The Cal Poly Pomona women’s volleyball team is looking to return to national prominence in 2007 after experiencing a 10-15 season in 2006.
One year removed from capturing its first California Collegiate Athletic Association championship since 1990, the 2006 dealt with a youth movement and had just one senior on the team in outside hitter Casey Reidel. The Broncos finished 7-13 in CCAA play, and tied for seventh.
Head Coach Rosie Wegrich, the Broncos’ all-time wins leader with a 272-178 record at Cal Poly Pomona, has guided the team to 91 wins over the past five seasons. The Broncos missed out on the playoffs after reaching the NCAA postseason in back-to-back season (2004-2005).
Cal Poly Pomona returns three player who earned all-CCAA honors last year in junior middle blocker Antoinette Kathol, sophomore middle blocker Vanessa Williams and outside hitter Jenna Young. Kathol, who was one of the nation’s top block shot artists, went on to earn first-team Daktronics All-Pacific Region honors.
Returning for the Broncos are a steady corps of players who figure to build upon the honored triumvirate. Four-year player Kiting Kolar returns, along with junior outside hitter Anne-Marie Hofmans, and outside hitters Natalia Gonzalez and Samantha Casey.
The Broncos are also excited about a recruiting class that features freshman setter Cally Young, last season’s 5A player of the year in Oregon.
Cal Poly Pomona has a rich tradition in women’s volleyball and has made the NCAA Division II playoffs 13 times since the program started in 1980. Wegrich, who begins her 16th year as the program’s head coach, has guided the Broncos into the playoffs seven times and has led the team to 20-win seasons five times, including the record-breaking 24-3 season in 2005.
