The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point women's volleyball team lost its all-time school leaders in both kills and assists to graduation.
But with 12 returning letterwinners, including several who are recovering from injuries, the Pointers hope to improve on last season's 14-23 record and their eighth place finish in the WIAC.
"I anticipate a better record than last year," UW-SP coach Kelly Geiger said. "I think a good goal for us would be to get into the top half of the conference.
"We have some great competition at every position," Geiger said. "Nobody can take their spot for granted and we're anticipating a lot of changes for the season."
The changes will be very visible, since the Pointers will be missing all-time assists leader Erin Carney and all-time kills leader Sarah Kuhl, who were both four-year starters. UW-SP also had players out all season with various injuries.
The middle hitter position may be the most solid with junior Amy Smolcich, who joined Carney as the only players to play all 37 matches last season, while totaling a team-high 171 blocks. Smolcich will be challenged by senior returnee Emily Morgan.
On the outside, senior Courtney Herreman and junior Chrissy Klipstine are both returning starters, but senior Raina Gagnow returns after starting nine of the first 10 matches last year before suffering a season-ending injury. Other challengers at the hitter position include Mary Schultz, Alicia Schwan and Stacy DeMares.
Gagnow, Herreman, DeMares, Mary Schultz and possibly some newcomers will work to fill the void left by Kuhl's departure.
Seniors Katy Wolf and Summer Mrotek bolster the defense on the back row and are the team's top returning servers. Mrotek had just 13 errors in 501 attempts last season.
At the setter position, junior Lucy Fisher is the only returning player and is battling with Haynes to replace Carney at the setter position.
"We'll have a young setter, we don't know who they will be yet," Geiger said. "Neither one has a lot of experience in a varsity setting.
"I think that will be a key - how long it will take to get a setter ready to go and be comfortable with the offense," she said.
UW-River Falls and UW-Whitewater are the teams to look out for in the conference, Geiger said. "They were the top two teams last year. Whitewater lost a lot but they've always been strong."