Monika is a smart player who sees the court very well. She puts the ball right where she wants to. And Maggie is outstanding as well. These three players will be pivotal to whether we win or lose this year.

She has great hands, mixes her sets and sees her teammates. And that is exactly what you want in your setter. I know her personal goal is to get over 300 assists.

It is the year I have been waiting for. We have three major players beginning their third year on the varsity. And I expect big things from all of them.

I want to win 19 games. We have won 18 games two times before since I have been coach (seventh year). And I think if we win 19 we'll be in very good shape in the conference.

The last thing we can afford right now is to make excuses. We're inexperienced at some spots, that's the way it is. We have injuries, so does everyone, that's the way it is.

Our returning players learned so much from our seniors last year and they have been quick to demonstrate the right way to do things to our newcomers. We don't believe in the moniker of defending national champions, because when a team wins a championship it's theirs forever. But this group wants to emerge from the shadow of last year's team and create it's own identity. In a lot of ways the lead-up to the 2006 season is more exciting because there is an element of the unknown.