2/2010
By BOB DAVIDSON Salina Journal

Fred Aubuchon hadn't been accustom to losing much during his career as a collegiate volleyball coach.

Certainly not on the scale of last season, when Kansas Wesleyan finished with a 1-34 record, including 0-18 in the Kansas Conference in his first season as the Coyotes' coach.

Making matters worse was the fact the lone victory was a forfeit from William Jewell in the season opener.

"Extremely difficult," Aubuchon said. "Regardless how they did the previous year -- 12 victories -- everybody comes into a new season with high expectations and expects to win and do well. You never expect to do terrible. That's what we did, we did terrible."

When the season finally ended, Aubuchon went to work to make sure the nightmare didn't happen again.

"When the season ended my No. 1 drive was to change who we were, to go out and find better players, to go out and find players who will help us be successful," he said. "And secondly, to change the mind-set of the kids we have here, to not give up on them and to push them as hard as we did in the offseason to be the best they could be.

"Last year ended up being more like a club team or JV team. We focused more on getting along and finishing the season and trying to pull off a couple of wins. This year winning is our No. 1 priority."

Aubuchon, who was highly successful at Hastings College (Neb.) before coming to KWU, had two priorities entering the off-season -- first, improve the team's back row play and secondly, improve the setting.

"Our passing was far from good last year," he said. "We not only needed to get better at serve-receive passing in the back row, but to be consistent and anchor our team around it."

To that end he signed sisters Pauline and Marlene Yang from Kansas City, Kan. Pauline, a sophomore, is a transfer from Coffeyville Community College and will be the libero. Marlene is a freshman from Turner High School.

"They are both fantastic on the back row," Aubuchon said.

Freshman Allie Myers from Salina Central and returnees Tiffany Goetz, a senior, and junior Jordy Rahlf also will play on the back row.

"Our back row is tremendously improved," Aubuchon said.

Ditto for setters. Aubuchon signed a pair of junior college transfers -- Juli Miles, from Fullerton College (Calif.), who will start, and Jennifer Long, a Ulysses native who was at Lamar C.C. (Colo.).

"Juli Miles is a good leader, she's very motivated, winning is everything to her," Aubuchon said. "She doesn't get emotional and is very level-headed.

"I think we accomplished our first two goals."

That's not to say there haven't been some setbacks since last season.

Two occurred in recent days and greatly impact the front row. Salina native Kelsey Boyles and Vesper Gillum, who Aubuchon was counting on to anchor the middle of the front row, will not play this season.

"When the preseason began I thought middle hitting and middle blocking were going to be our No. 1 asset," he said. "But some things have unraveled in the last two weeks where we've lost both our No. 1 and No. 2 middles. That a huge blow to us."

Fortunately, Aubuchon recruited some depth and signed Jamesha Johnson, a transfer from Dodge City C.C. She'll play with returning player Katie Fross, a sophomore who saw extensive duty last year.

"They're both good blocking middles," Aubuchon said. "They're not quite the offensive threats yet that Boyles and Vesper were, but that's a new challenge for us. We'll be OK there, we just won't be as powerful as I'd like. It's going to be more of a work in progress."

Rahlf and returning sophomore Faith Ramsey are the outside hitters. Danielle Griffis, who played two seasons ago, has returned and is joined by freshman Lauren Chamness from Littleton, Colo., and senior Stephanie Wilken.

Aubuchon says this season will be significantly better.

"I've never given 100 percent guarantees before, but I guarantee we'll be better than last year," he said with a smile. "I'm pretty confident about that statement."

Wesleyan was picked to finish fifth in the KCAC coaches preseason poll. The Coyotes open the season Friday with matches against Trinity International (Ill.) and St. Francis (Ind.) at a tournament in Chicago. KWU plays St. Ambrose (Iowa) and St. Xavier (Ill.) on Saturday.

* Sports editor Bob Davidson can be reached at 822-1404, or by e-mail at bdavidson@salina.com

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